Abang Adik
Introduction
In an early scene in the Malay film Abang Adik, Malaysia’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, you see Abang and Adik, two ‘adopted’ brothers bonding over shelling their respective boiled eggs. The scene might seem trivial and playing out as a filler with both brothers seemingly cracking the egg shells on each others’ foreheads, you do realise later on that this remains the core of the drama, a scene that tells you everything about the warm bond that the two brothers share. In a way, it is an extension of the film’s title naming both the characters in a single breath, a timely reminder to its viewers that both Abang and Adik are extentions of each other, and the two complete each other. Both Abang and Adik might be orphans being cut out of the same cloth – meaning both find themselves on the streets of a neighbourhood known for its diversity but also its share of illegal immigration. But Abang is the more matured of the two – being content with earning an honest living despite being hearing impaired. While in a sharp contrast, Adik is known to peddle fake documents while doubling up as a gigolo for a quick cash grab. Yet, it is their bond that forms the driving force in the narrative.
Story & Screenplay
Abang Adik essentially plays out as a slice of life drama in the tormented neighbourhood of Kuala Lumpur, that is home to several illegal migrants in primarily a diversive area with regards to its culture. The politics in the drama plays out as a double-edged sword given that Abang, Adik and a bunch of characters barely make ends meet on a regular basis while often being raided by the cops. In fact, in its opening sequence you see Adik being at the cusp of peddling immigrants before being raided by cops, only for him to barely escape. Hence, it hardly comes as a surprise that Abang is extremely protective of his brother while pushing him to gain citizenship in a legal manner. To help them out is Li Jia En, an NGO worker who strives to help them with the documentation much to the dismay of Adik who has already experienced the power of money.
There are moments highlighting the politics of the land that often play out in the background. This, while the core of the drama is emotional and focused on the lives of Abang and Adik, wherein their bond extends to the viewers as well. Individually, both have a very different life to lead even in terms of their love lives – Adik is hardly a romantic by heart, often blinded by money and selling his flesh for a quick buck. Abang though is a closet romantic, often falling for an immigrant days before she makes her way out of the country. The concept of love for both is different but their fates remain intertwined.
Having said that, there is a tonal shift in the drama at the halfway mark following an immensely tragic event that changes the course of Abang and Adik. In a way, fate links the two souls through at one incident that invariably marks the start of a tragedy. But the change of events can also oddly be gazed upon as ‘coming-of-age’, given that you see a massive transformation in one of the two characters, while the other one awaits the law of the land to provide him justice. In an emotional scene at the prison, probably the last time that you see Abang and Adik together in a frame, the bond between the two characters is still the same but the emotions are further raised by the stakes in the drama. You feel for the two brothers even as you are witness to a massive transformation on the part of Adik, who is no longer fending for himself illegally but is working hard to make ends meet. A sedate commentary on the law of the land related to ‘undocumented’ citizens is almost used as an undercurrent of sorts even while leaving the viewers hopeful for a better future with regards to a particular character. The screenplay is bittersweet and definitely emotional while being well written.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues always have an underlying layer of emotions accompanying the narrative that allows the lines to have a profound impact. The BGM uses the virtue of silence while allowing the viewers to be acquainted with the foreign land and the ways of the streets. This flavour is also well captured by its cinematography comprising of frames that further enhances the aesthetics of the drama. The frames capturing the logistics of the streets definitely cuts a heartfelt picture that is bittersweet while luring you perfectly in the narrative. The editing is crisp while never allowing the drama to overstay its welcome. Director Jin Ong does an incredible job in deftly handling the subject matter with utmost sensitivity and gently allowing the range of emotions to take over. There is a sincerity accompanying the narrative that wishes to focus on the lives of its two protagonists. The direction is pretty solid here that slowly allows the emotions to reach you at the end of the drama.
Performances
The performances are pretty good by the members of the cast. April Chan as Xiao-su has a charming screen presence and she manages to leave a mark despite a limited screen time. Tan Kim Wang as Ms Money is wonderfully understated and she definitely has her moments to shine. Serene Lim as Li Jia En is sincere and earnest while delivering a solid performance. Jack Tan as Adik is a complex character that required him to portray a range of emotions. And he touched upon such wonderful nuances in his character arc that his performance absolutely hit home. But the performance of the film came in the form of Wu Kang-ren who is phenomenal as Abang. Playing a character with a disability is always an added complexity, and Wu essays this virtue of his character rather well while never losing sight of the emotional angle that the character stood for. His subtly nuanced act was filled with emotions that made for a towering act of the highest order.
Conclusion
Malaysia’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, Abang Adik is a bittersweet tale on an emotional brotherly bond packaged in a deeply moving drama that makes for a wonderful watch. Available on Netflix and Highly Recommended!
