MUKHSIN

Malaysia, 2006, 94 minutes, Colour.
Mohd Syafie Naswip, Sharifah Aryana.
Directed by Yasmin Ahmad.

Mukhsin is a family film from Malaysia. It was directed by Yasmin Ahmad who continues to make quite a number of films about love and growing up in Malaysia.

This film focuses on a girl from a rich family, a young boy having a holiday, encountering her and sharing experiences with her. The film gives a great deal of attention to local colour, the film set in authentic locations, an insight into young friendship – and the possibilities of love as well as the possibilities of clash, misunderstanding and regrets in life.

1.A film of Malaysian sensibilities and culture? Chinese and Malay? Muslim background?

2.The impact for Malay audiences? Worldwide? Children? Adults?

3.The picture of village life, contemporary, rural, modern? The details of life in the village? The countryside? Trees and streams, the roads? Reality and legends? The musical score?

4.The atmosphere of the holidays, joy, relaxed?

5.Mukhsin and his background, his parents, the guardian, his spending the holidays in the village, the outsider, being made to feel at home by Orked? The brother and his drinking? The difficulties at home?

6.Orked, her family, self-assured, affluent? Her parents and their style, concern about their daughter? The maid, her care for Orked – and providing comedy?

7.Mukhsin and Orked as children, their age, their friends, the other children in the village?

8.The friendship, the voice-over by Orked, the retrospect? The bike, the extra seat, the rides in the countryside, the topics of their talk, in the trees, the streams? The touch of love? Mukhsin brushing Orked’s arm? The light touch? Orked’s response?

9.The football, Orked wanting to play, Mukhsin and his curt reaction to her, her being hurt, withdrawing, the consequences?

10.The feelings after this episode, activities in the village, at home? Orked feeling the pain?

11.Mukhsin and his having to leave, bringing the gift, the maid taking it, Orked finally looking at it? The kite? The background of their activities with the kites? The beauty of the gift? Mukhsin’s apology?

12.Orked staying too late, then realising she should farewell Mukhsin, her running to the house, seeing the car going? Her voice-over comment?

13.A film of young friendship, possibilities of love, the effect of this friendship on the two for the rest of their lives?