JP\/18\/FILM<\/p>\n
'Almayer's Folly' to shoot in Kalimantan<\/p>\n
Rita A.Widiadana
\nKuta
\n
\nFollowing their triumphs at recent Cannes Film Festivals in
\nFrance, Asian filmmakers are beginning to establish a strong
\nfoothold in the international film world.<\/p>\n
And the successes of their counterparts from Japan, China,
\nHong Kong, Iran and India have encouraged Southeast Asian
\nfilmmakers to pursue their craft on an international stage.<\/p>\n
In this spirit, noted Malaysian director U-Wei bin Haji Saari,
\nin collaboration with 2004 Golden Globe award winner Le Brocquy-
\nFraser Production (Osama), is embarking on a major feature film
\nproject, Almayer's Folly, which will bring together talent from
\nHollywood, Malaysia and Indonesia. Folly is an adaptation of
\nJoseph Conrad's debut novel of the same title.<\/p>\n
The film will star award-winning U.S. actor Harvey Keitel (The
\nRed Dragon, Pulp Fiction and The Piano), talented Indonesian
\nactors Christine Hakim and El Manik, and Malaysian actors Eman
\nManan and Khalled Saleh.<\/p>\n
The US$5 million film will also involve world-class film
\ntalent, including director of photography Alain Choquart from
\nFrance and British production designer Desmond Crowe (Band of
\nBrothers)<\/p>\n
Almayer's Folly explores themes similar to those found in
\nHeart of Darkness, Conrad's later masterpiece. Heart of Darkness
\nwas adapted into the Oscar-winning Vietnam war epic Apocalypse
\nNow, starring the late Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen.<\/p>\n
Folly is set in the Malay world of the 1830s in Borneo (now
\nKalimantan) and is a tale of personal tragedy set against a
\nbackdrop of stale and defective colonialism.<\/p>\n
The adapted film is drawn from the U-Wei's own experiences in
\nhis own land, entwined with the experience of colonialism.<\/p>\n
U-Wei is Malaysia's leading film director and has taken up the
\nchallenge of adapting the novel's period setting and working with
\na multiethnic cast that explore the desires, misconceptions and
\nintrigues that were so much a part of the cultural melting pot of
\ncolonialism.<\/p>\n
Le Brocquy-Fraser Production secured the rights from Oxford
\npublishing to adapt Conrad's novel, and developed the script with
\nU-Wei .<\/p>\n
\"I am not focusing on colonialism but on the struggle of
\nvalues, human relationships, cultural and social conflicts from
\nan Eastern point of view,\" U-Wei told The Jakarta Post in Kuta on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Movie-goers are used to seeing stories through the eyes of
\nWestern directors, he said. \"That is good, but this time I want
\nto show it from a different perspective, from the state of mind
\nof Eastern people. How they see and look at the issues.\"<\/p>\n
The story revolves around the life of Malay society in Borneo
\nin the late 19th century; a mix of indigenous Malays, tribal
\nDayaks, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
Although the book starts out as though it is from the
\nperspective of a European protagonist, the narrative is dynamic.<\/p>\n
The plot centers on the life of Dutch businessman Almayer (to
\nbe played by Harvey Keitel), who marries Mem (Christine Hakim), a
\nlocal woman. They have a daughter Nina, who is sent to Singapore
\nto receive a Western education.<\/p>\n
When she returns as a beautiful woman 10 years later, she
\nfinds the family home and business severely neglected, as Almayer
\nhas been consumed by his dream of finding gold in the mountains,
\nand her parents are no longer communicating.<\/p>\n
Problems begin to surface when Nina falls for a handsome Malay
\nprince and freedom fighter, Dain Maroola. Their secret love
\naffair drive Almayer mad; he cannot tolerate his daughter having
\nan affair with a Malay man, whom he regards as inferior to
\nWesterners.<\/p>\n
One day, Almayer finds that his daughter has eloped with
\nDain. Almayer chases after the couple, losing everything in the
\npursuit. He returns to his house and burns it down, and is left
\nwith nothing but his shattered dreams. The remains of the house
\nbecome known locally as Almayer's Folly.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of the story Almayer appears to be at the
\ncenter of society. By the end, he is very much at the peripheral
\nand alienated. The real cultural, political and economic life of
\nthe community is located elsewhere and involves other people
\nbesides himself.<\/p>\n
\"The choice of an authentic setting (Kalimantan) is important
\nto make the film real and alive. With the right setting and an
\nexcellent cast, I have already finished 30 percent of the total
\nwork,\" commented U-Wei, a Pahang native who first gained
\ninternational notice in 1995 with Un Certain Regard award at
\nCannes.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the Bali Film Commission, the Indonesian Ministry of
\nCulture and Tourism, Garuda Indonesia and Kartika Discovery
\nHotel, U-Wei chose Kalimantan as the main shooting locations.<\/p>\n
\"I was offered Fiji but I preferred Kalimantan as it is the
\nreal setting of the story. It would be superficial if the film
\nwas set in another place,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Producer Julia Fraser expects the film to gain critical
\nacclaim, if not commercial success. \"International film society
\nis looking for works by fresh talents from around the world.
\nEverybody in the group is so excited about this project.\"<\/p>\n
Since the key role of Almayer's 20-year-old daughter has still
\nnot been cast, the producer and director are now looking to hold
\ncasting calls in Bali and Jakarta within this month.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure Indonesia has a lot of talent. The girl must be
\ncreative, talented and natural, and should be under 20,\" the
\ndirector said.<\/p>\n
If an Indonesian actress can land the role of Nina, the path
\nto international success will open in front of her, said Deborah
\nGabinetti of the Bali Film Commission.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18film-1447899208",
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