Sayang Disayang (2014)

Plot summary (story synopsis): Murni (Aidli Mosbit) is from a small village in Aceh, Indonesia. She works in Singapore as a domestic helper, looking after recently crippled widower Harun (veteran Malaysian actor Rahim Razali).

No matter how hard she tries, she is unable to satisfy the grouchy Harun. He constantly complains about her cooking, especially her sambal belacan - chili fried with shrimp paste and lime.

Will Murni be able to please Harun? And why is he so particular about sambal belacan anyway?

***

Sayang Disayang (love is loved) is Singapore's entry for the 2015 Academy Awards Foreign Language Film. It's not going to win. It's main shortcoming is that it's a short film stretched out to feature length. There isn't enough material for its long run time.

The scenes of Murni pounding chili, and carp swimming, quickly become repetitive. The beautiful gamelan and flute music becomes wearying too.

Just as bad is the lack of clarity in the proceedings. Sayang Disayang does try to use show-don't-tell storytelling technique. However for most of the movie it's not clear that Murni is even trying to modify her cooking to please Harun. We see her cheerfully singing and ignoring Harun's rants, making it look like she doesn't care what he thinks about her cooking.

Her cooking technique looks the same too (at least to me). It's only towards the end of the movie that we notice her doing something different - using a food blender instead of mortar and pestle.

It's not just the shifts in her cooking. Even the changes in her relationship with Harun are not clearly developed. They seem abrupt and unconvincing.

The few side stories are similarly unpolished. Harun's visit to his mosque seems out of place, as are the hints of politicking within the mosque's leadership (I didn't get this part, writer/director Sanif Olek had to explain it to me when I asked him about it after a screening).

Murni imagining her mother talking to her also seems out of place. It is confusingly shown. We don't know who she is at first, and it's not clear if Murni is imagining her or not.

This is Sanif Olek's first feature film (he works as director for TV productions). He shows promise but has a way to go. I don't think the Oscar selection will go to his head. He seems like a sensible, humble guy. I actually feel bad, writing such a negative review. He's a very friendly guy - I met him once at a library talk and once at a Sayang Disayang screening.