Abang Adik (2023)

Abang Adik (2023). 1h 55m

“Brace yourself for an unexpectedly gripping, gritty, humorous, and tear-jerking Malaysian film with a Taiwanese twist. Prepare for a rollercoaster of heartbreaking twists and spectacular acting!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDonu0026#39;t underestimate this film! I was a newbie to Malaysian cinema and didnu0026#39;t know what to expect. But as they say, u0026#39;donu0026#39;t judge a book by its coveru0026#39; (or in this case, u0026#39;a movie by its posteru0026#39;). This film matched the quality and storytelling of Taiwanese cinema, so donu0026#39;t make the same mistake I did!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story revolves around two brothers on a mission to secure their Malaysian ICs, crucial for employment and escaping a life of misery. However, their plan takes a 180-degree turn when a crime takes place.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis dilemma highlights a broader issue in Malaysiau0026#39;s management of their Identity Cards (ICs). The issue of illegal immigrants counterfeiting these ICs to secure employment is woven into the narrative, offering an insightful look into a significant societal challenge.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAmidst the central theme, the film weaves in subplots of romance and brotherhood, enriching its emotional tapestry.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe acting will leave you in tears… There are many parts of the film where my heart sank and tears welled up in my eyes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere were many moments in the film where I silently exclaimed, u0026#39;WHAT THE HECKu0026#39; and u0026#39;OH NO.u0026#39; The movie provides subtle clues bit by bit, allowing you to piece together the plot yourself before it reveals the pivotal points that will make you go, u0026#39;OHH!u0026#39; Whether some of the plot twists are justified remains questionable…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWu Kang-ren, a Taiwanese actor portraying the deaf-mute brother, absolutely nailed the role of Abang. Although his character had no spoken lines, you could feel his pent-up frustration, misery, and sadness in the way he communicated through sign language.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor example, a line in the movie, u0026#39;Do you know how hard my life is?u0026#39; wouldnu0026#39;t, in my opinion, have been as impactful if exclaimed rather than signed. Wu Kang-renu0026#39;s performance was really superb.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you appreciate stories that are driven by intricate plots and rich character development, this is a must-watch. A word of caution for the squeamish: while not overtly gory, the film does contain scenes with a fair amount of blood.”