Taiwanese actor Wu Kang Ren (right) and local actor Jack Tan are the main stars of 'Abang Adik'. Photo: Handout
Garnering people’s interest in movies with heavy topics such as social issues isn’t easy, especially when up against mainstream genres like romance, comedy, action and horror.
So when the cast and crew of Abang Adik found their movie receiving accolades from all corners of the world, they were pleasantly surprised.
Local actor Jack Tan described the overwhelming support Abang Adik has received as an “unexpected” feat.
“It’s amazing to see many people on social media saying they feel proud because Malaysia has released such a good movie,” he said at a recent press conference attended by StarLifestyle. He plays “Adik” in the movie.
Director Jin Ong, who doubles as the film’s scriptwriter, added: “I’ve never imagined this level of success. I’m quite happy because we have put in lots of effort for this movie, and this is proof that our hard work paid off.”
Abang Adik was created with the intention of delivering a message of love rather than breaking records.
Somehow, a movie made without much thought of smashing box office records has performed so well.
At the Malaysian box office, Abang Adik grossed RM5.2mil since its release on Dec 14.
The movie was also a hit in Taiwan, raking in an impressive NT$90mil (RM13.5mil) since its premiere on Dec 1 – the highest for any Malaysian film.
Movie distributors in Taiwan were reported to have added more showtimes to cater to the high demand there (some audiences said they watched the film three times).
Taiwanese actor Wu Kang Ren, who plays the titular “Abang”, attributed the film’s global success to its portrayal of the “universally-relatable human experience of love”.
“In the movie, you can see the strong bond between two brothers who face challenges together in life.
“It’s that human touch that draws people to watch the movie, regardless of their race, nationality or the language they speak,” he said.
Wu (left) and Tan reenacting the famous egg scene at a press conference in KL. Photo: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Abang Adik also triumphed in the international film festival circuit.
Last April, the movie swept the three main prizes at Italy’s Far East Film Festival, becoming the first South-East Asian (and Malaysian) film to do so.
The flick also scooped the top prize at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival and earned seven nominations at the 60th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei.
Wu, 41, claimed the Best Actor laurel for his lead role as the deaf-mute Abang whereas his on-screen brother, Tan, received a Best Supporting Actor nod for his role as the rebellious Adik.
Although the latter was bested by Taiwanese actor Akio Chen for Old Fox (2023), he feels happy with his nomination at the Chinese equivalent of the Academy Awards.
The 32-year-old said: “Receiving a nomination is already an honour as it opens more doors for others to get to know me. It’s a form of affirmation and encouragement to me.”
Wu won Best Actor at the 60th Golden Horse Awards. Photo: HandoutAs for Wu, his victory at the Golden Horse Awards didn’t significantly alter his acting career, though it did give him more affirmation.
He told a Singaporean news portal that even if he didn’t win an award, he would still look forward to taking on different acting projects.
That said, the accolades Wu received for skillfully portraying the struggles of a disabled man without the use of verbal communication are well deserved, given the effort he devoted to his role.
“I spent a month and a half mastering sign language and working at a market in Pudu.
“I’d also bask under the sun to achieve a natural tan, so I don’t have to fully rely on makeup for my physical appearance,” Wu recalled at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Going beneath the surface
Beyond awards and ticket sales, Abang Adik has successfully ignited discourse on pressing societal struggles in the country.
The film tackles the harrowing issue of poverty and statelessness by delving into the experiences of two undocumented brothers, Abang and Adik, whose quest to obtain citizenship in Malaysia is fraught with challenges.
On social media, many viewers said they cried while watching Abang Adik.
Some added that the film taught them to be kinder to foreign workers while others said it made them more appreciative of their identification card.
National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairman Datuk Kamil Othman lauded the movie’s stark portrayal of life’s reality.
“You aren’t just watching a film, you’re watching life. At the end of the day, this is what a good story is all about. We are no longer talking about the barriers of Malay, Chinese or Indian cinema,” he said.
Director Jin Ong admitted that he cried while working on 'Abang Adik'. Photo: Handout
When asked about the substantial impact of his directorial debut on moviegoers, Ong responded: “When you watch Abang Adik, you’re watching a story about love.
“If you feel touched by the film, it’s often because you have lived (through) the life of these characters and can relate to their struggles.”
The 48-year-old admitted that he himself cried for about 10 minutes in his study room after writing the final scene where Abang and Adik reconcile.
“I believe that I need to have lots of emotion and love for the story and characters, so I can evoke a similar, strong reaction from audiences,” he said.
Tan also cried hard while shooting the last scene where he uses sign language to communicate with his onscreen brother. He still finds himself shedding tears while watching the movie.
“I realised that films can be fictional, but the emotions will always be real,” he wrote on Instagram.
Abang Adik is showing at selected cinemas nationwide.
