#SHOWBIZ: Abid's 'Memori' reflects real-life bond with late father

New Straits Times

a day ago

DIRECTOR Abid Hussain will always remember the time he and his late father bonded best, during the final years of his life.
And while his father is gone, his legacy of love remains in Abid's heart forever, and the director came up with tear-jerking family drama Memori, boasting a star-studded cast of A-list Malaysian stars.
At the recent preview of Memori in GSC Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, Abid who is marking his first feature film, described Memori as a poignant tale of a strained relationship between a father and son, shaped by turbulent events of the past.
He said: "It follows a son searching for a reason to forgive, and a father gradually losing his memory to Alzheimer's disease."
Abid added that the movie which opens in cinemas on July 31 is set against the stunning backdrop of Kuala Terengganu, and 90 per cent based on his father's final days.
"The protagonist Imran is based on me, while his father Dr Hassan is based on my father," said Abid, adding that unlike the setting of Memori, he bonded with his father in the Klang Valley.
"The story begins when Imran and his wife Rina discover that Hassan's memory is fading.
"He starts seeing people and things that don't exist, and when they take him to a doctor, the shocking truth is revealed - his memory is fading fast," said Abid.
"Imran who has not had a good relationship with Hassan, is forced to spend quality time with his father, and recreate stories of his past in order to remind him of his family.
"By constantly reminding Hassan, Imran creates in his father's mind short bursts of good memories that help improve their soured relationship, as well as that between Imran and his wife."
Memori's cast is headlined by veteran actor Datuk Hilal Azman as Hassan, Singaporean Hisyam Hamid as Imran, Diana Danielle as Rina, Anas Ridzuan as their neighbour Mamat, and Aanantha Rajaram, Pushpa Narayan and Aajay Suresh as their family friends the Jega family.
MARK
Abid said that Memori had already made its mark across major film festivals globally.
"It has been officially selected, nominated, and has won more than 20 awards, including Film of the Year, Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Editor, and Best Producer, among others," he said.
"The film has been celebrated in festivals in Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico, China, Berlin, India, Tokyo, Singapore, and the Philippines."
TERENGGANU
Produced by Creative Stew Sdn Bhd in association with Golden Screen Cinemas, it has Abid's wife Zakiah Malek as executive producer.
Filming took place around Kuala Terengganu in July last year.
Zakiah said: "Memori is a story born from sorrow, love, and gratitude.
"It explores how we carry emotional baggage from our past, often forgetting the limited time we have with those we cherish.
"At its core, it's about the journey of letting go in order to find something we've longed for our entire lives."
HEARTWARMING
Hilal said that he thoroughly enjoyed working with Abid, Zakiah, Hisyam and Diana to bring Hassan's tragic but heartwarming story to life.
"We've worked superbly as a team, and Abid is a gem of a director who knows exactly what he wants for every scene."
Diana said that Memori was a powerful movie, full of emotion, and she could wholly relate to the characters.
"It is a very Malaysian family story that deals with illness, and parent-child relationships which are topics close to my heart," she said, adding that she got along great with Hisyam and Hilal on the set.
"I went straight into Memori out of love for its beautiful story, and my utmost respect for Abid and his father," she said, adding that she had known the director for some years.
FIRST
Abid said that it was his first film with Hilal, Hisyam and Diana and he had the three of them in mind when he created their characters.
"Hisyam pushed himself to the limits. He cannot swim but braved himself to go into the water in the drowning scene," he said.
Hisyam said: "My character Imran is a son who runs away from his problems and is somewhat selfish and insensitive.
"Nevertheless, he loves his father Hassan dearly."
BEACH
Hisyam added that he liked having the movie set by the beach.
"The sea is a metaphor for family love. It tied in beautifully with Imran's and Hassan's main bone of contention, a childhood incident when the father forced the son to swim by throwing him off the boat," he said, adding that he spent the longest time submerged in the water and was proud of his achievement.
"Besides the scene where Imran gives his father a nice, warm shower, my favourite scene is the one where Imran and Rina get into an argument which reveals the persons that they are."