TEAR-JERKER WORTHYOFANAWARD
BRING a box of tissues. Literally meaning it’s a love triangle between a chirpy university student, her diving instructor and the foster brother who found her floating down a stream near a waterfall. Adopted as a child, Alya (Ezzaty) grows into a beauty and is doted on by foster brother Kamar, a university lecturer, and his compassionate grandmother (Kartina). She pursues a marine biology course at university and starts to take diving lessons in Langkawi, from dandy instructor Harris (Bront). Over-protective Kamar does not object to this since Harris was his schoolmate and has remained a close friend.
However, love begins to blossom between Harris and Alya during their snorkelling sessions in the Andaman Sea. Kamar learns about this, and is hurt for he, too, has developed romantic feelings for Alya.
Reluctant to express his true feelings, and prevented from doing so by his grandmother who wants him to be a dutiful big brother, Kamar is forced to accept Alya’s marriage proposal from Harris, and slowly sinks into depression. However, Harris and Alya’s honeymoon is shortlived when he is lost at sea during a boat trip to southern Thailand, and marine police are unable to find his body. After a month, Harris is presumed dead and Alya marries Kamar.
By the time she gives birth to her first child, Harris is found in southern Thailand. He is dishevelled and suffering from memory loss. Kamar decides to have his friend stay in their house to Alya’s delight, but trouble begins to brew when Harris’ memory slowly returns in flashes.
This first team-up of heartthrobs Bront and Remy sees both actors in their element. Bront is cool as Harris who loves the touristy lifestyle of a diving instructor, while Remy seems to evince much of the elements of Mansor Adabi, the character he played in the film into Kamar; he even goes about in reading glasses and white shirts.
He also projects much emotion as the long-suffering Kamar who feels unappreciated by the woman he saved as a child. Kamar does not talk much but his anguish can be seen through the actor’s facial expressions. Fortunately, he does not overdo his “suffering” and has some witty one-liners in the movie.
Bront’s best performance is when Harris tries to readapt. His blank stares and awkward movements feel very real, and form a stark contrast to his loud, boisterous days as a diving instructor.
The real star of this film is undoubtedly Ezzaty. Her Alya may be an emotional roller coaster who swings from a cheerful and girlish teen to a sobbing and sleepless young wife; it’s clear she has mastered the script.
Director Chong’s cinematography splendidly features some of Langkawi’s most beautiful beaches, and changes of weather directly reflect the mood of the characters.
Chong’s love story may have bits and pieces of Bollywood and Hollywood (such as
which starred Raj Kapoor and with Leonardo DiCaprio) but the story is wholly homegrown and, likewise, the dialogue is as Malaysian as it can get. While the story is sad, none of the scenes are melodramatic. The ending may seem a little rushed but it does justice to the story and comes full circle.
Kudos to Chong, Remy, Bront, Ezzaty and the rest of the ensemble cast for a job well done! If is destined to win an award or two, it is a yes from yours truly.