Apprentice (film)
| Apprentice | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Boo Junfeng |
| Produced by |
Raymond Phathanavirangoon Fran Borgia Tan Fong Cheng |
| Written by | Boo Junfeng |
| Starring |
Firdaus Rahman Wan Hanafi Su |
| Music by |
Alexander Zekke Matthew James Kelly |
| Cinematography | Benoit Soler |
| Edited by |
Natalie Soh Lee Chatametikool |
| Distributed by |
Clover Films / Golden Village Pictures (Singapore) Version Originale (France) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country |
Singapore Germany France Hong Kong Qatar |
| Language |
Malay English |
| Box office |
US$52,991[1] (France) SG$174,000[2] (Singapore) |
Apprentice is a 2016 Singaporean drama film directed by Boo Junfeng. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.[3][4] It was selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.[5][6]
The film focuses on a young prisons officer meeting an older colleague, whom is revealed to be the chief executioner. As their relationships intensifies, their backstories are revealed throughout the course of the film. It also touches on the death penalty from an executioner's point of view.[7]
Plot
The film follows a Malay prisons officer Sergeant Aiman, who had just been transferred from Commonwealth (A reference to the former Queenstown Remand Prison), to the fictional Larangan Prison, the state's maximum security prison. Due to his vocational education background in ITE, he is assigned to watch the rehabilitating prisoners at the prisons' workshop. Later on, while helping a colleague, Sergeant Joseph Lee to clear some stores at the gallows, he encounters the Chief Executioner, Senior Chief Warder (1) Rahim. While seeking out suitable ropes for the noose, a friendship develops between them. In the course of the film, the relationship intensifies to almost a father-son relationship.
Back at home, Aiman informs his older sister, Suhaila of his encounter with the hangman. This displeases Suhaila, as their father was sentenced to death thirty years ago for a murder. It was later known that he didn't commit the crime and was covering up for a friend instead.
After an attempted but failed execution by potential replacement Joesph, Rahim informs of his intentions to take Aiman as his apprentice. Later, Suhaila informs Aiman of her engagement with Australian expat, John and later intends to leave the country with him. Aiman, who didn't take a liking to him informs her of becoming the executioner's assistant in retaliation. This angered Suhaila, which strains their relationship. Meanwhile, Rahim teaches Aiman the tricks of the trade and shares his knowledge and experiences with him.
Aiman then assists in the execution of death-row inmate, Randy. Distraught with the experience, Aiman unsuccessfully calls Suhaila, who had presumably left for Australia. In the meantime, Rahim checks on Aiman's security clearance and found out that Aiman's father was sentenced to death. Aiman returns to an empty house, in distress. He later goes back to work, only to be confronted by Rahim, as he didn't declare that his father was executed for a capital offence. Because of this, Aiman wasn't cleared to do an executioner's job. Aiman retaliates, saying that he wasn't all like his father and wanted to change for the better. Rahim and Aiman got into an heated argument, questioning Rahim's ethics, use of compassion on the condemn and the burden Aiman carried due to his father's mistakes. Rahim then states that he had already written up Aiman's charge sheet, and disciplinary action will be taken against him the next day. Aiman then leaves. That night, through a voice message, he informs Suhaila of his potential charge and cries.
While on his way home, Rahim is involved in a road traffic accident. He is then hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Desperate for a replacement due to an upcoming execution, Assistant Superintendent James Tan taps Aiman as Rahim's replacement. The next morning, Suhaila informs him of her arrival in Australia. She asks if Aiman is still being charged, to which he says he may not. She then states that "he'll always make the right decision". Soon after, Aiman performs the execution while being watched by some other important people. He places his hands on the lever that activates the trap doors. The camera cuts to black, leaving the outcome of the execution to the viewer.
Cast
- Firdaus Rahman as Sergeant Aiman Yusof, a 28-year-old Malay prisons officer who is recently transferred to Larangan Prison.
- Wan Hanafi Su as Senior Chief Warder (1) Rahim, the prisons' long-serving Chief Executioner.
- Mastura Ahmad as Suhaila, Aiman's older sister who is the sole barer and caregiver of the family.
- Nickson Cheng as Sergeant Joseph Lee - Rahim's assistant who later quits.
- Boon Pin Koh as Assistant Superintendent James Tan - Larangan Prisons' Chief Clerk who later assigns Aiman to replace Rahim.
- Crispian Chan as Randy Tan, a death row inmate.
- Sean Tobin as John, an Australian expat and Suhaila's love interest.
- Gerald Chew as Hock, a death row inmate
Production
Preparations for the film were spread over a period of five years. As a starting point for research, Boo had read the book Once a Jolly Hangman by Alan Shadrake. The book, critical of Singapore's judicial system, also included an interview with hangman Darshan Singh who had executed up to 18 convicts in a day.[8] He had also interviewed former executioners, imams and priests who had helped death row inmates with their last prayers prior to their execution, and families of those gone under the death penalty.[9]
Film shooting took place inside several disused prison facilities in New South Wales, Australia.[9][10] This was also done to further avoid uproar from fellow Singaporeans regarding the controversial practice being the topic of the film.[8]
Reception
Apprentice received positive reviews and a standing ovation[11] at the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.[12]
Domestically, the film premiered at the Capitol Building on 14 June,[13] followed by an island wide release on 30 June. Reviews for the film were positive.[14][15]
See also
- List of submissions to the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Singaporean submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ↑ "Apprentice". Box Office Mojo.
- ↑ "MovieXclusive.com - Your Online Source to the World of Movies in Singapore". Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "2016 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ↑ "Cannes 2016: Film Festival Unveils Official Selection Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ↑ Patrick, Frater (15 September 2016). "Singapore Appoints 'Apprentice' for Foreign-Language Oscar Run". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ↑ Blair, Gavin J. (15 September 2016). "Oscars: Singapore Selects 'Apprentice' for Foreign-Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ↑ hermesauto (16 May 2016). "Boo Junfeng's Singapore death penalty film stirs emotions in Cannes". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- 1 2 "Boo Junfeng's Singapore death penalty film stirs emotions in Cannes". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- 1 2 Tan, Marguerita (16 June 2016). "If prison walls could talk". TODAY Online. Mediacorp Press Ltd. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ↑ Lui, John (29 June 2016). "Movie reviews: Executioner in Apprentice deserved more screen time". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ↑ "Standing ovation for Boo Junfeng's Film at Cannes". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ↑ "Positive reviews for Singapore's Apprentice at Cannes Film Fest". Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ↑ Derrick See (29 June 2016). "Apprentice 2016 Movie Gala Premiere". Retrieved 28 July 2016 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "FILM Review: Apprentice - ATMOS". 21 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ↑ "Five on Friday: Why you should watch Boo Junfeng's prison film Apprentice". Retrieved 28 July 2016.