Muallaf
| Muallaf The Convert | |
|---|---|
 Muallaf Singapore poster | |
| Directed by | Yasmin Ahmad |
| Produced by | Rosnah Kassim |
| Starring | Brian Yap Sharifah Amani Yeo Yann Yann Sharifah Aleysha |
| Distributed by | MHZ Film Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) The Picturehouse (Singapore) |
Release dates | November 27, 2008  2009  |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Languages | English, Malay, Cantonese |
Muallaf is a 2008 Malaysian drama film directed by Yasmin Ahmad. It tells a tale of three souls finding solace in religion. This is Yasmin Ahmad's fifth film after Rabun, Sepet, Gubra and Mukhsin.
Title
Contrary to the translation of the film's title, i.e. The Convert, Muallaf does not tell of a non-Muslim who converted his religion to Islam. Yasmin herself confessed that she had used the term as the title of her film to tell the tale of a Catholic who lost faith in his religion as a child having being embarrassed by his father, who was a strict Catholic, and later having met two sisters and gained simple knowledge of Islam, had a change of heart to finally return to meet his mother, who had persuaded him to come home numerous times.
Plot
Brian Goh (Brian Yap) is a History teacher in an Ipoh secondary school. More often than not, he receives calls from his mother in Penang, persuading to come home every Sunday to go to the church with her. Brian rejected her requests every single time, on the pretext that he was busy.
20-year old Rohani (Sharifah Amani) and her 14-year old sister (Sharifah Aleysha), Rohana, were two girls living in an abandoned house. It turned out that they were on the run from their abusive father (Datuk Rahim Razali), a 'Datuk' title holder who frequents night clubs and drinks beer, which are forbidden in Islam. Their biological mother, who was a lecturer in the National University of Singapore (NUS), had died and owned a trust fund whose beneficiary was Rohani herself once she turned 21. But knowing she could not depend on the money for long and Rohana's education needed continuous financing, in order to avoid being spotted by her father's bodyguards during the daytime, Rohani had to work in a pub (Sid's Tavern & Cafe) late night. Ironically, despite being a bartender, Rohani often told patrons about the disadvantages of alcohol to health, even including offering mineral water, she was fired by her boss, Patrick, after 'tipped-off' by a colleague, i.e. Cindy.
Both Rohani and Rohana had the mysterious habit of quoting numbers which represent the verses in Qur'an and even verses from Tao Te Ching and the Bible. Of the two, Rohana did that more often and it virtually drove anyone around her crazy, including her Arts teacher, Mrs Siva. Noticing her odd behaviour, the Principal, Bro. Anthony and Brian, who teaches at the school that Rohana goes to, sought to find out more of the sisters. Brian was particularly drawn to the sisters' 'unusual' habit and was even interested in the English translation of the Qur'an himself which Rohani presented to him. Bit by bit, he read the verses starting from the ones which the sisters often quoted.
As the relationship among the three progressed, the trio became closer and confessed to each other of their respective past. Brian lost his faith in Christianity as a 12-year old, having being humiliated by his father, a strict Catholic, who discovered him masturbating in his room while looking at nun-portraying porn magazines and later drove him out to stand by the roadside, stark naked. His mother could only helplessly watch from the doorstep. The disillusionment was due to the fact that his parents loved him very much. Rohani's story was that she had unintentionally showed disrespect for her father, who is a Datuk and yet does things that are forbidden in the religion, provoking him to shave her bald.
Despite all odds, Rohani and Rohana stood steadfast by performing the usual prayers and discussed with each other on Islam based on the translated versions passed down to them by their late mother. They made a point to forgive the people who had hurt them during the day before going to sleep and it was the reason why the girls seem to be unfazed all the time. Rohani tried to persuade Brian to go to the church with his mother every Sunday but he remained quite defiant.
