MUALLAF by Yasmin Ahmad's

Two Malaysian sisters, Rohani and Rohana, run away from home to escape their wealthy father’s mistreatment. They find refuge in a small town where they get to know Brian Goh, a young Catholic schoolteacher. Brian is irresistibly attracted to the two girls. Impressed by their extraordinary courage in the face of adversity, their relationship forces him to confront the ghosts of his own childhood.

Director Yasmin Ahmad explores the possibilities of emotional survival after being traumatised by loved ones. Through the wanderings of three lost souls who band together and console one another, Muallaf celebrates friendship, forgiveness, and the coming to terms with the past.

Cast
Sharifah Amani Syed Zainal Rashid,

Sharifah Aleysha Syed Zainal Rashid,

and introducing Brian Yap (Brian)

杨雁雁 Yeo Yann Yann {Cindy), (Jack Neo's Love Matter 幸福万岁, Colin Goh & Woo Yan Yan's 'Singapore Dreaming', Daniel Hui's 'The Bracelet', Anthony Chen's 'Ah Ma', Royston Tan's '881' and Boo Junfeng's Berlinale bound short film "Tanjong Rhu")

Rahim Razali (Datuk)

Ning Baizura (Datin)

Tony Savarimutu (Brother Anthony)

Hazel Fernandez (Mrs. Siva)

Haris Zakaria (Yasmin's very own nephew plays the young Brian)

Ho Yuhang (Private Investigator) (Director of the film 'Rain Dogs')

Tan Mei Ling (Brian's mother) (Played Jason's mother in Sepet)

Producer:
Ros Kassim (Sepet, Tan Hong Ming [TVC])

Cinematography
Keong Low (Rabun, Sepet, Gubra, Mukhsin, Muallaf, Tan Hong Ming TVC and many more)

Set Design
Zaini Abdul Latif

Poster keyart
Ng Choo Seong (Jason of Sepet)

Post Production Supervisor
Elyna Shukri (Gubra, Producer)

Screenplay
Yasmin Ahmad

Director
Yasmin Ahmad

(Malaysia, 35mm, Dolby Digital, 1.85:1, 80 mins, English (90%), Malay & Chinese with English Subtitles)

Copyright 2008, MHz Film Sdn Bhd

Jointly Released in Singapore by Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd & Lighthouse Pictures.


Yasmin Ahmad Filmography

1. Rabun (My Failing Eyesight)

2. Sepet (Chinese Eyes)

3. Gubra (Anxiety)

4. Mukhsin

5. Muallaf (The Convert)

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MUALLAF Director's Notes:

A good friend once told me that as a child, he was caught masturbating by his strict Catholic parents and was consequently stripped naked by them and thrown out into the streets.

Soon after, my nephew told me that his Muslim girlfriend had her head shaved bald by her own father, as punishment for dating a non-Muslim
boy.

These two accounts left me wondering how some people could survive such emotionally traumatic experiences in their childhood, inflicted upon them by the people who loved them. I also wondered what would happen if the Catholic boy met the Muslim girl.

As I was writing the script about these two worlds colliding, I myself realised that I had survived the dark patches in my own childhood by the simple yet heavy act of forgiving the people who had wronged me.

I knew at the very onset that this was a potentially heavy story. I also knew even then that I was not interested in making a heavy film. In order to determine the weight of the story, I created an analogy for myself: this film would be like 'tom yum' soup. Clear, but spicy and tangy.

And in this way, "Muallaf" was conceived. - Yasmin Ahmad

http://yasminthefilmmaker.blogspot.com

How to get to Cathay Cineplex Causeway Point? (For Malaysians and those who don't know)

1. By taxi - tell driver Causeway Point. Everyone knows this mall.

2. By MRT train (S$1.50 max) - Station name is Woodlands.

3. Coming from Johor - Take Singapore Bus Serivce number 170 (Larkin or City Square bus stop opposite City Sq) into Singapore and drop at Kranji MRT station. The bus drops you right in front of the station. Catch the Marina Bay bound train to Woodlands. This should cost you under one dollar. Stop at Woodlands station.

4. Coming from Orchard Road. Catch the Jurong East bound MRT train. Travel northwards and stop at Woodlands station. Cost
5. Coming from Jurong East MRT train station- Catch the Marina Bay bound train and stop at Woodlands station. Cost
6. Coming straight from Changi Airport Terminal 1/2/3 (Air Asia/ Singapore Airlines/ Malaysia Airlines). Go to Terminal 2 via Free skytrain at the airport. Go to Terminal 2 MRT station. Go to Terminal 2 MRT station. Board ANY train and you will need to drop at Tanah Merah terminal station. Exit on the LEFT door platform and catch the train that goes to City Hall MRT station. Board the train and get off at City Hall MRT interchange station and catch the MRT train at the opposite platform that is Jurong East bound and get off at Woodlands MRT station. Cost
7. Coming from Changi Airport Budget terminal (Tiger Airways). Catch free airport bus shuttle to Terminal 2. Go to Terminal 2 MRT station. Board ANY train and you will need to drop at Tanah Merah terminal station. Exit on the LEFT door platform and catch the train that goes to City Hall MRT station. Board the train and get off at City Hall MRT interchange station and catch the MRT train at the opposite platform that is Jurong East bound and get off at Woodlands MRT station. Cost S$1.50 (Journey 1.5hr approx.)

8. Here is another option which I just found out. There is a bus that goes to Causeway Point from Changi Airport. Faster route would be, go down to the bus terminal and take bus number 858 directly to Woodlands regional interchange. From Woodlands regional interchange, take the escalator up to Causeway Point. this will take about 45 mins to 1hr ride. By MRT train it will take 1.5hrs to 2 hrs. Plus bus number 858 can be found in both terminals 1 and 2.
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