Ola-Bola
Student 3 & 4:
To critically assess the Cast Design and their individual character. Was the cast designed well? Did all characters have a purpose? Were the individual characters well explored? Or lacked depth?
CHOW KWOK KEONG (by JC Chee)
Chow Kwok Keong known as “Tauke” mean boss or man in charge in Hokkien. Chow Kwok Keong is 26-year-old Malaysian chinese who the captain of the national football team and Asia’s best defender, he is also the eldest in his family. Thus, he feels a great responsibility towards providing for his family, his girlfriend and Malaysian football future. He is struggled between family responsibility by giving them a better future and pursuing his dream in football when he was invited for joining an England football club. After 1975, he defeat to South Korea was a painful memory for him in a Olympic qualification , and he swears to do all he can to be in the Olympic Qualifier of the 1980 Games.
ALI (by Luqman Hafidz)
Ali 20-year-old Malay who has dedicated his life to the game of football . His fiery ambition has made him one of the best player in the national team. But with his ambitious also turn him into an arrogant personality which made the national team torn into loses . His dream is to one day become his idol Samsul’s wearing the No.10 jersey.
MUTHU (by Saran Kumar)
Muthu who was 22-year-old and the best goalkeeper in the national team. His football ambitions had disagreed by his father which make him a bad relationship between him and his father. In the movie, he rejects to help his father in their coconuts business and determined to his football career.
However, he strives his way through his father prejudice and get his father agreed with his football career.
RAHMAN (by Bront Palarae)
Rahman is a sports radio commentator’s assistant, who was humorous , positive and passionate about his career and also the national football team. He also best friend of “Tauke” who give “Tauke” a lot of advice and support toward his football career. His determination and persistence make him excellent commentator during the final game in the movie , he is positive toward any situation or matter. Each of these characters represented different living background and also their culture. In my perspective, the purpose of the movie is try to show the unity of different races in Malaysia and the important of family and friends supports. These protagonist characters well explored toward the purpose of the movie.
Brief Synopsis of character involvement in this film:
Stories Ola Bola began when Marianne, a journalist was assigned to make a study of the national football team that Malaysia is well known for first time in football in 80’s. Malaysian team was so feared by opponents, especially in the Asian region. Marianne started to get bored with his career and decided to emigrate to England. Before he left the country, she decided to complete its work for the last time. However, the interesting history of Malaysian football team apparently changed his life. The national football team faced challenges when players have different opinions and not aligned, causing defeat in an important match with team. The situation is further complicated when Ong Tiam Chai started fight with Ali with the issue of Ong is just a bench player. However, they only have one chance to play on the world stage. So, the players must put aside personal matters for the sake of the nation. When re-ignite the passion in themselves, the national team once again allegedly with a challenge that break their spirit and hope of the nation. Ola Bola inspired from real events will take viewers from various nations to work together to feel the strong spirit of togetherness and goodwill that Rahman, the sports radio commentator had presented in the film. Prompted full story will bring the audience to see the spirit, uniqueness and strength inherent in the diversity of the peoples of Malaysia.
Cultures have been meeting and mixing in Malaysia since the very beginning in the history. Same as the movie, the intermingling of the characters gives rise to a special blend of culture and hospitable warmth that the Malaysian people are so famous for. Basically the movie categorized into protagonist and antagonist. In the movie , the role of protagonist characters are passionate and positive toward the Malaysia football team and their own nationality. The characters give positive impact to these 4 main protagonist characters toward their football career with support them. Determination and strong minded of these characters had make the movie give such a positive thinking to us.
As the 4 main protagonist character Chew Kwok Keong, Ali , Muthu and Rahman which have their very own unique background and determination for their football carreer which give an impact of cultural awareness in Malaysia towards the viewer.
Protagonist
- the leading character or one of the major characters in Ola-bola team.
Antagonist
- a person who is opposed to, struggles against the Malaysia football team.
