Written and directed by Malaysian director Jin Ong and produced by Golden Horse award-winning actress Sinje Lee, critically acclaimed Malaysian box office hit Abang Adik is set to premiere this June on Netflix. Here’s what the local flick is about.

The Story

The film tells the arduous journey of two stateless brothers struggling to survive in a life of poverty in the gritty corners of Pudu, Malaysia, where a community of migrant workers call home. A poignant portrayal of the diverse social issues faced by the underprivileged and marginalised communities in society, the film brought a large number of fans to the theatres upon its release, drawing positive reviews and achieving success in both the Malaysian and Taiwan box office.

Crafting The Tale

Describing the core theme of Abang Adik, his first feature-length film, director and writer Jin Ong shares, “I think it’s love! Love can overcome anything or destroy everything, but we can always rely on the tremendous power of love in the darkest times. Through the film, I hope to convey the complex emotions and moving stories from the land I grew up in.” Expressing his excitement for the film’s release on Netflix, he said, “I look forward to seeing more Malaysian works on the international stage.”

First-time producer Sinje Lee conveys her admiration for the writer and director, “When Jin first told me about the story of Abang Adik and invited me to be the producer, I said yes right away because I felt it was such a precious opportunity to work with filmmakers who share the same passion and earnestness.”

Who’s In It

Golden Horse winner Wu Kang-ren reflects on his first encounter with the titular character Abang, sharing that he “had a lot of doubts about my identity. The biggest challenge for me was to truly get into the plight and predicament of the local migrant workers, but fortunately, with the companionship of my co-star, Jack Tan, I was able to immerse myself into the role smoothly.”

In preparation for the role, Malaysian actor Jack Tan, who plays the hot-headed younger brother, Adik, had spent a period of time in Pudu to experience the district himself. He shares, “I am really grateful to director and writer Jin for sharing his ideas with me when writing the story, so that we could prepare in advance and encourage each other, and also for Sinje, who is not only a producer, but our mentor.”

A universal story of love and longing, Abang Adik premieres 14 June on Netflix.

(Images: Netflix)