Film Review Karya, A Film by Abror Rivai: Calmly Waiting for the Community

Abstract

Karya (2017), a debut feature film from Abror Rivai, takes a highly personal approach in the telling of its story - a marked contrast to the usual, popular and prevalent genres. It is Abror’s expression of his concerns for the future of Malay film storytelling and its filmmakers, who he sees as continuing the tradition of the village storytellers of ancient times. Abror also indulges in intertextuality by referencing many films wherein he sees narrative and stylistic similarities with his own approach. This paper explores some of Abror’s concerns about Malay film storytelling as well as that of the state of the mainstream film industry which keeps churning out inane films which only appeal to a commercial, non-thinking audience. It is this that is preventing the rise of young, formally-trained filmmakers, who like himself, are eager to give voice to new, alternative and meaningful narratives. Abror has taken it upon his shoulders to initiate a long-awaited change in the state of affairs, come hell or high water, and to bring Malay cinema to be at par with world cinema.