gubra - love and faith in the face of adversity
Sri Delima once wrote, “We (Malaysians) have become hypersensitive, getting offended at merest hint of criticism. We are fast losing a most precious gift: the ability to laugh at ourselves.”
She went on to say, “There was a time not too long ago when it seemed we could never laugh again. But soon the jokes went round — a little bitter but deeply healing. They helped us to see our weaknesses and to start afresh.”
I couldn’t get these lines out of my head after watching GUBRA. If Sri Delima could have observed this in the 70s, by gawd nothing much has changed since. It’s scary and most discouraging, don’t you think? Sure, we have slapsticks in forms of SCENARIO but until SEPET, it felt like the things we want to talk about the most were unable to see the light of the day — in the Malaysia movie scene anyway. What do you mean, felt like? Okay… you know what I mean 
In regards to Sri Delima’s observations, I felt that SEPET was a good healing start as any, and GUBRA took it further. Both stories are bold (for our regressive standards), the subtle swipes in the dialogues all too familiar, the unspoken words acknowledged. In Yasmin Ahmad’s movies, we celebrate our diversity and hope that our cultural differences make us stronger as a community, and maybe in the not so far future, as a nation. If more SEPETs and GUBRAs are made and allowed (not to mention allowed to be made for it is not cheap to make a movie — where are the promised loans?!?!?), no doubt we’d heal faster.
When you watch GUBRA, you can’t help thinking of SEPET. You can’t help comparing the two movies and so I’m giving it to you like that. The difference between SEPET and GUBRA is that SEPET mainly tells one story while GUBRA has two stories — one of the continuation of Orked’s life and the other of a lower class kampung style with the family of a Muslim cleric and his neighbours who were prostitutes. Yasmin did a clever job going back and forth the two stories as if it was the most natural thing in the world; it was like LOTR: The Two Towers — though the two storylines in GUBRA were not exactly connected, the struggles, hurt, pain, love and faith both sides felt were all too human, despite their different lives and being on the opposite sides of the economic scale.
And while SEPET is a little more light-hearted, GUBRA is a tad more serious and heavy with plenty of emotional hurdles not unfamiliar to a lot of Malaysians.
And if you do not want to read spoilers, feel free to skip the next few paragraphs and proceed to the one after the photo with Harith Iskander in it.
Quite a few spoilers ahead, feel free to skip to the next paragraph after the next photo. I didn’t know the storyline of GUBRA before watching it (though I did watch SEPET) so you could do the same too.
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LAST WARNING…. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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First of all, Jason died in SEPET. So sad. I know the last couple minutes of the movie left many people puzzled and going WTF; in GUBRA it was made absolutely sure that Jason did die in the motorbike accident so the story could continue as it was. Trust me, I spent 2 years wondering what the hell was with that last scene.
The movie opens with Mas (Norkhiriah) lovingly preparing bread and butter with kaya for her Muslim cleric husband (Nam Ron). Their affectionate interplay was amusing to see, though I doubt some conservative types would agree with the cleric’s behaviour. On his way to ‘officiate’ the Subuh prayers, he meets his neighbours Temah (Rozie Rashid) and Kiah (Juliana Ibrahim) returning from their illegal night operation. But there was no disdain on the cleric’s side, only warm and playful jibes were exchanged. This the same cleric who patted a lame dog (I expect dissent from certain parties).
On the other side of town, Orked (Sharifah Amani) having returned from England, had married Arif (Adlin Aman Ramlie). Their chemistry is enjoyable to see, and the change of feelings when she discovered Arif’s infidelity only goes to show their superb acting ability. I realised something about Adlin — he can be as versatile as he wants to, but when it comes to moments of uncertainty, he has this habit of standing in a slouching manner with his hand on his hips, looking quite lost (in a very unnatural way). This I noticed in Puteri Gunung Ledang the movie; and that was why I thought he was crap in it. In PGL the musical however, he shone like a star. In GUBRA, he was a bit of both. Go figure.
Anyway before we see Arif cheating on Orked, we see Orked’s family in upheaval for her father (Harith Iskander) had collapsed, leaving her mother (Ida Nerina) devastated and unable to control her emotions. Kak Yam (Adibah Noor) took charge of the situation until they were in the hospital — you have to really appreciate Adibah Noor’s fabulous timing for comedy especially in her delivery of lines (”By the time your ambulance arrives, my child would be in Primary One.”)