CHOW MEI LING (by Daphne Low)
As Kwok Keong’s second youngest sister who has a very tough personality. She had short
black hair with cute fringe who worked as a tailor. Life was restrained by her brothers who
worked with football. Without any regrets, she sacrificed her future for her family despite having
good academic achievements. However, so sad that she disagreed his brother continuing to
lead Malaysia team as ‘taukeh’ unless they get to enter Olympic Game in the coming match.
One day when she drying clothes, she approached her brother, Taukeh in Cantonese with high
pitch and fast speed to express that her brother should leave the team because she worried
about their home finances. She and her brother worked to send her younger sisters to school. At
least, they could sleep well and dress well. They live together in a simple but small old wooden
house, but seldom they talked to each other. Colleagues were discussing her brother football
team, but she had never show interest only focusing on knit and sew in her workplace. Only saw
her smile when the whole nation was celebrating the scoring of National team at the last minute.
She felt that her sacifice for her brother future was worth all while. I respect Mei Ling , as a
younger sister, she was willing to sacrifice herself to own living for her family and rather let her
brother go for what he dreams for.
MARIANNE (by Marianne Tan)
A 25-year-old TV Chinese producer, who appeared as a typically modern young lady with dark
brown hair and fair skin colour. She came home from the UK with a heart full of ambition in the
film and TV industry. Throughout the film, she speaks English but Eric forced her to have
conversation in Mandarin. Not so fluent in Mandarin, but she was able to express her disappointment when Eric told the history of his team. But she is soon disillusioned by the working environment and the financial constraints that she faces. She plans to leave the country again to pursue her dreams. However, the touching history of the National team in Malaysia made her choose to stay. Tear flows down from her eyes show strong emotion of happy and gratitude when she met ‘Taukeh’ at recording studio. In the end, she acts emotionaly happy when she successfully completed entire story of Malaysia football history. The history will goes on and on. Throughout the entire movie, she wears the same white clothes because her roles is just to interview Eric about the history of football team. I like her passion towards history of her own country which she was very proud of.
HARRY MOUNTAIN (by Mark Williams)
A new British coach of the national team of 1980, he is strict and hardly ever compliments his
players. But he is bold and strategises very well, and is acutely observant of his players. The
team captain Tauke train the team so that they are well-prepared for the 1980 Moscow Olympics
before Harry Mountain showed up. Along came Coach Harry Mountain aiming to do his best
but Tauke was not about to relinquish his duty and still ordered the team as he likes. This led the
team to a chaotic turnaround causing them to lose the friendly matches. With no team work and
ignorance, the team was left in shambles especially when Tauke left as he does not see eye to
eye with Harry. However, he was so angry that he punished the entire team to hold responsibilities for not obeying coach order. He had a habit of putting hands on hips, meant that he is ready to take steps ahead. Whenever he talks or thinks, his hand gestures actually make people listen to him. His high pitch of voice made him a good coach. Though at the beginning, entire team disagreed with the decision of switching strategies of match, he still kept up with his plan. Without partners, he temporarily stayed in his personal office alone, thinking of strategy, sketching on whiteboard how to make the team defeat Korean. He was very cool to accept what Taukeh had done to him and let Taukeh continued to lead the whole team. At first, I feel he was acting too strict, but getting toward to end I agree with what he did was trying to end conflicts within the entire team so that they could play as one team in harmony.
ABU (by Mohamad Taufiq)
The midfielder of the national team, he is peace-loving with an easygoing personality. Unfortunately, he gets involved in an internal quarrel and ends up getting punished by the coach. In the movie, he uses Malay slangs to have conversation with his ‘brother’ in the team. He was once being replaced to get onto field for game, however, he disobeyed coach order but obeying
captain Taukeh resulted the entire team lose in the friend match.
Keok Keong’s family
Taukeh’s mother and sisters are very supportive of him except his second youngest sister, Mei
Ling. His mother, who speaked Hokkien prepared herbal soup at late night though she knew his
son always returned home late. When Keok Keong was playing last match, Mei Ling bought a
new television for her family. Keok Keong entire family and relatives gathered and watched live
match. Only happiness could be seen on all faces for Keok Keong success. The simple family
stayed in a simple environment and they are satisfied. I can also feel the strong supportiveness
among family members which could help Taukeh to have more confidence.
