'Dari Jemapoh ke Manchestee' the debut film by reformasi activist and current Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Hishamuddin Rais (photo), begins its second week of screening at two Kuala Lumpur cinemas today despite receiving very little publicity from the mainstream media.

The producer Halim Sabir says that the response from the public has been "quite encouraging" and that a few of the evening shows were even sold-out.

"It's selling mainly through word-of-mouth," he adds.

'Dari Jemapoh ke Manchestee' is Malaysia's first road movie and follows the travails of a group of youths who are trying to escape their humdrum lives in search of adventure in Europe.

The light-hearted film is layered with a soundtrack that fuses the Malaysian 1960s pop yeh yeh movement with contemporary punk and alternative sounds.

The film was described by its director as "an independent rock-and-roll anti-epic for all youths past, present and future".

'Rare gem'

Among all the major newspapers, only the Malay Mail has given it a review.

In its July 28 July article, entertainment journalist Meor Shariman wrote that the film 'could have been better if it had a bigger budget. But again, if it had followed the norm of a "commercial" film, it would not be the rare gem it is'.

Meor concluded his article with the line: "Entertaining, fun and at times thought-provoking, 'Dari Jemapoh Ke Manchestee' is a film that should not be missed."

Meanwhile, a source close to the film's production says, "It's ironic that the much-maligned Censorship Board has, by asking for only two cuts, has been much more supportive of this film than the media, which frequently complains that Malay movies always follow the same formula."

He adds that the 'near-silence' of the media is 'almost certainly' the result of Hishamuddin's reputation as a government critic, alongside his current two-year detention under the ISA.

Even at a budget of RM 500,000 (about half that of the average Malay movie), the production of the film was plagued with financial trouble ever since shooting ended in late 1996. It took almost two years for the director and producer to raise the money needed for post-production.

Help came in the form of a completion grant from the Hubert Bals Fund in Holland, and the film made its world premiere at a sold-out screening at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival. It has so far been screened in seven international film festivals.

Financial constraints

The unconventional nature of the film has carried over into its release, with the incarcerated director unable to give promotional interviews.

Financial constraints have also ensured that only two prints are being shown at TGV Suria KLCC and GSC Mid-Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur. (By contrast, the average Malay movie will release between 16 to 24 prints nationwide.)

The main avenue for promotion is through word-of-mouth and also the Internet. The film's website is now online.

Halim says that there has been interest from cinemas in Kuantan, Penang, Johor Baru and Kota Baru to run the film. Screening outside Kuala Lumpur could begin as early as next week, depending on whether there is time and money to strike new prints. (Each new screening print costs about RM 4,000).

He does not want the film to be seen merely as a KL event and adds, "'Dari Jemapoh ke Manchestee' is a road movie, so it's appropriate that it should travel around!"

Hishamuddin Rais was detained under the ISA on April 10 with several other opposition leaders for allegedly planing to topple the government through 'militant means'. He and five others are currently being held at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak. Hishamuddin is also a malaysiakini columnist