comedy - Page 5 of 8

Sepet – A Rom Com that Exposes Class and Race Dynamics in Malaysia

Sepet Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you like rom-coms you’ll love Sepet. But even if you don’t there is much more to this film then a cheesy romance. Sepet exposes the class and race dynamics of Malaysia of a society that evidently still hasn’t recovered from the effects of colonialism.

Why Watch Sepet?

It’s a chick flick with substance
You’ll learn a bit about the legacy of colonialism on Malaysia
Watch it here on YouTube
Learn about social and racial discrimination in Malaysia

The Breakdown

The romance between Jason and Orked starts after a chance encounter at Jason’s VHS stall on a busy Malay street. However, they are both from opposite ends of Malay society, Jason (or Ah-loong) is ethnically Chinese whilst Orked is ethnically Malay. As you’ll learn, this is a problem. Chinese-Malays are seen as inferior to ethnic Malays and therefore relationships between Malays and Chinese is taboo.

In case that isn’t enough to emulate Romeo and Juliet, Jason also has a much lower social standing than Orked. You might notice this from seeing each of their respective houses. Orked walks around in a big bedroom with big closets, walks up and down stairs to show that her house has two floors, and has a maid. In contrast, Jason’s house appears open to the elements with concrete floors. His family all crowd around a small table for dinner.

However, what does Jason do to help his chances of getting with Orked? He tells her his name is Jason, a ‘nice name from London.’By associating himself with Britain, he associates himself with the old rulers: British colonists. Orked doesn’t fall for this trick. She later brings up the issue of colonialism with her friend and references French colonists in Algeria. They instituted a belief that whites were superior and that the darker you were, the more inferior you were. It’s obvious that Malaysia has shared this colonial legacy the way the lighter skinned Malays treat the ‘slit-eyed’ Chinese.

Image result for sepet film

Conclusion

Sepet is a great example of a chick flick that has layers. Behind the cheesy romance is a country still dealing with the legacy of colonialism. Jason and Orked are two sweet teens trying to navigate the race and social boundaries of Malaysia.

Will they stay together? Watch it here on YouTube (although some sound is missing).

Anina (Uruguay) – A Whimsical Animation With A Unique School Punishment

Anina Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Do you miss the animations and story books you used to read as a kid? Anina will bring back your childhood with whimsical animation and a heart-warming story. If you have young ones or you’re young at heart, this one’s for you.

Why Watch Anina?

For anyone with kids, or your young at heart
To see it’s unique style which may remind you of a storybook
To hear the ‘worst names’ from Uruguay (Anina hates her name which is read the same forwards and backwards)
It’s here on YouTube (if you can understand Spanish)

The Breakdown

Anina starts at the end of a school day. Some parents are crowding round the entrance of the school waiting for their kids under their umbrellas. Some of the other kids are waiting at a bus stop nearby. It’s obvious who the protagonist is as she’s the only one with hair that stands out against the palette of grey, beige, and brown. Her hair is red and sticks out from her head. She’s Anina, our 10 year old protagonist.

You’ll notice the look of this animation is different to the Disney and Pixar films you’ve become used to. Firstly it’s 2D rather than the 3D used in most modern animation. Secondly, it’s uses a flat colour palette with no vibrant colours. As a result, Anina looks more like a children’s storybook rather than a vibrant Pixar film. This made it feel more whimsical and endearing.

One of my favourite stylistic moments occurs when she has a childhood memory. In the memory, the animation becomes even more basic than in the present: her facial expressions are less detailed and the background is plainer. It reflects the memories we all have, in which the detail is eroded by time.

Image result for anina

Conclusion

Like the best family films, Anina combines humour with a beautiful message about the family and friends. In addition, it’s unique animation evokes a nostalgia for children’s storybooks. If you’ve got young kids, or you still feel like a kid inside, Anina is worth a watch.

For more whimsical animation check out Song of the Sea by Tomm Moore. Also, no matter what age you are, watch Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki.

