Hanyut Review

U-Wei is back

Hanyut Review – The Director with a unique name is back with another ambitious flick.

The talented cast

Adapted from a novel, this is a story of Kaspar Almayer (Peter O’Brien), an English trader trying to survive in the wilderness of Malaya in the late 19^th century. Kaspar hopes to return to Europe with his daughter, Nina (Diana Danielle) whom he had earlier sent to Singapore to obtain a proper education. His action of separating his daughter from the mother, local Malay women is despised by Mem Putih (Sofea Jane). He tends to leave Mem Putih behind and achieve his dream of getting rich by chasing after a fairy-tale gold mountain. Kaspar makes a deal with a Malay Prince, Dain Maroola (Adi Putra) who ends up falling in love with Nina. This presents an opportunity for Mem Putih to get her revenge when she schemes to let Nina elope with Maroola. Soon after the situation get complicated and Kaspar is left with nothing but a shattered hope.

Kaspar, Maroola, Nina & Mem Putih

With a cast consisting of the best crop of local and foreign talent, Hanyut should appeal to both domestic and international market. Special mention goes to Diana as a lost child caught in between the Western and Eastern culture. She played her role well and even upstaged my personal favourite, Sofea in this film. As for the story, it could move in a faster phase because I felt it was being slightly draggy at some parts. The depiction of old Malaya along with the customs and relationship between the local Malay Sultan, merchant Arabs, travelling traders and ‘white people’ was well represented. I did however wondered the purpose of making this film as I didn’t take away much after it ended. Is that bad? I’m not sure but yeah…honestly that how I feel about Hanyut.  

Hanyut yang hanyut...

As usual, U-Wei tries to achieve the absolute best for his audience and does little mistake except for the timing of the release. Hanyut was produced few years back but only saw the light this year. Unfortunately, in a world full of Upin and Ipin and what not, Hanyut literally was swept away by other well promoted local films. It also had to share the limelight with the blockbuster Hollywood movies which rendered the show-time in cinema. I was lucky to catch it before it was yanked away in less than one month since the distribution. Can’t blame the cinema operators since Hanyut didn’t get the big promotion I’d hoped for. Besides, I can understand that the story does not apply to most local audience who are more into latest happening compared to learning from the past. Perhaps Hanyut will do better during the award season compared to its short lived screening stint.