In the hospital Orked unexpectedly meets Alan (Alan Lee), Jason’s elder brother. His father had been warded for a slight ‘accident’ and needless to say, you see the return of the Cantonese-speaking father (Thor Kah Hoong) and the Malay pasar-speaking mother (Tan Mei Ling). Orked and Alan becomes fast friends, though I felt that Jason’s chemistry with Orked in SEPET was easier to watch than Alan’s a bit ‘kaku’ performance with Orked in GUBRA. It was not very believable that Alan’s character had a 6 year old dotter too. But the pecs were nice 
Orked’s story continues with how she coped with her husband’s infidelity. Meanwhile Temah discovered that she was HIV-positive, which made her resolve to be a better Muslim and eventually leave the flesh trade. Kiah, bound to being brutally used until she had enough money to return to her own village met with a tragic ending, thanks to Ki (Khir Rahman), who was either a gambler or a drug addict, I wasn’t sure.
/end revealing synopsis.
Yah, I know I spelt ‘Iskander’ as ‘Iskandar’. My bad.
The storylines of GUBRA are quite simple and can be found in a lot of everyday lives. The script has a whole lot of mixed languages like how Malaysians are prone to converse — i.e. two or more languages in one sentence delivered flawlessly by the actors without so much as batting an eyelid. The stellar performances of Sharifah Amani, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Rozie Rashid, Norkhiriah, Tan Mei Ling, Juliana Ibrahim, Ida Nerina, Harith Iskander, Adibah Noor and (I never thought I’d say this, thanks to M! The Opera) Khir Rahman who portrayed humanity at its best and worst gave GUBRA certain emotionally-charged moments that are hard to forget. It makes you proud that this is a movie with real Malaysian content (Erna says that it is not really a Malaysian movie because the ‘Lain-lain’ races were not highlighted at all) and in an idealistic world we are not afraid to acknowledge our shortcomings. Welcome them with open arms, heal with patches of good ol’ cloth ‘plaster’ (band aid).
In our ideal world, GUBRA escapes the National Censorship Board without so much as a scratch. Luckily in real life it did, so maybe idealism is something good to hold on to.
Yasmin Ahmad is a superb, optimistic and much honest story teller. You HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE to watch GUBRA, feel free to make up your own mind about the movie but you HAVE HAVE HAVE HAVE to watch it in the first place.
GUBRA opens in Malaysian cinemas on the 6th of April. Must watch. Must watch. Must watch. Must watch. Must watch. My review is a bit n00b but I don’t care. Must watch GUBRA must watch GUBRA must watch GUBRA must watch GUBRA must watch GUBRA must watch GUBRA. Oh yah, when the credits roll, stay for a bit to see something wtf. If you do not want to see something wtf, you can leave. I don’t care either way, just go see go see go see go see go see go see go see go see!
Essential links:
Sepet (2004) on IMDB.
Gubra (2006) on IMDB.
Yasmin Ahmad’s blog
More blog reviews:
Sultan Muzaffar (who watched and reviewed the rough cut last October)
Erna Mahyuni (who ajak-ed me to the screening, yeay! Thankees!)
Jom! watch together. Wednesday movie. Nak?
6 more days! 6 more days! can’t wait!
I hate u shawn for watching it THIS EARLY and put spoiler on.. Arhhh..
i mean suanie.
as shawn = suan
Suanie:
eh I got force you to read spoiler ka? Kan I say, SKIP THE BLOODY THING? kekekeke you sendiri tak leh tahan, don’t la blame me
waaaht?! eeps, i saw it in January and STILL haven’t done my review. Urgh. *slaps head* Yes, it’s a great watch!
Suanie:
I’m watching it again!
suanie,
u did watch until the end of credit roll right? jason hidup laaaa……
Suanie:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!!!!
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throughout the movie he was dead. you see jason’s parents offering him incense at the altar. before that the dad was saying, so this the female who caused my son’s death? the ending was a bit wtf to me. if you know, explain la..
the best part was the dog touching scene… Totally trancended…
wah..u noticed also. actually not only in pgl the movie, in PGL the musical also adlin did the same thing too. they way he stand sama saja every movie.
Suanie:
yah kah? except the LRT ad lah hehe
‘We (Malaysians) have become hypersensitive, getting offended at merest hint of criticism.’
I bet they organised protests over that comment.
‘We are fast losing a most precious gift: the ability to laugh at ourselves.’
If you can’t laugh at yourself, laugh at Americans. Everyone else does.
‘If more SEPETs and GUBRAs are made and allowed … no doubt we’d heal faster.’
You could always rub beer on where it hurts.
Might be considering the watch, but I don’t know, really….I mean, are the actors really as good as you say? ^_^;;
Besides, my mind’s still poisoned by V For Vendetta….especially the music. I’ll let you in on a few tunes, if I spot you online, Suanie-chan…^_^;;
Cheerio.
