“ SEPET ”– Malaysia’s Romeo and Juliet

by Nomadic Chris, 30 December 2008

Tagline: One Chinese boy, one Malay girl, one unforgettable love story

Can love conquer all in this Malaysian indie masterpiece?

Taking the age old theme of cross cultural love and placing it into a totally new context, SEPET follows the story of two young protagonists, a young Malay Student called Orked (Sharifah Amani) and a Malaysian Chinese male called Jason (Choo Seong Ng). The film is set in Ipoh, Malaysia.









From meeting in a market where Orked purchases her favourite film, Chung King Express, from Jason, love blossoms as well as the issues that stem from their different cultural backgrounds. As Sepet progresses, it shows that young love is the same the world over; unexpected, forgiving with many challenges to overcome!
Given this context, the title of the film ‘Sepet’ in fact means ‘Slit eyes’ in Malay!

The main themes of the film are of course cross cultural love. The film also subtlety discusses Malaysian society as a whole. Despite its rich blend of ethnicities (Malay, Chinese and Indians), Malaysia has cultural and racial problems that are never too far from the surface. Malaysian government policies which favour the majority Bumiputras (Sons of the land or ethnic Malays) are a bone of contention for the minority Chinese and Indians.

The film focus is the love story but is also a love letter to the nation itself and its peoples many identities. It also allows viewers to learn more about the Malaysian Chinese whom through the generations have come to call Malaysia home yet are still sometimes on the outside looking in.
Young viewers will like this film for:
• An insight into Malaysian Society
• An alternative love story
• Love conquering all in extreme circumstances

Sepet is both touching and funny and also highlights Malaysian society in a new light. It is highly commended.




..... Stop here









  




Bookmark with:

Delicious      Digg      reddit      Facebook      StumbleUpon     
Please join our facebook group     
Previous | Next
more recent blogs
HONG KONG TEEN WINS TOP PRIZE in United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) PAINTING COMPETITION 2010
Singapore's Graffiti Godfather: making a career from Street Art.... by Cornelius Grey
Singapore’s Graffiti Godfather - "SKOPE" .... by Cornelius Grey
LaurelC-19’s Wanderings on Planet Earth: Monterrico, Guatemala
A Reminder to Live a Full Life ... "Il Senso della Vita"
First Youth Olympic launches in Asia this month
Body
more ...
iCUBED.us is a webazine for, by, and about youth aged to 25.

As a regular columnist for iCUBED.us writing around a particular topic, your opinions will be read by students around the world and you end our year-long Blogger's Internship with a writing portfolio as excellent as you make it. We provide the space and some general guidelines, you provide the words.

You have to be invited to join our forums- so if you're aged below 25 be on the lookout for your invitation and for opportunities to introduce yourself to us - the folks who run www.iCUBED.us ... Check in regularly for a chance to compete in one of our "open-to-the-NONmembers' contests"... You might surprise yourself and take first prize.

NOTA BENE:
Any work you submit will not be returned, so please keep a copy. If you mail us a self addressed envelope we will acknowledge receipt by return post.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT:
All copyrights are assigned to iCUBED.us once works are submitted to us. We retain non-exclusive rights to publish all such work in any format. All content on the website becomes the property of iCUBED.us, however, all contributors retain the right to republish their works elsewhere, with written notice to iCUBED.us.