The arsonist

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Description

U-Wei Bin Haji Saari based The Arsonist (1995) on William Faulkner's short story Barn Burning, transposing it from the Deep South to Malaysia. The filmmaker stays true to its core, but depicts the position of a Javanese man who has married a Malaysian woman, and is continually in a state of rebellion. His family is isolated from the community, and their life is continually disrupted. They are often reduced to camping out in the open with their goats. His middle son admires his courage, but asks himself if his honor demands him to stop his father from ruining himself and their family. The movie premiered at the Singapore International Film Festival, and went on to be the most honored Malaysian film in history, selected in Cannes, and winning the Grand Prize (Best International Film) at the Brussels Film Festival. Other Festivals: Nominated Silver Lion Best Short Film Venice Film Festival 2004; Los Angeles International Short Film Festival 2004.