Suanie:
it is not an action film like V, but it has its moments
Must. Go.. Watch. o_o
[…] Jika berminat sila baca ulasan yang dibuat oleh mereka; Sultanmuzaffar Hati terdetik, minda terlihat, mata bersuara dan telinga berfikir Suanie Love & faith in the face of adversity Mahyuni After Sepet Klubbkidd Gubra The Sun Yasmin's magical moments Utusan Gubra ada babak bilal pegang anjing Berita Harian Yasmin terus merajuk IMDb Gubra movieXclusive Gubra, A very Gubra dinner Tomorrow Very the Gubra! […]
I am so DEFINITELY watching Gubra. Been waiting for it for about a year! You lucky thing you get to see it ahead. I am planning to get the VCV/DVD as well. In fact, I did that for Sepet. I went to see it in the cinema twice and bought the VCD (ori punya)
Thanks for the review. Let me go see it and perhaps we can exchange reviews after this.
Suanie:
I think you will enjoy it much.
Okay
Gubra
There’s one overdue film review that’s been sitting in my unpublished section since January. And since it begins showing in cinemas this week, I know I have to give Gubra a good sit down and write it out now. Warning,…
ooooh…i didn’t watch the part after the end credits…the stupid cinema turned on the lights and motioned for us to leave…geram betul…can you mail me and tell me in detail about the ending?
Suanie:
check your e-mail
Hi,hi, Su!
yes, i’ve watched SEPET b4 GUBRA. infact SEPET few times in VCD b4 i watched it again on Astro (few times). like u, i’ve been wondering what happened to Jason. wud there b sum kinda ’surprise’, etc. but sadly, Jason’s gone in GUBRA… sob, sob…
watched GUBRA last weekend wth my sis n 2 cousin. was supposed to watch Bujang Senang but i convinved them to watch GUBRA.
all in all i’m pretty happy wth GUBRA. its NOTHING like ur typical, predictable Malay movies. i like movies that can make one think NOT just for pure entertainment. Yasmin has been quite bold, but still NOT overboard. i can u/stand why. but i can’t recall ever seen a naked bum in any Malaysian movie for as long as i cud remember. U go, Yasmin n whoever tht naked bum fella is. haha!
As 4 da cast, i say Amani is superb! Harith n Ida were fun. Adibah, owez wth da best line at da rite time. hehe! Rozie n Juliana were also gud. da religious couple also nice. hey, being relgious doesn’t mean one doesn’t have normal desires, rite? even Adam n Eve fell for it… as 4 da 2 guys, i’m in LOVE wth Alan n LUST wth Adlin. haha! ok, go on n have a gud laugh bout Adlin. i think he got nice butt n fierce looking man they say make a gud partner in… go figure. haha! hey, thts wat this movie is all about la, rite. do NOT feel ashamed of the reality. there’s no such thing as happy ending la. reality bites!
ok la, i got final exam paper 2mro. will sembang2 again once i’m done. TQ 4 ur preview Su!
cheers,
Lini
p/s: 4got to tell u, i met Yasmin in KLIA last year. managed to take a pic wth her. was so excited 4got 2 intro myself. not tht it matters. she was otw 2 Kuching n me back 2 Kota Kinabalu. she’s 1 lovely n humble lady, thts 4 sure!
It’s Good!!!!
As I watched it in KK, they cut the additional stuff after the closing credits!!!!
Kudos to Yasmin!!!!!!!!
She’s the best around.
More from her please…….
Suanie:
Are you Lini Lee’s lecturer? hahahhaa
just peeking! hehe!
eyo again, Sue!
today public holiday bah. tht CKTan sounds famliar. hope he’s NOT my former lecturer. Gulp! haha!
cheers2!
p/s: read from Storyteller there’s been sum kinda ‘hura2′ somebody sabotage GUBRA’s tix sales by sumbody who told ppl tix were sold out when infact its not. guess just so ppl won’t go n c da movie. wat sort of person whoever tht prick is.
Suanie:
yeah I just read about it on Yasmin Ahmad’s blog. Sounds suspicious. OH THE DRAMAAAAA
i’ve watched it… all i have 2 say is…. gorgeous
Suanie:
agreed
Su!
dropping a short note b4 m off 2 bed. got another paper 2mro. went 2 peek at Yasmin’s blog again earlier. reading the comments, i can’t u/stand y sum ppl cannot just enjoy the movie w/out bithing about it. i mean, ppl who r jst so uptight about sum ‘taboo’ stuff. eleh, i’d say these ppl sud end up being priests/monks/ustaz, etc, holly2.
sorry, it just pisses me off when ada org yg over sgt la. mayb bcoz i’m a Sabahan la kot. but i have Muslim families n good friends. even Malay cousins in Seremban.
the biggest problem we have over here in sabah isn’t the race or religion differences but the floods of illegal immigrants. much2 bigger issue actually.
so, there. nite2!
cheers,
Lini
Ladies and Gents:
Catch Gubra casts live at Movie Carnival 2006 at Berjaya Time Square, Apr 22 & 23, 2006.
