Disclaimer: This review is from my perspective as a viewer with little or no knowledge of films and how they are made. What is written is entirely how I feel about the movie from my personal view as a movie fan and not a film critique. Also, note my limited English vocabulary in describing things and the absence of film-making terms and jargons. My take on the movie and its understanding are also probably based on the life that I went through as a person, as I think films touch these elements most of the time in terms of story. I hereby apologize for any error in touching those matters. Also, I have a very short-term memory so the review might miss talking about some parts
THE ALMIGHTY TELEVISION
CHEDIN and JAHAR both raised in Kelantan with religious education when they were kids. After they graduated from high school, both ventured to Kuala Lumpur and is exposed to all the elements, especially the good old television - where all the imagery subliminally telling you to buy, immitate and obey.
WAN AZLI WAN JUSOH placed the television is most of the scene and directly move to the real life parallel. On the beginning scene, the TV is showing a wrestling match with the camera then moved to the brawling housemates of JAHAR.
The television has undone the religious teachings and bombard them with propaganda through powerful visuals.
The minds of CHEDIN and JAHAR was not trained to filter. The scenes of their childhood shows they havent changed very much compared to their grown up selves. JAHAR skips the Al-Quran recital class, jumped on CHEDIN from a tree, and get in a fight with him. Same grown up JAHAR in Kuala Lumpur with all his traits. Even worse with all the TV.
Akin to JOHN CARPENTER's movie THEY LIVE where the main character found a pair of sunglasses from a church that gives him the ability to see the actual meaning behind all the commercial advertisements.
But CHEDIN and JAHAR didnt get such sunglasses from their religious studies. Recitals without learning what it actually means. Even with CHEDIN's discipline in doing the 5 daily prayers, he tries drugs after got persuaded by JAHAR. TV romance showed him how to connect to girls even at the most unappropriate time. TV made him have a Prince Charming dream. Without realising it has subliminally influenced his behaviour.
And the failure of the religious education system.
The final fate of CHEDIN and JAHAR at the end of the movie says it all. Despite of what has been bragged, boasted with pride and arrogance about the religious education system, BUDAK KELANTAN shows that it has not worked at all.
“It is a tragedy of CHEDIN and JAHAR.” - Pak Hassan Muthalib.
In an interview after the screening in Kuala Lumpur Film School with U-Wei, Wan Azli Wan Jusoh explained that even the movie revolves around Kelantanese, wrong doings and evil is universal.
