For those who think indie films in Malaysia are too abstract or difficult to understand, this film is will prove you wrong. Also, independent filmakers around this time are different from the independent filmakers few years ago. Why do I talk as though there is a generational shift of independent filmaking? :p

Before I really mentioned what I felt about the film, let me mention some flaws which had my friend and I questioning each other during the movie:

1. If Hawa is a Facebook addict, and she added her former university friend (Daphne Iking), wouldn’t Daphne Iking’s character know who Hawa’s husband was? A facebook addict will most likely to add photos of herself and her husband, even if she could not have changed her relationship status just because her husband claimed not to have a facebook account.
2. When someone dies, you can actually tell Facebook about it and the person’s Facebook’s account will become a memorial page. But of course, this is actually a non-issue for this film because how many people will actually email Facebook to inform them about the death about their loved ones? After all, the issue is how people deal with life and death, and social networking.
3. It will be more interesting if other characters were more developed.
4. What’s with the 5-10% black gaussian blur behind those facebook fonts in the title sequence? Doesn’t look aesthetically nice.

Asides from the obvious flaws, it was interesting. Here’s what I liked about this film:

1. FINALLY better actors and actresses for the film. Have you watched most of the local independent films where most of them are ‘kayu’ like anything? This time round, most of the actors and actresses have theatre experience.
2. Good storytelling with a different perspective. We need stories like this. The other indie film which had good storytelling with a different perspective is The Joshua Tapes. So yes, when can we get the dvd for these awesome indie movies?
3. The nice electronica music that was played when Selina walked out of the airport and back home. If only I know who is the musician.
4. I liked it at the beginning of the film when Selina (Susan Lancaster) revealed to David that she had been reading his blog for years, and she still hired him. Now where can you get such a cool boss who is ‘forgiving’ and also open to social media?
5. David’s narration at the end of the show. I can’t remember what he narrated, but it was something about how humans still need relationship, with social networking or not. Not quite philosophical, but still ok.
6. I like how they tackle this issue sociologically, and how people communicate in life and facebook and how all these affects the relationship. Simple film, but really honest. At some point of the film, I actually could relate to some of the characters. You know in Manglish we say “I terasa wei.” It’s been sometime since I felt emotions while watching a movie. The last I felt that was when I watch Departures. But don’t get me wrong. I’ll be honest that this movie is not the same par with Departures. I’m just saying how they made it so honest that it touches your emotions.

So would I show people my relationship status? Currently I left it blank and I don’t feel like changing it because that attracts too many comments, likes and questions. Also, I’ve used too much facebook in life. I do not want to let people know of my relationship status, even if I’m single.

Maybe I’ll change my mind the next time.

They are not showing the film anymore, but you can check out their site here.