User:PenangLion/Abang Adik

Abang Adik (Chinese: 富都青年, lit. 'Pudu Youngsters') is a 2023 Malaysian neo-noir drama film written and directed by Jin Ong in his directorial debut. The film tells the story of a pair of undocumented orphans in Malaysia, Abang (Wu Kang-ren), a deaf mute brother, and Adik (Jack Tan), an indignified younger brother, who struggles in a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden environment. Serene Lim, April Chan, Tan Kim Wang, and Bront Palarae appear in supporting roles.

Abang Adik received critical acclaim upon its release–particularly for its writing, story, and for the performance of Wu Kang-ren. The movie was a box office success, especially in Taiwan, earning almost $4 million during its initial theatrical run, becoming the first Malaysian movie ever to top box office charts in the country. The film went on to receive multiple award nominations, including seven Golden Horse Awards nominations, with Wu Kang-ren winning Best Actor.

Plot
In Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, a pair of brothers, Abang and Adik, live a life of poverty in the old-city slums. They struggle in their daily lives as they are undocumented orphans. The elder brother, Abang, is a deaf mute. While Abang wishes to live a quiet life due to his disabilities, his younger brother, Adik, refuses to continue his poverty-stricken life. He earns a living by selling false identification papers to illegal immigrants under Kamarul, a gang leader, hoping to make enough money to leave the slums with his brother.

Despite their status, they were helped by social worker Li Jia-en, who voluntarily tries to assist the siblings to attain Malaysian citizenship. Although her efforts were appreciated by Abang, Adik was reluctant to break the status-quo. During a visit by Li, a frustrated Adik accidentally beats Li to death, leading the pair to flee the city.

However, Abang would leave Adik and confess the accidental killing as his wrongdoing. He was jailed and sentenced to death. As it turned out, during Abang's recollections, Li actually survived Adik's attack and was stumbled upon by Abang after he returned home. At the same time, a friend of Abang happened to knock the doors of their apartment, sending a panicked Abang to choke Li to death.

After three years, preparations were made for Abang's execution. During a meeting with a Buddhist priest in the prison, Abang made an emotional rant on the desperation his life has took due to the lack of identification papers. For one last time, Adik would visit Abang in prison. He was executed afterwards.

During the closing scene, Adik tries to visit a coffee shop, whose hawker happens to be his long-lost father.

Cast

 * Wu Kang-ren as Tan Ah-bang, or Abang
 * Jack Tan as Zhang Wen-di, or Adik
 * Tan Kim Wang as Ms. Money
 * Serene Lim as Li Jia-en
 * April Chan as Xiao Su
 * Bront Palarae as Kamarul

Production
Production of the film took place at Kuala Lumpur between 1 June and 2 July 2022. To prepare for his role, Wu Kang-ren arrived at Malaysia at an earlier date to assimilate himself. He had reduced his weight by over eight kilograms. On the other hand, Jack Tan had been requested to gain seven kilogrammes of weight as a requirement.