One for the girls
> The iconic female-led Gol & Gincu is revisited, with new implications for women today
FUTSAL, fashion and friendships are what you will find in Gol and Gincu Volume 2, which will open in cinemas on Oct 25. The first Gol and Gincu, under the direction of Bernard Chauly, was released 13 years ago.
The story centred on spoiled college girl Putri (played by Fazura) who goes all out to win the heart of ex-boyfriend Edy (Ashraf Sinclair) by taking up futsal, a sport he is crazy about.
Lina Tan, the producer of Gol and Gincu Vol 2, says: “This is not a sequel; this is a reboot.”
She explains that the film will have an entirely different storyline, and that while Fazura and Ashraf will not reprise their roles, their co-stars Sazzy Falak and Sharifah Amani will make appearances in the film.
In Vol 2, the story centres on two university students who both happen to be named Zakiah, and who hate each other’s guts.
One day, their argument leads to a physical fight, which gets recorded and goes viral on social media. As punishment, the two are ordered by their university to volunteer at a home for troubled girls.
Playing the two Zakiahs are Diana Dianelle and Ummi Nazeera. The rest of the cast comprises Syafiq Kyle, Aedy Ashraf, Grace Ng, and Jad Hidzir.
The first Gol and Gincu was a successful venture for Tan and her production company Red Films Sdn Bhd.
She remembers: “The critics love our film. They gave us rave reviews. But some of them kept telling us that our film was too urban for mass audiences to accept, and it might fail at the box office. They said we were ahead of our time.”
Luckily for Tan, these critics were proven wrong. Audiences flocked to see the film.
The movie also spawned a TV series that lasted for two seasons.
“We were breaking new ground on television by discussing serious issues such as HIV and equal opportunity for everyone regardless of their gender,” she says.
What may have worked 13 years ago may not work today. However, Tan does not believe this. She feels the reboot has come at the right time.
“I think there are hardly any Malaysian films with strong female lead characters and it is time we have one now,” she says.
Tan emphasises that despite the feminist element, the movie is not out to portray men in a bad light.
“Sometimes a woman’s worst critic can be an another woman,” she says. “I am hoping the movie will show that women are supposed to get along and uplift each other.”
Tan adds that she initially tried to convince Bernard, the director of the original film, to direct this one as well. Unfortunately Bernard was not keen on it.
Tan says: “He is in a different stage of his life. He wants to move on. He wants to do different things in his life now.”
When met by theSun, Bernard tells why he did not want to work on the reboot.
He says: “I feel I have resolved most of the plot lines involving Putri and her friends. I suspect that’s why Fazura [also] chose not to return for the reboot.
“Fazura and I want to look forward, and we are not keen to look back.”
Helming the ‘reboot’ is Umi Salwana Omar, who is making her feature film directorial debut.
In the past, Umi has directed episodes of popular sitcom Oh! My English and several tele movies, as well as having been assistant director for several local films.
Umi admits feeling extremely nervous when directing this feature film.
“Bernard Chauly is my all-time favourite director,” she says. “He was my film lecturer when I was pursuing a diploma in broadcasting. He was my mentor.
“I am always impressed with the way he brings out the best performance from his cast.
“He turned Gol and Gincu into a trusted brand with a strong following. It is a huge responsibility to uphold the brand and not tarnish it.”
Umi hopes that her mentor will like what she has done with the franchise.
And indeed, Bernard wishes nothing but the best for Umi as well as the cast and crew of Gol and Gincu Vol 2.
He told theSun: “I hope Umi can bring something fresh to it, and I sincerely hope Umi will go on to tell her own stories as a director.
“I will definitely watch [it] when it hits the cinemas.”
As for Tan, she has complete confidence in Umi’s abilities.
“It is about time we increase the number of female directors in our film industry,” she says.