Project of fifteen short films, made by the new generation of Malaysian film makers. In a couple of minutes, they posit their vision of today's Malaysia. Among them is Yasmin Ahmad, who died suddenly in 2009, and who in her film comments on racial segregation.
Yasmin Ahmad is one of the directors who made a short film for the project 15Malaysia. She died last year of a brain haemorrhage. In memory of Ahmad, this compilation of fifteen films includes a 'making of' her film Chocolate, which is a clear commentary on the racial segregation developing in Malaysia. Just like Ahmad, fourteen other exponents of Malaysia's New (or No) Wave film generation provide their vision of present-day society in a few minutes.
That results in a varied selection, both in form - varying from documentary to stylised montage of black-and-white photos - and in substance: from a humorous manual for halal slaughter to contemplation on a future Big Brother society in which everyone is in a different family each day.
PROGRAMMER NOTES
During my first visit to Malaysia, I met Pete Teo. Film maker Ho Yuhang thought that if I was coming to Kuala Lumpur to meet film people, I should certainly meet his friend Pete. Pete turned out to be entertaining company. With him I didn't have to keep a flagging conversation going.
I was to meet Pete in various capacities many more times. Pete happens to be a man who can do anything. That's a blessing, but also a plague, because it creates obligations.
Pete Teo is known first and foremost as a singer/songwriter. I have seen him overwhelm audiences in his regular club 'No Black Tie' in Kuala Lumpur, but also in a small bar just outside the centre of Tokyo.
As a musician, Pete has also been involved with many film scores. For instance At The End Of Daybreak by his friend Ho Yuhang that is being screened at the festival this year. Last but not least Pete Teo is also an actor. The first time I saw him was in the short film A Tree in Tanjung Malim (2004) by Tan Chui Mui and after that it appeared as if he was playing a role in just about every other Malaysian film.
Pete Teo can also organise and get projects off the ground. That's why he also feels obliged to do this, as with this project 15 Malaysia. Not only were 15 short films made in a brief period, but the necessary sensitive chords were struck in Malaysia that is so sensitive in religious, social and political terms. The chords vibrated successfully and Pete will feel obliged to set up a following project, even though he would rather go back to his 'No Black Tie' club, or even to the small bar in Tokyo.
GjZ