The story is about Kakang and his family in the rural area of Malaysia. Kakang is an ex- soldier of Indonesia who came to Malaysia and built a family here. He and his family makes a living by rubber tapping in the rural areas. However, the family has been moving very often due to his pride and behaviour. Beginning of the story, he was shunned by the village he is making a living for burning another villager's property despite his own faults. His family moved to another village and he was exploited by his new employer, Kasim. He felt mistreated but found no justice for himself at the local court, thus he decided to bring himself justice by burning Kasim's property. Only to made his own son ratting him out and ended up dead.
Synopsis - Jogho
The story is about Mamat's life in Southern Thailand as a bull-fighting trainer. Lazim, Mamat's brother was shot dead by Isa after a bull fight. In avenging Lazim's death, his sons killed Isa's son, Hamdan and his assistant, Dolah. The action brought Mamat to jail. His wife bailed him out just right before the final bull fight, but before the fight even began, Isa shot Mamat in the hand. In the end, Sani shot Isa dead but Mamat took tha blame for him.
Review
Both the films by U-Wei have similar context and themes. Both film revolves in foreigners who work in rural areas of other country and they were discriminated by the locals. Also, the main character from both films hold strong to their roots and adat. Both the films was instilling the idea of one should fight for their own right and justice however perverse or tainted it is. The unconditional love for one's family is also something the author instil in the films. In terms of technical aspects, the director liked long tracking shots and usage of non-diegetic sound in the films.
The difference in the films is that first, the plot for the first film was told in a linear manner while the latter sort of have flashback. Women in Jogho have much more say compared to Kaki Bakar, but in the end, the male still have the final say in the patriarch society. Also the usage of sound is more sophisticated in Jogho, the sound is more carefully crafted and lass repetition of the same piece of music.
Anyhow I disliked both the films because the way U-Wei present the main theme of the films. One of the main theme, to protect one's pride and dignity despite how perverse or tainted it is, which I dislike most. For example, Kakang burnt other's property because he thinks that the people around him is not treating him equally while he has his portion of fault in most of the scenario. Whilst in Jogho, Isa who thinks that his dignity is challenged when he lost the bull fight and ended up killing another person. I find both the action is plain dumb and many conflick could be avoided if they use reasoning a bit morethan their emotions. Besides being boring, I dislike the films for being in slow pace. Particularly in Kaki Bakar, I dislike the lighting of the film and the way Kakang is educating his son, Kusuma. In Jogho, I dislike the way the people settle things their own way, murdering one another.
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