Tinpis Run – A Road Trip Across PNG with One Man and His Father-in-law

Tinpis Run Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Why Watch Tinpis Run?

If you’re looking for a light-hearted road-trip comedy
If you’re a fan of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and want to see PNG’s equivalent
To see cycles of exploitation stemming from colonialism

From: Papua New Guinea, Australasia
Watch: Watch on YouTube, IMDb
Next: Cuestion de Fe, Akasha, Tanna

One Crazy Road Trip

In the opening of Tinpis Run, Papa meets Naaki. Papa is driving one of his regular taxi routes across the highlands when he almost falls asleep at the wheel and crashes his car. Naaki pulls him out of the car and rushes him to hospital, saving him from certain death. In thanks, Papa promises Naaki his daughter’s hand in marriage (she refuses). However, despite his daughter’s refusal, Naaki convinces Papa to buy a new vehicle and get back in the taxi business to cement their new bond of friendship. Together, they drive around the country going along with whatever life throws at them, whether that’s gambling losses that force them to bond with local politician/criminals, highway robberies, and tribal warfare. Whatever misfortunes hit them, they’re treated with deadpan comedy instead of concern, much like the slapstick adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

PNG’s Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Papa and Naaki’s unlikely friendship was the first thing that reminded me of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Papa is an old highland chief making a living through his taxi business whilst Naaki is a regular guy from the city. Whilst Papa still identifies with traditional PNG life, such as tribal rivalries and giving away his daughter’s hand in marriage, Naaki rejects them. He prefers the simple manly pleasures of life such as womanizing and life by the beach. Papa’s fervor for traditionalism matches Don Quixote’s dreams of being a chivalrous knight. Naaki, like Sancho Panza, is happy to go along with Papa just to get closer to his daughter and to make a living.

Colonialism’s lasting cycles of exploitation

Under the comedy, there’s a critique of the lasting effects of colonialism. In the early scenes of the movie, when Papa is looking for a new truck to restart his taxi business with Naaki, he finds a beat-up truck being sold by a white man. Papa, old enough to remember the neocolonialist rule of the country under Australia, calls the white man ‘master’ and doesn’t question his extortionate price. His unquestioned trust of the white man shows the lasting effect of colonialism’s promotion of white superiority.

But it’s not just the white man that tries to exploit the indigenous PNG citizens. We see a PNG citizen from the mainland trying to exploit PNG citizens on the islands (as well as Papa and Naaki). He tricks Papa and Naaki into taking their car on one of his boats to a nearby island to promote his campaign in the local elections. He uses their car as a symbol of the ‘civilization’ and technology he will bring to the island if the islanders vote for him. Just as the white man used his white status to rip off Papa, this PNG citizen uses his status as a city dweller to trick the islanders. It marks that the cycles of exploitation founded in colonialism didn’t end with independence.

What to Watch Next

If you’d like to watch another light road trip adventure, head to Bolivia to watch Cuestion de Fe. There’s also Ghana’s Bigman Wahala if you want a big more laugh out loud humor.

Or if you’re looking for another film featuring characters letting life lead them where it wills, check out Sudanese film aKasha or Portugal/Cape Verde’s Djon Africa.

Lastly, for more films featuring tropical island life, go watch Jamaica’s Outdeh, and Hawaii’s August at Akiko’s. Whilst it’s not an island, Suriname’s Wan Pipel also has that same laid back tropical island feel too, and is a great film from a country without much of a film industry.

The Courtyard of Songs (O Patio das Cantigas) – Portugal

The Courtyard of Songs Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Image result for o patio das cantigas

If you’re looking for a bunch of laughs after a long hard day at work, watch this. You have the option of watching the classic original from the Portuguese golden age, or the updated version (which I’ve reviewed here). Either way, watching it is your chance to experience life in Lisbon. You’ll meet a mix of Portuguese stereotypes that you’ll quickly fall in love with.