In an eventful turn, the sisters' father snatched away Rohana at her school grounds and Rohani went after them all the way to Kuala Lumpur, telling Brian to look after her house while she was gone and asked him not to find her anymore should she failed to be back by Friday. On Friday, Rohani contacted Brian, telling him that her father had a stroke and she wanted to stay back to look after him. She made one last effort to persuade Brian to meet his mother, to which he finally relented. The final scene shows Brian speeding in his old car back to the abandoned house. He knocks on the door and it is opened for him to enter.
Cast
| Actor/Actress | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Yap | Brian Goh^ | History teacher at Rohana's school |
| Sharifah Amani | Rohani | Rohana's elder sister, 20/21 y/o |
| Sharifah Aleysha | Rohana | Rohani's younger sister, 14 y/o |
| Datuk Rahim Razali | Datuk | Rohani and Rohana's abusive father |
| Ning Baizura | Datin | Rohani and Rohana's stepmother |
| Tony Savarimuthu | Bro. Anthony | Catholic priest and Principal of Rohana's school |
| Hazel Fernandez | Mrs Siva | Rohana's Arts teacher |
| Yeo Yann Yann | Cindy | Rohani's colleague at Sid's Tavern Pub & Cafe |
| Tan Mei Ling | Mrs Goh | Brian's mother |
| Ho Yuhang | Datuk's private investigator | |
| Haris Zakaria | Little Brian | |
| Shana Shafiza Muzaffar Shah | Mei Ling | Coma girl |
^ Brian Yap's character was initially planned to be named Robert Ng.
Closure
- It was not clear what had happened to Rohana. However, it could be assumed that Rohani had finally met up with Rohana considering that she had volunteered to take care of her stroke-hit father who had snatched away Rohana earlier.
- It was not shown explicitly whether Brian was attracted to Rohani or the religion of Islam itself. If Brian was in love with Rohani, this would probably mark the first time Yasmin concealed the romantic relationship in films that contain the agenda of love.
Screening
As Yasmin's previous films, Muallaf opened with the usual Islamic verse In the name of God, the most Gracious and most Merciful (Bismillahirahmanirrahim). What set Muallaf apart from her previous works was that the verse was displayed in Chinese in this movie, i.e. 奉大仁大慈真主的尊名 (Pinyin: fèng dà rén dà cí Zhēn Zhǔ de zūn míng). It was understood that the verse would be displayed in Tamil in her next film, Talentime.
As Yasmin's second feature film, Sepet, Muallaf was first screened in Singapore instead of Malaysia, where it was shot. However, unlike the former, Muallaf may not be screened in Malaysian cinemas after all since the Malaysian censorship authorities had requested key scenes to be cut, thus rendering the story meaningless. The film ran for 4 weeks in Singapore from 27 November to 24 December 2008, recording turnouts more than that of Sepet.
International participation
Awards won
- 21st Tokyo International Film Festival (18 - 26 Oct 2008) ~ Special Mention Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film
Official selection
- 61st Locarno International Film Festival (6 - 16 Aug 2008)
- 13th Pusan International Film Festival (2 - 10 Oct 2008)
- Rialto Film Festival, Amsterdam - New Malaysian Cinema
Religious verses quoted in the film
| Religious verse | Text | Scene where verse was quoted |
|---|---|---|
| Qur'an | ||
| Al-Fil 105:1 |
Seest thou how thy Lord dealt with the companions of the Elephants? | Rohana screamed out the number when she was caned by Mrs Siva. |
| Al-Kauther 108:3 |
For he who hateth thee, he will be cut off from future hope | Rohana quoted the number when Brian told her about the possible consequence that Mrs Siva may face while driving Rohana back home |
| An-Nur 24:31 |
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. | Rohana quoted the number when Rohani mentioned "At least we're decently dressed" (The sisters were in their telekung/prayer clothes that time). |
| An-Nahl 16:41 |
To those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, after suffering oppression, We will assuredly give a goodly home in this world: but truly the reward of the Hereafter will be greater. If they only knew! | Rohana quoted the number when Rohani mentioned "I wouldn't say running from home, more like running to safety" when explaining why they were on the run and living by themselves. |
| Al-Baqara 2:62 |
Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. | Rohana mentioned both the number and text of the verse itself when discussing with Rohani over a breakfast of roti canai with Brian. |
| An-Nisa 4:43 |
O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving. | Rohani spoke about the verse when the sisters were discussing how translators of the Qur'an and even religious scholars can have different opinions when interpreting the religious text. |
| An-Nur 24:37 |
Men whom neither merchandise nor sale beguileth from remembrance of Allah and constancy in prayer and paying to the poor their due; who fear a day when hearts and eyeballs will be overturned; | Rohana quoted the verse number when the sisters leave Brian for a short while to perform their prayers in the nearby mosque. |
| Al-Baqara 2:286 |
Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith. | The last verse of the Al-Baqara, which Rohani reads to Mei Ling, the coma girl in the hospital. |
| Al-Humazah 104:3 |
He thinketh that his wealth will render him immortal. | Rohani quoted the verse number when Brian said "I never liked parting with my money" while they were chatting and observing Rohana's taekwondo lessons. |
| Al-Kafiroon 109:6 |
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. | Rohani quoted the verse number during the conversation with Brian on how he was disillusioned with Christianity itself. |
| An-Nasr 110:1, 2 & 3 |
When Allah's succour and the triumph cometh, and thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops, then hymn the praises of thy Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy. | Rohani quoted the verses' numbers over the phone with Brian when she called him to inform of her situation after going after Rohana who had been snatched away by their father. |
| Bible | ||
| Matthew 5:4 |
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. | Rohana quoted the verse text when Mrs Siva kept telling her that her mother is already dead and it's time to get over it. |
| Corinthians 13:2 |
And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. | Rohana quoted the verse number, having overheard the conversation between Brian and Rohani in the latter's car after Brian repaired Rohani's scooter. |
| Corinthians 13:4 – 10 |
| |
| St. Augustine's Confessions | ||
| Confession 8.7.17 |
Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet | Rohana quoted the verse text when Rohani tried to explain that her bartender job (despite being a Muslim) was only a temporary one to Bro. Anthony. |
| Tao Te Ching | ||
| Chapter 6 | The Valley Spirit never dies, for aye the same. | Rohana quoted the verse text when Mrs Siva kept telling her that her mother is already dead and it's time to get over it. |
| Chapter 81 | True words are not fine-sounding, fine-sounding words are not true | |
| Chapter 43 | What is of all things most yielding and can overwhelm that which is of all things most hard? | Rohani asked the question to Rohana when she initiated the short session to forgive everyone who did them wrong before going to sleep, to which Rohana replied, "Water". |
| Chapter 25 | There was something formless yet complete, existing before heaven and earth | Mrs Yap (one of the school teachers) asked of the verse to Rohana. |
Note : One of the verses quoted in the film was not from a religious text, i.e
"And so you see I have come to doubt
All that I once held as true
I stand alone without beliefs
The only truth I know is you"
which is actually quoted from the song Kathy's Song by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
It was quoted during the conversation between Brian and Rohani in the car.
Trivia
The scene where Rohani was forcibly shaved bald had incurred the wrath of several local religious scholars on the pretext that it is forbidden in Islam for a Muslim female to shave her head.
Reviews and Interviews with Yasmin Ahmad on the film
Singapore
- razorTV Interview with Yasmin Ahmad on Muallaf (part 1)
- razorTV Interview with Yasmin Ahmad on Muallaf (part 2)
- MOVIEXCLUSIVE.COM
- LIANHE ZAOBAO (Nov 24, 2008): 马国电影《皈依》男主角原属意光良
(Malaysian film Muallaf male lead originally for Michael Wong) - LIANHE ZAOBAO (Nov 28, 2008): 《改心》马来姐妹花逃家 (Muallaf: Two Malay sisters on the run)
- TODAY (Nov 29, 2008): Much ado about Muallaf
Indonesia 
- RUMAH FILM: Saya Membuat Film Karena Ingin Memahami Tuhan
(I Make Films Because I Want To Understand God) - RUMAH FILM: Muallaf: Brian dan Sepasang Gadis Ronin (Brian and A Pair of Girls on the Run)