National Identity
Introduction
National identity can be defined as the manner in which a nation portrays itself to the rest of the world, based on cohesion of different practices undertaken by its citizens. Understanding a nations identity fully entails putting into consideration all the aspects and practices undertaken by the nations citizens. The practices which are put into considerations when describing a nations identity are; the country’s traditional practices, different cultures, political practices and the languages used by the citizens. National identification of any nation must be based in understanding all these aspects about the nation under consideration. National identity of Malaysia is the cohesiveness of the Malaysian citizen’s cultures, traditional practices, language, and the political practices of the citizens. Malaysia is made up of different ethnic groups with Malays constituting the majority of the population. These ethnic groups have different languages different among the groups which they use in communication. Malaysia has its main used languages originating from two families. These families are, the Mon-Khmer and the Malayo-Polynesian. These two families give rise to different ethnic groups living in Malaysia. The ethnic groups within Malaysia include; the Malays- the Malaysia group make up the majority of the country’s population, this ethnic group use the Malays language. The Malays language is the official language of the country this is because it’s the most spoken language in the country. It makes up the most used mother tongue in the country another ethnic group within the country are the Chinese, this group mostly uses Chinese as their language. Another dominant group is the Indians; this ethnic group mainly uses Hindu language in communication. Malaysia however, comprises of other small ethnic groups with each ethnic group using its own language in communication. The eastern part of Malaysia uses different native languages the languages which are mainly used at this part of the country are; the Iban language, the kadazan and the music language According to the National Language Act of Malaysia English may take precedence over the official Malay language in different set up. Due to this, the English language is taught both in primary and secondary schools in Malaysia making the language known and understood by majority of the population. These ethnic groups also have different cultural and traditional practices which are unique from each other. Increased intermarriages among the cultures living in the country gas also led to rise of other new cultures. The country is also made up different religions, these religions include; Islamic, Christianity, Hindu and the Buddhists. These religions make up the majority population of the Malaysian population. These beliefs are strongly respected and followed within the country. Due to strictness in following the Islamic belief for instance, the business organizations operating within the country are required to provide their employees with a minimum of two hours on Fridays to enable the Muslim followers and the Malays to attend their noon time prayers. The Muslim dressing code is also encouraged for Muslim believers to encourage the conservation of their culture and believe.
Body
Ola Bola (2016) is a film directed and produced with the theme of showcasing the national identity of the Malaysian people. The setup of the movie portrays different cultures, social practices tradition and also relational beliefs. To drive this theme, the director uses a national football team setup to which is sorely determined to achieve its objectives. The national team is seen to be made up of members from different ethnic groups with different cultural beliefs, traditions as well as the religions. Despite all these differences the team’s spirit is guided by wanting to achieve their goals in representing their country at an international stage.
Chiu Keng Guan, the director, is a Malaysian citizen passionate about the film industry. His career in the film industry started in China where he had traveled to study the art of filmmaking. He undertook his studies at Beijing film academy in China after which he returned to his home country in 1998 to expand on his filmmaking career. Chiu is famously known for his nature of liking to use non-actors in the films which are aligned with the themes in his films. Having returned from Beijing China, he joined the filming industry in 2007 where he first joined Astro films. Through Astro, he has been able to film different TV shows, different commercials. Chiu also ventured into the entertainment industry and directed several music videos. However, Chiu left Astro after working with them for just two years. Before leaving Astro Chiu had been able to win several notable awards. He also had been nominated for other major awards which even though he didn’t win showed his contribution to the film industry. Among the awards that he was able to win under Astro include; the Golden Wau awards and also the Malaysian film festival awards (Kipen and David 2006). Through this achievement Chiu proofed to be an auteur, this is because of his major contribution to the art work he directed which made him receive this recognition from the major players in the film industry. Auteur theory states that a director who is concerned with all the visual and audio elements of a film is more than just a mere director. He/she is however made equivalent to the author of the play than just a films writer.
Chiu in portraying the theme of multiculturalism, he uses a family set up. Under this set up the family of Melur has employed a Chinese cook who is not from their ethnic group. Melur family was made up as a result inter-cultural marriages this is explained by the fact that Melurs grandmother was from England. This also shows that Melurs parent were not purely of Malays origin. An audition in the film, also indicates representation of different cultures in the event. These instruments are; the traditional music instruments of Chinese origin, Malay based recited poem and also some English songs. The judge bench is composed of judges from different ethnic origins which are; Chinese, Indians as well as judges of Malays origin. Appreciating all these cultural groups in the set up shows that all the groups the ethnic group in the team are equally important. Malays group despite having the majority in terms of number as expected it is not dominant on all the matters but equality and fairness is displayed through the film. Talent time audition was seen to have a majority of items from Chinese origin such as the traditional music instruments and also the Chinese traditional dances. The national team is seen to be made up of members from different ethnic groups with different cultural beliefs, traditions as well as the religions who are committed in achieving the goal of representing their country fully. The theme of multiculturalism is displayed by Rahman and takes who despite coming from different ethnic background shares a very strong relationship. These two friends are seen talking about the difference of their skin colors but this however, does not stop their relationship from flourishing. The brother ship relationship portrayed clearly depicts the unity and oneness in the Malaysian national team which is not separated within the ethnic lines. Another aspect of multiculturalism in the play is use of different languages by the characters in the movie. Malays group was represented through a recital poem. Intermarriages are seen to have been taking place from back in the ages with Melurs’ grandmother being an England citizen. Through this the film shows that these relationships have existed over ages. Mahesh is used to portray the theme of inter-religion interaction (Weber and Bruce 2015). As a character he is not ready to leave his fiancée despite the pressure from all the corners. Mahesh mum was rejected on religion based since she was a Muslim. Despite knowing all this, Mahesh meets his fiancée at the competition and he is desperate to have her for himself. This play displays hopefulness that a change might happen and allow search relationship to flourish. The play also shows the unnecessary pain individual go through when they accept to be slaves of their religions and cultural belief. A story of a successful happy family despite it originating from an intermarriage between two culture, show that people interactions can give rise other beautiful things in future like Melurs family. Different ethnic groups within Malaysia are portrayed to follow their different beliefs and practices with the Chinese carrying on with their traditional dances and also using traditional musical instruments. These traditions are displayed by the youth in the talent search competition which shows the Malaysians commitment to preserving these practices. Malaysian have used these differences as a strength and not a weakness with the concept of working together for example in the case of the competition judges’ fairness and success is achieved.
References
Kipen and David 2006. The Schreiber Theory: A Radical Rewrite of American Film History, p.38. Melville House ISBN 0-9766583-3-X.
Weber, Bruce 2015. “Richard Corliss, 71, Longtime Film Critic for Time, Dies”. The New York Times.