"Abang" Film Journal

“Abang (1981)” was directed by Dato Haji Rahim Razali and he also known as the writer of the film. In this film, Abang Fuad, the eldest in the family was sudden departed to London a decade ago. His family was worried about him until one day, Abang Fuad leaved a message that he is coming back to Kuala Lumpur. When Abang Fuad returned to his origin place, he tried all his effort making life as normal as he can meanwhile kept his big secret from the whole family members. At first, Abang Fuad had conflict with his younger brothers, Abang Faizal and Abang Farid. Abang Fuad had some personal relationship problem previously with Mona who was Abang Faizal’s wife. Abang Farid and his wife, Naz was so close together and Naz was a fashion woman as she was involved in fashion line. Abang Fuad kept a big secret for more than ten years. Unfortunately, his family only gets to know that he was having leukemia on the last day itself. It was related to the past incident where he saved his sister, Dila in a laboratory during a fire. Thinking back, Abang Faizal and Abang Farid was so sad and regret for what they viewed on Abang Fuad previously for been not being filial to the family. In fact, their elder brother was the greatest and scarified for his family.

There are four forms of hybridity such as cultural, gender, language and racial hybrid. In this film, the main three forms of hybridity will be applied which are cultural, language and racial hybrid. Cultural hybrid in this film inserts western culture to attract the audience. For example, a Malay woman can be modern but at the same time, she is still modern. In the search of Malay identity, ones can be remain modern. In this film, the term “east meets west” means Abang Fuad’s family practiced more western culture where we can see from their dressings and conversation. There are few highlighted scenes showing the cultural hybrid. We can see there is open relationship in the film. Abang Fuad asked forgiveness from Mona for the past mistakes. At the same time, Mona was married to Abang Faizal and she had been caught meeting with Abang Fuad in the house. Besides that, scene where the family organized a party for the return of Abang Fuad also shows the cultural hybrid applied. In the party, Abang Farid was drinking heavily even though he is Malay. Moreover, Naz also shows she is a modern woman because she involved in fashion line. The film also portrays Dila as a modern Malay woman as she was having car racing, performed in the club and the way she dressed. Mother also practiced western culture where she asked Abang Faizal and Mona not to wait Abang Fuad in earlier party. This is because there is a belief in Malay culture where younger should wait for elder. For Abang Fuad, he portrayed as modern, educated, successful Malay without losing the original Malay culture identity. The scene was highlighted where Abang Farid was scolded by Abang Fuad for not practicing the Malay culture and been rude to Abang Fuad. The return of Abang Fuad tried to retify the “adat” in the family. The film began with western music and ended with Malay music.

The second hybridity, language hybrid applied in the film showing that Malay language is still the main language meanwhile English language was occasionally been used in the conversation. This is clearly shows that the family is educated modern. There are few scenes were highlighted for the mentioned hybrid. In the beginning of the film, Abang Faizal said “ghost from the past” during a conversation with his wife, Mona. Another scene showing English language was used in the film when Abang Fuad asked Dila “do you miss me” and at the same time, Dila answered “silly question”. Even though the entire film is produced in Malay language but the western culture in terms of language was applied especially in some conversation.

Last but not least, the racial hybrid also portray in the film. Business community is one of the biggest communities in the film where we can see many different jobs portrayed. Throughout this film, it shows an open-minded Malaysian and the national identity for the nation is clearly portrayed in some scenes. In the beginning of the film, the elevator scene where there is Chinese people showing that the film does not only emphasize on Malay community. Meanwhile, there are a multiracial and multi culture people including the foreign western people attending the party. On the other hand, the father’s secretary is a Chinese and they do communicate well with each other. In the middle of the film, there is a scene where “Perarakan” show was performed by a group of Malays. There is a Chinese word shown in the scene. Mona also practiced Chinese culture where she fanning herself with a Chinese fan in the party. Malaysia is an urban modern city but yet it still practice multi ethnic cultural. Mona always portrayed as traditional Malay woman but she was westernized before when she had Abang Fuad’s child. In conclusion, a person should not let go the origin cultural identity even though we want to be success, educated and modern.