Sepi

Director Kabir Bhatia obviously has a soft spot for picaresque storytelling. As with his first feature Cinta, Sepi is actually an anthology of three love stories threaded together by a single life-changing event shared by three couples. The movie weaves in and out of their search of happily ever after: Adam (Afdlin Shauki) is a celebrated chef frustrated with his inability to find a potential wife other than the creepily eccentric Suzie (Nasha Aziz) until he meets Ilyana (Vanida Imran); Sufi (Tony Eusoff) deals with his wife’s violent death and sees in Marya (Eja) a new lease on life; and young playwright Imaan (newcomer Baizura Kahar) has to choose between her childhood sweetheart Ricco and Ean (Syed Hussein), the campus braggart playing the lead in her play (entitled “Sepi”, coincidentally enough).

The premise is a little cheese-ridden, sure. But the nuanced direction, lush cinematography, and passionate acting by part of the cast truly sets Sepi apart from cringe territory. Indeed, it seems like some of the more senior actors here, notably Afdlin Shauki and Riezman Khuzaimi, have been waiting for a script like this for years, judging from the gusto with which they take on their characters. Afdlin’s depiction of Adam is so heart-wrenchingly understated you have to give the man props for being able to resist his obvious comedic tendencies in order to convey a sense of resigned loneliness. Even Tony Eusoff, who was distractingly smarmy in 8TV’s Ghost mini-series, pulls off a commendable performance and uses all he’s given to great effect. The only gripe comes from the younger cast members: Baizura Kahar plays the indignant nerd hottie well, but that’s about it as far as her range in this movie’s concerned; her suitors are similarly lacking in definition.

Sepi’s theme of second chances at love is illustrated well, without having it hammered into the audience’s head. There’s no getting around the inevitable conclusion that the main cast do find someone to love by movie’s end, but not everything resolves in a syrupy sweet aw shucks moment. Love is pain, and second chances don’t come cheap. Sepi, apart from a few awkward stumbles, drives home these points with graceful pathos. Go grab that girl you’ve always liked from a distance and watch this.

Cast Afdlin Shauki, Vanida Imran, Eja, Tony Eusoff, Pierre Andre, Baizura Kahar, Syed Hussein, Riezman Khuzaimi, Nasha Aziz Director Kabir Bhatia Runtime 120 mins Opens June 26

Text Azwan Mahzan