DARI JEMAPOH KE MANCHESTEE A Film By Hishamuddin Rais
by Zaim Al-Amin

For those of you who are tired of watching some heavily bearded castaway talking to a painted volleyball named Wilson, or politically-right but historically-wrong versions of that incident at Pearl Harbour which happened when you or your fathers were still in diapers, or who wanted to puke at John Travolta's new villain-with-a-hairline-beard character (which you just cannot stomach since you still relate him to some disco freak in Saturday Nite Fever) or who are simply sick of Hollywood-churned American propaganda, or have watched one movie too many of Bollywood-churned macho Khans rolling around with pretty Kapoors; well, here's something closer to home.

Coming soon; a movie by a man who is definitely `in' nowadays (meaning somewhere `in' Kamunting under ISA detention); yeah, directed by The Man Himself - Hishamuddin Rais, produced by Halim Sabir and Pitscairn Pictures, featuring nobody that you have heard of (sorry guys; no Awie, Norman Hakim, Ziana Zain or Maya Karin this time around) but talented fresh faces.

So, what's special, you might ask. Special, because it is a movie about vision; not the glamourized Vision 2020 maybe; but a vision nevertheless. A movie about dreams and inspirations; about daring to change; about `perjuangan', a struggle that somehow does not revolve around a group of policemen flirting with two pretty Inspectors in their unit under the pretext of busting some tattoo-sporting illegal VCD crooks.

A movie that would appeal to all cross-sections of society; in honour of family values, treasures of friendship, gay relationship, heavy metals, punks; as well as paying tribute to Volvo and Vespa aficionados; in short, a movie about realities of Malaysian life, and a celebration of life as a whole.

So, here's presenting you Dari Jemapoh Ke Manchestee (I know the tendency's great, but please don't correct the spelling). A classic movie by Hishamuddin Rais. A movie borne out of low budget (only RM400K) but high inspirations; a movie thought to be destined not to see the light of day; a movie which has been screened and viewed by Singaporeans, Indonesians, Croatians and others and has been to numerous International Film Festivals but ironically only now to be shown to Malaysians. Malaysia Boleh!

This movie will, God willing, be screened for public beginning from August 2, 2001 at Tanjong Golden Village (TGV) amphitheatres at KLCC and Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) at Mid Valley Mega Mall.

In keeping with the low budget production, this is a low budget promotion; but hopefully people worth their salt would come and see this movie, especially its Saturday matinee show. Tell everyone, forward this e-mail to people whom you know appreciate finer things in life, and those who care about the basic tenets of humanity.

In life there is no guarantee; not even of freedom; so here there's no guarantee that you would get your money's worth; but if at the end of the day you can do your part to prove that Malaysians do come out and appreciate films other than Sembilu or Maria Mariana, then it would have well worth the 10 odd bucks you pay.
So, come in crowds (datanglah beramai-ramai). This is the only movie which might not be sold as VCD Haram (the towkays might think it's not worth it!). And don't count on it to be shown at Coliseum Cinema, or wait for it to be screened over RTM 1 on Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

So bring your spouses, family, friends and colleagues and come out to rejoice at the mark of a new era of Malaysian movies. Open for all young and young-at-hearts, irrespective of political aspirations. If you consider yourself old, conventional, introvert, unexciting, unambitious, complacent, homey, play safe, or those sort of character, then sorry to have wasted your time; this movie is not for you.

Perhaps in such a case you should just wait for Sembilu Tiga. Good luck, Yusuf Haslam!