Confirmed artistes: Alan Yun, Ida Nerina, Tan Mei Ling, Adibah Noor and Norkhiriah.
Still awaiting confirmation from the rest.
Cheers.
(Suanie: I wanna see you there! It’s my event!)
Just a quick one here on the movie.
Gubra is greater than Sepet (although I like Sepet more) cause it goes deeper into love. Love is great, isn’t it?
Suanie:
I think GUBRA is more complex and attempts to take in more. Tho I like GUBRA’s different kind of love.
Damn you cinema people for turning on the lights so early!!!
Someone please tell me what happened in the epilogue….PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU!
Arrghhhh!! This is so killing me!!
MUST.BUY.DVD
(p.s i am not psychotic)
Suanie:
check your email
[…] Like my friend Dom mentioned here, he’s doing some stuff etc etc etc movie carnival etc etc etc Berjaya Times Square etc etc etc this weekend April 23rd, Sunday etc etc etc meet the stars of GUBRA. […]
Your website has imparted a lot of knowledge.Thanks!
Suanie:
oh? Like what?
If you weren’t using a tmnet IP, I’d have marked you as spam.
Then again, maybe you *are* spam…
nope…???
i’ve found another website about gubra
i’ve found lots of fans in gubra and i’m so happy
not only me love gubra so sepet
tq
WELL, GUBRA SOUNDS NICE. MY DAD’S LOOKING FOR IT EVERYWHERE AND I HEARD ALOT ABOUT IT FROM MY FRIENDS. HOPE TO WATCH IT SOON…
I WATCH SEPET JUST NOW, AND AT SOME PARTS TOUCHING. BY THE WAY, DID JASON DIE IN THE END AFTER BEING KNOCKED DOWN?
Excellent review
[…] So fun. I heart Ryan Star. Ikan tenggiri, ikan yu, jaga diri, I love you! (yeah, copied those lines from GUBRA) […]
I hate Sepet! Didn’t like any one bit of it.. was bored to death.. that’s the reason I never had the urge to watch Gubra… until those controversial stuffs came out.. lol.. but still..haven’t watched Gubra yet.. but will probably do when i bump it on Astro. Well different ppl have different taste i guess..
i watched Gubra twice and searh on d internet to fine answers for certain things in this film. I really like sepet not to mention gubra s well. Gubra has made me keep on thinking while and after watching. Yasmin left us with full of questions and make us to make our own assumptions(thats what i did).But till now, i’m still looking for the answer for d last scene where jason is still alive! coz he act died coz in Gubra got these few lines confirming this. Btw, both sepet n gubra are not those typical boring malay movie..
i think the show which shown in Singapore for the past two days have brought many singaporean to watch it again and again..well the i certainly like the shown especially Sepet..and Gubra..it tells all that love is blind and its not wrong to fall in love with other races..this shown makes the mind and thinking of other culture positve…and they try to make an open..well this is my first time watching a sucessful love story that had been film by a malay director..and it the best among the best..cannot denied that this show has top the list..well done to the cast and crews
[…] So far it has been like Star Wars — the director made the final three movies and decades later, made the first three movies in the series. Thank goodness we didn’t have to wait that long, so let’s recap a bit here. Sepet was the story of ORKED in her late teens, falling in love with JASON. No one but Yasmin Ahmad really knew whether JASON died at the end, so we had Gubra, where an adult ORKED was married to ARIF and had a thing for ALAN, who was JASON’s brother. So in MUKHSIN, we have a young ORKED with her first love. Like that lah. […]
[…] It took an immense amount of courage to have her long and lustrous lock shaved off in an attempt to fit into the character of her latest movie, Mualaf (The Convert); directed by none other than our very own Yasmin Ahmad, the awards winning director well known for her television commercial of Petronas, as well as her previous works of Sepet (2004), Gubra (2005) and Mukhsin (2006), each had their share in winning numerous international and local industry’s awards. […]
[…] Ash Nair as Freddy the Toad, seemed to have a great on-stage chemistry with Vince. Which is a good thing, since he played best friend to Vince’s character, Eddy the Frog. Thor reprises his role as the grumpy father (Sepet, Gubra, The Homecoming). He didn’t sing but he looked really grumpy Ina Fabregas who was Helen the Longkang Fish and love of Eddy’s life sounded good. I loved her costume as well! Every time she came on, I thought her arms would drop from too much waving. Fish mah… […]