
Sepet is a Malaysian teen romantic comedy-drama film in
2005, set in Ipoh, Malaysia. Directed by Yasmin Ahmad, produced by Rosnah
Kassim and Elyna Shukri. Starring Ng Choo Seng and Sharifah Amani. It is a love
story that blossoms between a Chinese boy and Malay girl. Sepet is a Malay
word, which refers “slit eyes” in Chinese word.
Loong is an unlicensed VCD seller, his life changed when he
meets Orked, a good background Malay schoolgirl. She arrives at his stall while
looking for films of her favorite actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. They face several
social and racial problems that stopped them from loving each other. In the
end, Loong involved in a motor vehicle accident while Orked is going to England
to pursue her studies.
In the beginning of the film, Loong is talking to a woman,
with Cantonese while the woman replies with Malay. She left a word that is
related about the film. The social in Malaysia is like that, we speak different
language but we respect each other.
In Malaysia, there are different races and so languages. In this
film, the characters are not only in Malay even the director is a Malay guy,
the film also included different languages like Chinese, Malay, English and
also Cantonese. Malaysia national language is Malay, but sometimes Orked speaks
a little of Cantonese.
And this scene is actually just to show her favorite actor
is Takeshi Kaneshiro.
In the title sequence, pencil-like write the name of staff
and actors, matching the Hong Kong Cantonese song, reflect the story is about a
love the purely blossoms between two young people.
In the scene of Loong in his working place, the space is narrow;
then it cuts to Orked’s house, the space is completely different.
Whenever Loong
is on the scene, the space is narrow.
Next, the young people with different races fall in love,
but the stereotype and racial problem never stop them. Loong’s friend advises
him to think twice as marry with Muslim, he has to change the religion and no
more pork food. In the past, the old minded people might have this thought, but the social
is improving and changing, the mindset changed.
Another point to mention is whenever the characters sit down and having conversation, the camera shots are long-shot and mid-shot. The scene is symmetrical. This technique might refer that the people in Malaysia with different races can stay peace with each other.









