The original and uncut version of the award-winning film ‘Tiger Stripes’ does not contain scenes that are inappropriate for Malaysian audiences.
This is according to the personal perspective of National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairperson Kamil Othman, who watched the film’s uncensored version that won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Critics Week in May.
According to him, Tiger Stripes depicted normal life situations encountered by girls who reach puberty and face difficulties finding someone reliable to guide them through the experience.
“For me, as someone who is now a senior citizen, who has a daughter and female siblings, when I watched the film, it just showed life situations that I encountered since I was a kid.
“So I did not see anything that is so insensitive about the film. Nothing to that extent. Because all that the film showed were things that happen in real life, they aren’t fiction.
“It shows the normal process that girls go through (when reaching puberty), like boys, we too experience something similar when we reach the age of 15 and so, isn’t it?” he said during a phone interview with Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini contacted Kamil to get his comments on the recent brouhaha involving Tiger Stripes, where its director complained that the Film Censorship Board (LPF) had censored the film heavily for screening in Malaysia.
Kamil stressed that his opinion on the content of Tiger Stripes is purely personal and does not reflect Finas’ policy.
While he has not watched the censored version, and plans to do so this week, he admitted that some viewers might deem certain segments of the uncut film as ‘tak manis’ (not so proper).
They include a scene showing several drops of blood dripping on the floor when the film’s main character was taking a shower, which Kamil said was to symbolise the girl experiencing her first period.
Another scene, he added, was meant to be a metaphor when a character was shown turning into a tiger.
“Maybe in order to express the experiences that some characters were going through, (there might be some parts) that some might agree to while some others might not.
“As someone who has a daughter and granddaughter, I don’t see (the scenes) as being too much. But I am not sure if others might see them from other angles.
“For me, even if we were to watch the full version, I would say there is no scene that is inappropriate for our viewing,” he added.
Work with censorship board
On the film director’s disappointment over the heavy censorship that allegedly impaired Tiger Stripes’ plot, Kamil believed that LPF was only following their guidelines and meant no harm.
According to the Finas chairperson, it might also be good for filmmakers to engage the censorship board from when they begin production instead of only after the product has been completed.
This is so LPF can guide the filmmakers through continuous engagement, he said, and this will help prevent heavy censorship that might jeopardise the film’s context.
“If engagement is only made after production is completed, then nothing much can be done because LPF has guidelines they need to follow.
“For example, when we film some scenes that might be sensitive to the audience, LPF can help guide us on how to go about doing it. As long as it does not interfere with the film’s plot,” he said.
Kamil cited an incident when the government banned ghost films some 30 years ago, after which the film industry had an engagement with the authorities.
He said the government finally agreed to lift the ban when filmmakers agreed to put up a disclaimer at the beginning of such movies saying they are only fiction.
Meanwhile, Kamil was asked which version of Tiger Stripes Finas submitted to represent Malaysia at the 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, in the Best International Feature Film category.
To this, he said Finas sent the full version of the film, noting that the awards show does not have any censorship requirement.
Last week, Tiger Stripes director Amanda Nell Eu in a statement expressed her disappointment over the scene cuts, saying they were done to the extent that the film was not the same product that won the Grand Prize of the Cannes Critics Week.
History-making film
Tiger Stripes centres on 12-year-old Zaffan, played by Zafreen Zairizal, as she struggles to understand her body experiencing puberty.
Provoked by her community, she soon discovers that embracing her true self is the only answer to her freedom.
The film is a co-production among Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, and Qatar.
Tiger Stripes is Nell Eu’s first feature film and she made history as the first Malaysian and Southeast Asian director to win the €10,000 (RM49,622) Grand Prize award at Cannes Critics Week, a parallel section of the prestigious festival.
Earlier this month, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that the film was officially chosen to represent Malaysia in the 96th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. - Mkini
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