''Hanyut'' (Drifting) is a
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
n adventure drama film written and directed by
U-Wei Haji Saari
U-Wei Haji Saari is a Malaysian film director. He first gained international attention with ''The Arsonist'' (more known by its Malay name ''Kaki Bakar''), the first Malaysian film to enter the Cannes Film Festival in 1995.
Career
Director
He ...
based upon
Joseph Conrad's 1895 novel, ''
Almayer's Folly
''Almayer's Folly'' is Joseph Conrad's first novel, published in 1895 by T. Fisher Unwin. Set in the late 19th century, it centres on the life of the Dutch trader Kaspar Almayer in the Borneo jungle and his relationship to his mixed heritage da ...
''.
The movie tells the story of Almayer, a Dutch trader struggling to survive in
Malaya at the turn of the 19th century. Almayer's dream of finding a mythical gold mountain is at odds with his plotting wife, colonial authorities, the political machinations of a local chief with Arab traders, and his daughter's love for a freedom-fighting Malay prince.
The film was originally planned to be released after its completion in 2012. However, the release was postponed since December 2013 due to lack of promotional funding, in which director U-Wei had to request for RM 2 million from
National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia ( ms, Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional), abbreviated FINAS, is the central government agency for the film industry of Malaysia. FINAS is similar to the Motion Picture Association of America i ...
for marketing and local distribution purposes.
It managed to get selected screenings in 150 cinemas across Indonesia on November 2014 under the name of Gunung Emas Almayer (''Almayer's Golden Mountain'').
The film was eventually released in Malaysian cinemas on 24 November 2016, as told through a press conference on 13 October of the same year.
Plot
Almayer is a lone Dutch trader grubbing to survive in colonial Malaysia. He sends his 10-year-old daughter Nina to
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
to be educated as a Westerner, much to the distress of her mother Mem, a local woman of
Betawi origin. The couple stop speaking to each other as a result. When Nina returns as a beautiful woman ten years later, she finds the family home and business in dire straits because of Almayer's obsession with finding gold in the mountains. Her return rekindles interest in the Almayer household, bringing in new business that allows Almayer to build a lavish new house in his compound.
Nina's presence attracts a number of suitors, including the nephew of a prominent Arab who asks for Nina’s hand in marriage. Almayer rejects the proposal, however, igniting an animosity between the traders that helps lead to Almayer's later downfall. Almayer guards Nina jealously as he sees her as an important part of his unrealistic dreams. He believes her beauty, combined with the gold he expects to unearth, will help him build a trading empire and fulfill his fantasy of a glorious future back in Europe, a world he has never seen.
A handsome Malay prince and trader named Dain Maroola enters the scene. Dain wants to buy
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
through Almayer. Almayer doesn’t question why the man wants explosives. Dain manipulates him with tales of the legendary gold mountain of which he claims to know the location.
As Almayer’s trading post prospers, he believes he is in reach of his dreams and readies boats and equipment for his gold-seeking expedition. In his fanaticism, he doesn’t notice Dain and Nina fall in love. Mother Mem knows Almayer won't tolerate such a union. Given the deep animosity she feels toward her husband, she fuels and encourages the relationship while keeping Almayer in the dark.
Dain turns out to be a Malay freedom fighter who uses the purchased gunpowder to blow up a Dutch vessel at the mouth of the river. Now an outlaw, the British and Dutch military hunt along the river. When Dain's men are attacked by colonial forces during a violent tropical storm, Dain is believed killed. Almayer fears he has lost his chances to find gold and goes on an alcohol-fuelled binge. He doesn't know that Dain faked his own death and eloped with Nina. When he learns the truth from Mem, Almayer heads off in pursuit of the couple up river, determined that his daughter will not leave for a Malay.
When Almayer finds the couple, he is unable to convince his daughter to return. Heartbroken, he helps them escape and returns to his new house, which he burns down. Alienated and distraught, he is left with only his shattered dreams and the burned ruins of "Almayer's Folly".
Cast
*
Peter O'Brien as Kasper Almayer
*
Diana Danielle
Diana Danielle Danny Beeson (born 22 November 1991), is an American-born Malaysian actress and singer. Starting her career at the age of 11, she primarily worked on television and film.
Early life
Diana Danielle was born in Houston, Texas and ...
as Nina
* Sofia Jane as Mem
* Adi Putra as Dain Maroola
*
Khalid Salleh
Khalid bin Salleh (29 February 1948 – 23 July 2018) was a Malaysian actor and poet.
Brief biography
He was brought up in his aunt's family. He graduated from secondary school in Batu Pahat. At first he earned his living by selling medicine ...
as Orang Kaya Tinggi
*
Bront Palarae
Nasrul Suhaimin bin Saifuddin (born 27 September 1978), known professionally as Bront Palarae, is a Malaysian actor, screenwriter, film director and producer.
Early life and education
Palarae was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. In 2005, ...
as Sayed Rashid
* Sabri Yunus as Mahmat
* James Corley as Lieutenant
* Alex Komang as Sayed Abdullah
* El Malik as Raja Ibrahim
* Rahayu Saraswati as Taminah
* Hasnul Rahmat as Ali
* Fergus Rees as sub Lieutenant
* Aida Ileani Ross as Little Nina
*
Patrick Teoh
Patrick Teoh (born 16 October, 1947) is an actor and radio personality in Malaysia. A career in radio, on TV, stage and in movies spanning more than five decades earned Teoh the nickname of "Voice of Malaysia", bestowed by his fans and the Mala ...
as Jim Eng
* Normah Damanhuri as Perempuan
* Chris Haywood as Capt Ford
* Anwar Idris as Anjang
* Fairil Emran Desa as Pirate
* Hana Nadira as Lijah
* Lydia Ibtisam as Ina
Production
The film was shot on location in
Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis ( ms, كوالا ليڤيس, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset) is a mukim and capital of Lipis District, Pahang, Malaysia with a population of 20,000.
History
Kuala Lipis was a gold-mining centre before the British arrived in ...
and
Pekan,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
.
Director’s statement
''Hanyut'' is a story about a cosmopolitan society living and working together along a riverbank somewhere in Malaysia. It attracted many sea travellers seeking opportunity and rewards.
It gives us a window into the Malay society in Malaysia in the late 19th century: A highly competitive mix of indigenous Malays, tribal aborigines, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working together.
Although the book starts out as though it is from the perspective of the European protagonist, the narrative is dynamic. By the end of the story the protagonist (and the audience) discover the understanding of his own insignificance.
In the beginning of the story Almayer appears to be at the centre of society, but in the end we see that he is very much peripheral and alienated, and that the real cultural, political and economic life of the community is located elsewhere and involves other people besides himself.
References
External links
*
*
*Alternate title : Mountain of Gold https://tubitv.com/movies/537509/mountain-of-gold?start=true
{{Lingard Trilogy
Malaysian drama films
Films based on British novels
Films based on works by Joseph Conrad
Films set in Malaysia
Films set in the 1950s
2014 drama films
Films directed by U-Wei Saari
Films with screenplays by U-Wei Saari