Diana learns to speak Iban in 13 days for film
FASCINATED with Sarawak culture, customs and legends, actress Diana Johor is paying tribute to the fearless Iban warriors of yesteryear — and playing the love interest of one — in her new film, Peransang Rentap.
Breaking out of her comfort zone, Diana, who had supporting roles in the drama Astana Idaman and blockbuster Sembilu, even learnt to speak basic Iban, and master Iban dance moves, for the role of a longhouse beauty named Entiang, who lived in Sri Aman, Sarawak, 150 years ago.
Diana, who starred in Tun Mahathir The Musical at Istana Budaya in 2010, said Peransang Rentap was not a biopic of legendary Iban chief Rentap, who fought British colonial rule in Sarawak, but that of his peransang (“follower” in Iban), a brave teenager named Jenang (played by newcomer Vincent Mallang Alfred).
“Rather than give viewers another historical figure’s story, I chose to come up with a love story involving a fictitious, brave young soldier, Jenang, who admires the great chief Rentap for his noble qualities and dreams of joining his army to resist British rule,” said Diana, 36, at a recent press preview of the film in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Peransang Rentap, which is screening in cinemas, is produced by Diana’s company, Unique Twins Sdn Bhd, and directed by her twin sister Lina Johor, who co-owns the company.
“While Jenang loves his homeland, he is also deeply in love with girl-next-door Entiang, who lives in a neighbouring longhouse. She understands his goal in life, and encourages him to work towards it by performing his given duty as a messenger for Rentap.”
It took the siblings four years of research into Iban history and culture before the filming of Peransang Rentap took place last February.
They are grateful to the Sarawak government and National Film Development Corporation (Finas) for their assistance.
“I got an Iban language teacher to help me speak basic Iban. Although I had concerns that it would be a difficult task, it turned out to be an easy language to understand since it is close to Malay, compared with other Bornean languages,” said Diana, who learnt the language in 13 days.
Diana and Lina, who double as co-producers, roped in more than 30 Sarawakians to make up the cast of Peransang Rentap, which includes former Clever Girl contestant Ethel Lampai Ringgit. By Dennis Chua