Rahman’s family
Rahman stayed with his wife and 2 daughters in a traditional Malay House. His daughters were
proud of their father. They often imagined a football match at their house front compound, so that
Rahman could train himself to control his animatedness when he do live radio commentator in
English. His wife was also very supportive that she believed one day Rahman could take over
the main live commentator. They lived happily in the wooden house with simple and tidy lighting
and natural ventilation. Rahman supported his family only with his commentator job. However, I
can feel his enthusiasm doing comments for live match. Though he was not rich, he always put
on happy face showing gratitude for having such a lovely family living in a simple house. That is
why he never felt sad and even he tried to counsellor Taukeh for not quitting football. I like the
way he thought of life positively.
Mirror Character
- a person who gives support, is most aligned to the protagonist.
Mirror & Romance Character
- a person who is active in pursuing romance with the protagonist as well as being supportive.
TAN SIEW LEE (by Katrina Ho)
- Kwok Keong’s girlfriend who has been with him for a couple of years. Curly black hair made
her look elegant in her skirt. She is kindhearted, thoughtful and independent, a conservative lady
who is very supportive of Kwok Keong. However, she let Keok Keong not to pick her up after he
ended training. Being understanding shows she actively plays as a romance character. However,
I disagree at one scene where Keok Keong team lost a match when they disobey coach
order, Siew Lee did not stand out to convince crowd to continue support them, instead she only
kept quiet. She was living as a normal family in a simple wooden house similar to Keok Keong’s
family. She spoke in gentle pitch all the time. Keok Keong was pursuaded by Siew Lee not to
quit football because she knew that the entire team needed him. Not only playing as a Romance
Character, she was responsible for being a Mirror character who always supports her boyfriend
not to give up.
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Ho Xin Yun 1001541096
Review:
Overall individuals cast are designed well. Each of them has their own identity in the movie. This is because every players will nead to have their own character only can form a complete football team. If one quits, all will need to quit. The protagonist and antagonist character are well explored throughtout this 2-hour movie. However, mirror and romance characters are lacked of depth in the movie. It does not matter since their characters are only meant for supporting the storyline of protagonist characters. The appearance of mirror characters as well as architecture background setting where they live have strongly represents the era of storyline being introduced in the movie. If look into detail the way Siew Lee and Marianne Tan dress in, the period of time set is very obvious, which is between 1800s and 2015s.
Tauke
The leader of malaysia foodball team, was initially too arrogant and self righteous to be open minded about the change strategy from the coach. But he also care about his teammates and took heart about his sister's advice on not giving up on his dream, he then decided to follow the lead. As the chinese representative of 3 races.
Ali
Initially he wasn't happy about Eric taking Samsul10's place, isn't that open minded as well about the new comver, but in the end he learns to trust him as a teammate and eventually got Samsul10's position himself. Part of the main actor in the team, as the malay representative of 3 races.
Marianne
She was involved in a tv project on the local football team, but she got fed up with the project and was tired of working there and plan to transfer to another company after finish the project. Through the project she learn about Eric's past and the story of the football team, not to give up easily, eventually decided to stay.
Muthu
Despite his dad wanting him to help out with the coconut selling business and disapprove his football dreams, Muthu still fought for his dream to prove to his family, and would be proud of him. The goal keeper of the team. Part of the main actor in the team, as the indian representative of 3 races.
Eric teng/ uncle eric
He is a new member of the team from east Malaysia, he has always tried his best for the team, even though most of them alienated him at first. He has integrity despite getting mistreated and feeling frustrated. He got interviewed by Marianne and tells the story of the whole movie.
