Local films yet to be universally acclaimed - Lecturers

The success of several local films in reaching the box-office sale in cinemas since the past few years proved that they now have a place in the heart of movie goers in the country.

However, the 'box office' success has yet to bring local films on par with foreign productions or to be universally acclaimed.

A senior lecturer in film and animation at the Sarawak campus of Swinburne University Of Technology, Gregory Wee Lik Hoo said in the aspect of technique of film production, the local films could be considered impressive.

"Local film makers have successfully mastered film technology and we are now on the right track, but our films still do not have their own identity.

"This effort should be done simultaneously to give our local films a strong identity and for them to be universally accepted," he told Bernama.

Referring to South Korean and Thai films as examples, he said they were gaining popularity at international level, despite the films being produced in the local language.

Wee said the local film industry had the potential to go far.

"The government, through the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and relevant agencies, has provided various facilities to produce films, including loan and equipment," he added.

He praised the producers of the films 'Polis Evo' and 'The Journey' for their box office success.

Last year, 'Polis Evo', directed by Ghaz Abu Bakar, broke the record with ticket sales of RM 17.47 million, while 'The Journey' by Chiu Keng Guan, which was produced in 2014, raked in RM17.28 million.

Meanwhile, a senior lecturer at the Centre of Language, Literature and Malay Culture Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Dr Nur Afifah Vanitha Abdullah said the local film production was still left behind in terms of story line.

"In terms of film technique, we are not far behind having succeeded in producing films using sophisticated techniques which are on par with foreign films, but we still cannot meet the Hollywood standard in terms of story line," she said.

She said film making was not merely to provide entertainment, but a tool to educate the society.

Therefore, producers should ensure there is a message for viewers, she added.