The Yasmin I Know

I first met Yasmin in 2004. That year, I caught RABUN at Singapore International Film Festival. I knew nothing about the film before the screening except that the fact the director was a fellow Malaysian. The screening was at the Goethe Institut auditorium, a les than ideal screening venue, and in VHS format. Yet I found myself enjoying it. That came as a surprise as most Singaporean and Malaysian films then (and, dare I say, even now) are technically not films but video. RABUN, despite some rough edges, is a proper film, an emotional engaging one at that.

After the screening, I chatted with some friends and an old classmate mentioned that she knew Yasmin in person. As a Film Society programmer, I requested that she pass my contact to Yasmin so I may ask for another screening at the society.

The following day, upon further research on the internet, I knew more about Yasmin, her stellar advertising career and that I have in fact seen her many works over Malaysian TV channels. Particularly impressive ones were those she made for Petronas broadcast over Chinese New Year. I thought then perhaps the high-profile person like her would not be bother to get in touch with an unknown contact.

I was wrong- she called a few days later and we talked business for a while. Then I suggested meeting up the next time I went up to Kuala Lumpur so I can get from her the RABUN VHS. She agreed to meet me at an cafe near her office.

When we met at the cafe, we immediately hit it off like old friends. Later she invited me to her office and we talked some more- about films, books, Malaysian and Singaporean cultures. What I anticipated as a short, rather formal meeting to pick up a tape turned into a friendly exchange that lasted more than an hour.

After the Society's screening of RABUN, we stayed in touch and caught up several times whenever she visited Singapore. In recent years, however, I have not seen that much of her, apart from on screen (she played a role in Ho Yu Hang's RAIN DOGS) and her appearances on newspapers and TV. Yet I engaged in virtual-conversation with her when watching her works: "That idea of minimally narrated TV commercial is so Iranian."; "I see Yamada Yoji's influence in that weeping scene."; "Aha! That final scene is direct copy of Kiarostami." etc.

Her films are certainly not perfect. Segments of the films may look compartmentalised and out-of-place with the overall flow of the narrative. I guess that is a common trait among commercials-director-turned film makers. Her strong desire to showcase multiculturalism in her films may be peculiar or jarring to the film structure. Nevertheless, the emotion within are genuine and infectious and the stories are certainly close to hearts for many Malaysians and Singaporeans. At times, she would include some elements of social commentaries on Malaysian society that come across as daring and controversial. The courage is truly admirable given that her day job involved dealing with people that may come from organisations with vested interests.

Personally, I enjoy her commercials more than her films. Over the years, she made many of them for mainly two accounts: Petronas and TV3. Those for Petronas ones were particularly endearing and often moved me to tears. As a national oil company, Petronas annually commissions TV advertisements that, rather than marketing the company or its products, celebrate Malaysia and its diverse culture and they are aired over the National day (31 August), Hari Raya and Chinese New Year. It is in these 1-2 minutes clips that really bring home her vision of love is a universal language. Thus whether it is the Hari Raya or Chinese New Year message, I always feel a swelling in my heart.

Don't take my word for it- catch the youtube video below (thanks for their service, we are able to watch and re-watch many of her commercial works) and ask yourself if the message is any diminished should it be any where else in the world.

I am looking forward to seeing this year's Merdeka clip which I presume Yasmin has completed prior to her departure.

Yasmin, wherever you are, let me tell you that you are the woman outside of my family who made me cried the most over the years. So long and thank you for all the tears.