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13.12.2004 - Sepet
Yasmin Ahmad's film, Sepet, is currently in danger of being heavily censored for the stupidest of reasons. On her blog, Yasmin relates that in a meeting with members of the (Malaysian) Censorship Board,
One of them asked why, in my story, did the Malay girl not make any attempt to convert her Chinese boyfriend.
Another one suggested that the scene where Adibah, Ida and Amani were lovingly combing each other's hair by the staircase, was encouraging Malay women to go back to their bad old habit of picking each other's lice!
If you haven't already keeled over laughing or weeping, please make some noise about this. Either send some encouragement down Yasmin's way, or write to a local paper about this - something I'm going to do as well.
Just think about all the bad rap our Censorship Board has caused for Malaysia. Remember when they banned Schindler's List and Spielberg refused to release his next film Casper in Malaysia in retaliation? Remember Daredevil being banned for having the word "devil" in its title? Remember Zoolander? Remember Jangan Ketawa getting the rap because it featured two (very funny & talented) cross-dressers, Dee and Moon?
This is how Malaysia chases away its best and brightest. We have to make some serious noise before talents like Yasmin Ahmad run off to another country (even Singapore) where they would be better appreciated.
It is no wonder that Malaysia is among the lowest of the low in terms of press freedom.
Some articles on Malaysian art will be linked soon. Please bear with me.
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