Catching Clouds

Azharr Rudin, one of local rising young filmmaker, will be releasing his debut feature film, Punggok Rindukan Bulan next Thursday, 25th until 8th October at GSC Cinema in Pavilion, Mid Valley, One Utama and Gurney Plaza, Penang. From Da Huang Pictures, Punggok is;

A film about a boy, barely in secondary school, Sidi and his father Adman, who both unknowingly cope with the sudden absence of a key female figure in their life. Set in the border town of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The literal meaning of the title is a Malay saying “like the owl misses the moon” a reflection of unrequited (and unconsummated) longing.

Trailer

Although Punggok is Azharr’s first feature, he already has an impressive portfolio under his belt including last year’s telefilm Benda Aneh Bernama Cinta, shortfilm The Amber Sexology, and his first Dancing Kites to name a few.

His works have been screened in various international film festivals from Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo, Toronto, Tehran, Yogjakarta, Prague, Rotterdam, Cork, Sydney, Los Angeles, and soon Vancouver for Punggok and managed to grab a couple of awards like 2007’s Best Short Film for Majidee at the Hawaiian International Film Festival.

I watched the film’s pre-screening a couple of weeks ago and I have to say after watching all of Azharr’s work, this film is his best offer yet, albeit the unfinished sound mixing at that time. It does have a new style of story telling and filmmaking, different from other local offerings. Mainstream audiences shouldn’t have a problem digesting it as his signature experimental style was abit toned down, though still intact.

Punggok is a very sweet, funny, simple story and as his other films, personal too. Though we could relate to the film’s theme of the human need to have a sense of belonging to someone or something while dealing with change or life transitions. The film pays tribute and built upon that learning process.

Named as The Star’s 2006 ‘Filmmaker To Watch Out’, and one of Yasmin Ahmad’s favorite local director(quoted at one of her film workshops), Azharr’s cinematic journey is just about to shine.

Poster by Shahril Nizam

More on Azharr’s compilation of past works’ releases at The Ricecooker here.

Read his latest interview with Syed Syahrul Zarizi on Sireh & Cengkeh here.

(Azharr’s experimental short, Eaten By Time, which he did for Apostrophe Gallery’s 2007 ‘Short Short Film’ as the mentor, will be screened at Valentine Willie Fine Art Gallery in Bangsar for the ‘Southeast Asian Video Screening‘ starting this Saturday 20th.)