SOCIAL drama Abang Adik, already a winner at the Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF), was named best film and winner of the Golden Mulberry prize at the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine.
Abang Adik tells the story of two undocumented brothers, including one who is deaf and mute, who have to rely on one another as they confront life's harsh truths. Jack Tan, a Malaysian actor, and Wu Kang Ren, a Taiwanese actor, play the lead roles.
Malaysian producer and director Jin Ong collected the White Mulberry prize for best debut feature and Abang Adik received a third prize chosen by the festival’s season pass holders.
Second place went to South Korea with Chang Hang-jun’s Rebound, while third place went to Japan with Suzuki Masayuki’s Yudo.
At the end of March, Abang Adik received the Audience Award and the Ecumenical Jury Award from the FIFF in Switzerland.
“I am honoured for the film to have had a world premiere at FIFF. Frankly speaking, it is a great recognition to win the Audience Award. After all, it is a Malaysian story. The subject matter is from a long-term social issue in Malaysia, that of statelessness,” he said in an interview with The Vibes.
Since 2014, Jin Ong has produced several films, including Shuttle Life, The Gathering, In My Heart, Miss Andy, and The Paradise.
With Abang Adik he hopes to raise awareness on the issue of statelessness. He believes that the movie's true appeal lies in the love that the two brothers share. Despite society's mistreatment of them, their bond gives them the strength to survive. – The Vibes, May 1, 2023