Why Watch The Courtyard of Songs

To see life in beautiful Lisbon!
For a good, light comedy (a rarity on Film Root, for more comedy check out the German Toni Erdmann)
It’s a great alternative to art-house Portuguese film (such as Tabu or In Vanda’s Room) and the old Portuguese classics (Aniki Bobo)
It was recommended by a Lisboeta (someone from Lisbon)

The Breakdown

The film starts with a view of the neighbourhood. We can see lines of colourful bunting stretched across a courtyard in Lisbon surrounded by houses with balconies. A guy with a slicked back hair and a Mohawk walks out onto his balcony, scratches his balls, and cat calls an attractive woman walking past. The woman acknowledges him (luckily they know each other) and the narrator steps in to introduce us to all of the characters in the neighbourhood.

In this neighbourhood, everyone knows everyone. They are like one big family. They fight, they argue, but they will also support each other when it matters (such as when Amalia sings or when Evaristo bails out his neighbours). On the street, they share their emotions: their life ambitions, their love interests, and their gossip, which travels like wildfire. Gossip is their form of news. People are so eager to be on top of the local news, that they all follow the inspector round to try and solve the crime before him!

In addition, pay attention to the structure of the neighbourhood because it is typically Lisbon. The neighbourhood is divided into two levels: the street level, and the balcony level. People go to their balcony when they want to watch life in the neighbourhood and each character uses it differently. Evaristo uses it to watch out for Rosa, another character uses it to cat call girls, Amalia uses it to showcase her figure, and another uses it for his exercise bike. In contrast, people go to the streets when they want to share their emotions and party.

Conclusion

The Courtyard of Songs is great to watch to get an understanding of neighbourhood dynamics in Lisbon. The film is full of wittiness and laughs, a lot like a good episode of Friends. Watch this if you’re interested in visiting Lisbon, and if you want to go make sure you visit during the June festival!

Key of Life

Key of Life Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

You’ve had a long day at work but your mind is too active to go to sleep. You need a light comedy to watch to relax before bed. Well try Key of Life. It’s entertaining enough to keep you watching until the end, but not taxing enough to completely exhaust you for tomorrow.

Why Watch Key of Life?

You’re in the mood for an easy-to-watch, entertaining comedy
For an identity swap (you loved the body swap in Japanese anime Your Name)
Anything can happen in a Japanese bath house!
See the pre-recorded eulogy of Kanae’s father at his own funeral

The Breakdown

Key of Life opens with Kanae, a Lifestyle magazine editor. She vacuums her desk with a pocket vacuum, looks at her calendar, and circles her marriage date. She then stands up and informs her employees that she will be getting married in a few weeks and must take some time off of work. One of her employees asks who she is getting marries to but she says that she has not met him yet. Meanwhile hit-man Kondo carries out a successful murder and Sakurai, a failing actor, fails in an attempt to kill himself.

Stereotypically, the character’s rooms help build their characters. Kondo, a precise hit-man, has a very clean apartment with everything laid out and stored exactly where it should be. His apartment exudes wealth and decisiveness. In contrast, Sakurai’s wood shack is messy. This contributes to his status as a failing creative. If he can’t organise his own apartment, how can he organise his life. Lastly, whilst we don’t see Kanae’s house, we know that she is meticulous and precise like Kondo as she keeps a calendar and vacuums her desk. The director shows her vacuuming her desk to emphasise that she is a control freak.

In a similarly obvious way, the director uses music to influence the audience. The music changes from comedic major melodies to minor chords when we should be finding the film funny or tense. For example, when Sakurai is paying off his debts with Kondo’s money the music is comedic. It signifies that we should be laughing. Just like the rooms (and desk) tells us how to judge the characters, the music tells us when to feel amused or tense.

Conclusion

Key to Life is a great film to watch when you want to have a relaxing night on the sofa before you have a good night’s sleep. It is an easy-to-watch and enjoyable Japanese identity-swap comedy. However, if you want to watch something deep and challenging, I suggest you save this film for another time. There is no room for your input in this film as all the interpretation is taken out of the film. But who needs that in a comedy anyway?