agmtw logo
search
Abang Adik (2023)

Abang Adik (2023)

Two undocumented orphans scrounge up a life in this emotionally moving debut drama

7.4

Movie

Malaysia, Singapore
Cantonese, Malay, Mandarin
Crime, Drama
2023
JIN ONG
April Chan, Bront Palarae, Jack Tan
115 min

TLDR

Genuinely heartbreaking to watch.

What it's about

Because of being undocumented orphans in Malaysia, deaf-mute Abang resigns himself to a life of poverty, though his younger brother Adik burns with indignation, refusing help and getting in trouble.

The take

At the fringes of society, sometimes, all you have is your family. You would do all you can to feed, clothe, and protect them, and your fate hangs in the balance of what they do in return. Abang Adik is centered on two undocumented orphans in Malaysia, and because they only have each other, Abang does all he can legally and within his capabilities as a disabled man to scrounge up some money, but Adik tries to gain more secretly, resorting to scamming fellow illegal immigrants. Writer-director Jin Ong portrays their plight realistically, but more importantly, the drama works because Ong prioritizes crafting the compelling dynamic between them, making it much more heartbreaking when the loss of their one chance changes everything. Abang Adik may not be a perfect drama, but it’s a daring debut that’s needed.

What stands out

The performances. Wu Kang-ren and Jack Tan share a believable dynamic that works so well.

Comments

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

The Night Comes for Us (2018)

A Triad enforcer punches out a bloody escape in this spectacular, violent crime thriller

7.0

The Half of It (2020)

An atmospheric romance that starts with “this is not a love story"

7.3

A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

A rich, melancholy tale of 1960s youth in Taiwan

9.0

Biutiful (2010)

7.7

Kaili Blues (2015)

A hypnotic piece of slow cinema that disintegrates the boundaries between past and present

8.0

Dìdi (弟弟) (2024)

Sean Wang remembers internet adolescence in this fresh, honest coming-of-age comedy drama

8.8

The Shadow Strays (2024)

Timo Tjahjanto’s second Netflix collab takes a darker path in this bloody and brutal crime thriller

7.1

Shun Li and the Poet (2011)

Two immigrants form a friendship in this contemplative seaside drama

7.1

The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)

A dying criminal kills to be the most wanted in this Taiwanese Western-esque gangster drama

7.5

2046 (2004)

The inventive sequel to In the Mood for Love

7.7

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.