Noob Film Review - Motif by Nadiah Hamzah

Trailer

Synopsis

In a small town of Tanah Merah, Kelantan, Anna the daughter of the town successful businessman Hussein (Rosyam Nor) is missing. Handling the case is the town police constable which is also his nephew. Since the case has gone stale, Bukit Aman has sent a young girl Inspector Dewi (Sharifah Amani), to handle the case, which has cause discomfort to Hussein and his nephew.

Spoiler review

The arrival of Dewi into Tanah Merah has started a conflict between her character and of Hussein’s. Hussein obviously have something to cover and Dewi wants to expose him.

What these two characters have in common is each is a representation of the islamic marriage institution especially in Malaysia. Hussein representing a polygamist in near the Thailand border which is infamous with ‘kahwin lari’ and Dewi is a professional and also a second wife from Kuala Lumpur.

Hussein vs Dewi

Both have their inner conflict but the one that is being shown more is Dewi’s. All her plight being shown with the scene sleeping in the car in a rainy night, laying alone in pain in the hospital bed and standing alone in a misty spiral staircase, as her life going on a downward spiral.

Two opposites clashed
Close to the end, both character projects their conflict outward towards each other. Hussein versus Dewi. Dewi sees her polygamist husband in Hussein and Hussein sees her daughter Anna in Dewi. Anna has gone down because she was about to blow her father’s polygamy cover.

Yasmin is a sex worker in a brothel in Tanah Merah (ironic) and also Hussein’s second wife from their ‘kawin lari’. There is a parallel between Dewi and Yasmin as both lives as second wife. In the end, Yasmin is smiling from ear to ear.
Shots from the trailer showing similarity between these two characters

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Religion is being used as a cover. Getting married in Thailand is ok as long as it is legit in Islam. Eventough the true intent is to hide from the Malaysian family and to maintain public image, at all cost. Especially if you are a succesful recognised businessman like Hussein.

Thailand border is a favourite location for story of tension and conflict in Malaysian film since Jogho, Bunohan and indirectly in Budak Kelantan. The place where culture and religion is similar but divided by the border drawn by colonialism (nationalism?)
He knew
The catalyst is the Inspector from Bukit Aman who saw the whole picture and send Dewi (who he knows just got married as a second wife) to handle Anna’s case. He knows something about Hussein that no one else knows!

The scenario is a smaller scale of a familiar societal conflict and political scene. Money spent, money lost, people got murdered and denials.

The motive is? Power, lust and money.

Thanks @teammalaysia!
#teammalaysia