KUALA LUMPUR – WeTV iflix has tapped into the issue of mental health in its latest offering, "Aku Bukan Gila".
Starring popular actors Fasha Sandha and Beto Kusyairy, the Rahila Ali-directed film was made available exclusively on the streaming service for free starting on Tuesday (October 6).
The movie, which was shot in North Wales and Malaysia, is a romantic drama film which depicts the struggles of a person who suffers from bipolar disorder.
For Rahila, the challenges faced by those suffering from mental health issues hits close to home, leading her to choose this theme despite it being a "heavy topic".
"I have a friend who wanted to take her own life a few times, so I was moved by her," she said during the launch ceremony of the film at Flamingo Hotel here, recently.
She added she had another friend who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and this prompted her to find ways to cooperate with others in raising awareness on mental health.
"Aku Bukan Gila" is tipped to be a gripping story about main character Adra (played by Fasha) who flees to Beddgelert Village in North Wales to clear her mind following the death of her mother.
In Wales, Adra meets Andre (Beto), with whom she does not see eye-to-eye at first, but the two eventually work out their differences.
As Adra pries more into Andre's past, the latter begins to feel uncomfortable and starts to question her state of mind.
The movie intends to portray the complexities of the lead characters and provide an insightful look into mental health.
Fasha said that portraying the character, Adra, was an entirely new experience.
"I have never played the character of a woman who is facing mental health issues.
"Having to switch moods in a short period of time was among the main challenges, from being happy to suddenly becoming moody," she said.
The movie, which was produced by Pencil Pictures, was shot in October 2018 over the span of nine days in Wales and one day in Malaysia.
WeTV Iflix country manager Aik Kuang Heng said the company is always looking to add a wider selection of local content to audiences to help build and empower the local film industry.
The company aims to continue supporting local talent in order to be the premium platform in distributing high quality local content.
Film buffs can view the movie for free on iflix.com or on its app available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store. – The Vibes, October 7, 2020
