The Arsonist

A very impressive transposition of William Faulkner's story Barn Burning to rural Malaysia, this centres on an embittered worker-for-hire who uses arson as his weapon to attack those who exploit or cheat him, but doesn't hesitate to bully his own family into submission. As the spare drama unfolds, attention focuses on the man's youngest son (Ngasri), whose instinct is to rebel against his tyrannical father but who has been more influenced by him than he realises. Everything here from the dialogue and performances to the lighting represents a break with the traditions of Malay movie melodrama.