La Luna (2023 film) explained

Director:M. Raihan Halim
Screenplay:M. Raihan Halim
Story:M. Raihan Halim
Cinematography:Sofyan Daud Mohamed
Editing:Rohaidah Rashid
Music:Ken Hor
Aziem Rashidi
Runtime:99 minutes
Language:Malay
Budget:S$1.1 million (RM3.5 million)

La Luna is a 2023 Singaporean-Malaysian Malay-language romantic comedy film written, with screenplay, story and directed by M. Raihan Halim. The film stars Shaheizy Sam and Sharifah Amani as well as other cast members. The film was released on 9 November 2023 in Malaysia, 16 November in Singapore and 6 December 2023 in Indonesia.

Plot

Tells about a woman (played by Sharifah Amani) who opened a lingerie store named La Luna in a lonely, lazy yet lifeless village, Kampong Bras Basah. There, she meets a widower police officer (Shaheizy Sam) who has a teenage daughter.

The villagers welcome this La Luna shop but it is fiercely opposed by the iron nailed village head (Wan Hanafi Su) who wants to destroy the business at all costs.[1]

Cast

Production

This film was produced by 4 companies from Singapore through Clover Films and Papahan Films, Malaysia (ACT 2 Pictures by Adrian Teh) and Hong Kong (One Cool Film).

Development

Raihan Halim, the director of the film written the story and screenplay alone. Raihan told Cinema Online,He also told to Malaysiakini that this film has its own unique style even though he admitted this film have a bit naughty.[2]

One Cool Film

Due to massive improvement in Malaysian film, Hong Kong film company-based One Cool Film interested to invest in this film which their collaborate with 3 other companies. Lim Teck, creator of Clover Films was grateful with the support from One Cool Film and also give some opinions and improvements in the film.[3]

One Cool Film later on opened their operation in Malaysia launched on 20 April with The Locksmith as its first feature filmed in the country and this film as its first Singapore-Malaysia co-production.[4]

Filming

The film's principal photography wrap up after 22 days which the shooting take place in Perak.[5]

Release

This film released on 9 November 2023 with Skop Productions holding distribution rights for Malaysian market while in Singapore, Golden Village Pictures responsible for their market thus released on 16 November 2023. This film managed to break into some of the film festivals through Japan on Tokyo International Film Festival[6] and Indonesia through Jakarta Film Week and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival.

Reception

Critical response

The film receive positive review from critics. Noel Wong, writing for Free Malaysia Today, wrote: "A good chunk of laughs are derived from the sexual repression of the villagers, thanks to Tok Hassan’s oppressive rules. Hanie’s arrival, therefore, brings a breath of fresh air to the village’s bedrooms".[7]

References

  1. Web site: 22 September 2023 . Filem La Luna (2023) . 11 November 2023 . Myinfotaip.
  2. Web site: Hanafi . Maisarah Adila . 1 November 2023 . La Luna ada kelainan tersendiri - M Raihan . 11 November 2023 . Malaysiakini.
  3. News: 15 May 2023 . La Luna filem ‘pecah tanah’ One Cool Film . . 11 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Wong . Silvia . 11 May 2023 . Hong Kong’s One Cool Film expands into Malaysia with ‘The Locksmith’, ‘La Luna’ (exclusive) . 11 November 2023 . ScreenDaily.
  5. Web site: 3 November 2023 . La Luna - Cast Interview (Part II) . 11 November 2023 . YouTube.
  6. Web site: 【La Luna】 36th Tokyo International Film Festival . 11 November 2023 . Tokyo International Film Festival 2023.
  7. Web site: Life and lingerie: ‘La Luna’ is a surprisingly deep kampung comedy. Noel Wong. 7 November 2023. 11 November 2023.