One of the most apparent things about Yasmin Ahmad's way of directing is her poetry about the subject she wants to say. In other terms, cinematically you show things, you do not tell. Like how Edward Hopper says about his paintings, “If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” Cinema to me is a moving painting.
And this film entitled Muallaf, which means a convert, starts with a shot of a dark silhouette of a man walking restlessly. Aptly, it was of the protagonist, Brian who was raised a Christian. In Act Three, he finally converted to Islam, shown also in a dark silhouette but this time he turns on the desk lamp, and his face is lit.
In other words, he has found illumination in Islam, after his bad childhood memories of being raised in Christianity, in which Yasmin Ahmad clearly shows that it is not the fault of the religion, but of his father, who punished him for having a strange fetish with Christian nuns.
The film starts with the young Brian singing 'Going Home' and ends with the same just this time he is back in a new home with his newfound love, which is the main reason he converted, through love and compassion. Brian's character circle is complete.
His newfound love, Rohani played by Sharifah Armani went through a circle of her own. The shaving of her head by her violent father (played by Rahim Razali) is a turning point for her to leave the house. Quite a symbolism of shaving the head with purification, the start of a pilgrimage and renunciation of worldly possessions and desires, which Rohani (also means 'spiritual' in English) goes through. Similar to being a nun. Ahh, Brian's fetish was answered hahah....bunyik rotan (notty2 Yasmin Ahmad, including the scene Brian almost chooses a cat food named 'Pussy' instead of Friskies hahaha...bunyik rotan lagi)
Meanwhile, a typical Malay drama depiction of a convert will...ah never mind.
Another scene that captures my attention is in a class where an Indian teacher draws two huge elephants on the blackboard and 'rotan' a student because she draws a flower instead of an elephant. In the next scene, the Indian teacher is called into the principal's office and it is clear that there are elephants on her shirt too! It is indirectly saying that she is the "elephant in the room". Yasmin Ahmad is criticizing the education system, especially the way that religion is being taught! That's the reason Rohani is planning to go to NUS to study theology (which the local school registration clerk do not know what it is!) But later in the film, the same Indian teacher is shown not wearing her elephant shirt anymore but a saree, signaling of a change in her perhaps teaching approach.
For those who know, the subtext of this film is pretty clear. That will depend on if one is still a victim of indoctrination. Everyone has a different learning capacity. One will learn faster and the other will be slower. It is unfair to punish the slower ones.
The same with when the 'Nur' or the light of God will reach you. Like in P. Ramlee's film Semerah Padi, compassion is a way to lead one into the light.
I remember a story being told to me back then about how the Muslims converted the Vikings to Islam. The Vikings cut a huge stone into two pieces with their sword. The Muslims did the same but not cutting a stone into two, but a feather.
Poetry, even to a race like the Malays who were once famous for its "gurindam" and "sastera", now is getting more prose. It is true that Hang Tuah once said "Takkan Melayu Hilang Di Dunia". But one can further ask "Melayu yang macam mana yg tinggal?". Mostly just on the traditional cosplay but when they speak, not sure where the "budi" and the "bahasa" goes.
Back to cinema, Muallaf is one example of how Malaysian cinema should've been done. Tak payah lah even though your movie ada 'plot twist' tapi ko tulis kat dalam ko punya trailer. Itu bukan promo. Itu spoiler namanya. Dhtu krg pelik apsal filem Malaysia takleh menang Oscar lah ape lah. Ok, I better stop before lose my Melayu.
Muallaf is currently showing on Amazon Prime.