The set up
The movie starts in the modern era, Marianne, who is on a project to search for the history of the old Malaysian football team. Marianne travels to the east of Malaysia, Sabah, to look for uncle Eric. In the journey, she traveled by train through beautiful tropical forest of Sabah, then to the more kampung area of uncle Eric house. Then he started to narrate the story of how they trained and having fun together. They were having the same goal, of being qualify for the olympic game, and trained hard to strive for it. Until the coach came in and Change their position. Most of the player are not satisfy with the change, but still the follow the lead of the coach, until the first game of Chow Kwok Keong distrusting the position of the teammates and lost the match. The team started to feel the frustration and hopeless, after continuous lost of few matches. Chow Kwok Keong then leave the team, when he saw Ali and Eric having a dispute, and can't take the pressure of the disappointment the team.
The development
After leaving the team, Chow Kwok Keong has no target for his life, the family members were disappointed and worried about him. Chow Kwok Keong sister were intolerance of his thinking, for not pursuing his goal. The sister were once a best and hardworking student, because of the family could not afford, so she lost her. Chow Kwok Keong know he should not gave up easily, when he felt the pain of his sister. After a game without Tauke (Chow Kwok Keong) the team still loses the game, and Muthu's siblings had an accident, and this even make them feel how important the malaysian football team are too them. From that onwards, they all start to train hard and follow the coach lead to strive for their goal. Slowly the gain back team spirit and confident, also understand why the coach put them in different position. But the coach and Tauke kept a secret of Malaysia boycott olympic from the team, so that they would continue to play the game even though they can't join the olympic game.
The pay off
Over winning matches of game, comes to final match between Malaysia and South Korea. Everyone was so excited and nervous for the game. The starting of the game was quite good, until the score of Malaysia 1:2 South Korea, one of the Korea team member expose the secret of the case during the half time period. The team have a dispute during the break, but Tauke and Muthu never give up that time, and the cheering from the crowd making the team to stand up again for the final battle. At the end they won the game. This history of the Malaysian football team, is making the malaysian to once again believing the current football team and also bringing the relation of the 3 races into one Malaysia.
TAN YEONG EN
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I found out that this movie is similar to CINDERELLA which is one of the eight basic stories in story concept. Why would I say so? Cinderella concept is saying the dream come true, unrecognized virtue recognized at last, goodness triumphant after being initially despised and rewarded achieved in the last.
Initially, there was a lot of argument in the team who they don’t believe and trust each other power. They even drop their trust to the new head coach. Because all of them got a dream, a dream of wearing their country jersey to play for Olympic. And they do not believe the couch can fulfill their dream. The captain never follows the coach instruction and gave instruction to the team by himself. Lastly, they lost some of the game due to the ego they have.
One day, they went to army camp for physical training to make sure every one of them are fit before the game. They work together, suffer together and make fun together. In these few days of training, they finally learnt how to respect each other though they have different skin color. They learnt how to work together and the vital message of TEAMWORK.
In the final game, they realized that even they win the last game they are still unable to qualify to Olympic game. However, they never give up and decided to win the game down for the fans that came all the way from another state and for the country. They were 2-1 down to South Korea, and with the spirit they got, they finally overcome 3-2 and win the game.
Moral of the story, we shouldn’t give up so easily and always believe that everything is possible no matter how hard it is. Also, we should have respected every different races and work together, always believe we are one family.
Amazing movie I can say. As a Malaysian, this movie truly gave me a lot of emotional feeling and how proud I am to be a Malaysian.
Ola bola is a movie that saying a woman who tired of her lifestyle and thinking to move to another side of earth to start a new life. After that, she was decided to finish her task before she left. Then, she was asked to interview and study the history of football in Malaysia. She then found out that during the era there were a team of national players who fight for the country badge on the chest together. It was a real history story in our country. The primary objective of the movie is that teamwork is the key to success. It saying a team which made up from 3 different races but singing the same language of national anthem that fight so hard for the country.
To compare the story of the movie to One of the eight basic stories learnt in class.
Director: Chiu Keng Guan
Movie: Ola Bola
HWAN CHING SHEONG
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LIM WINN SERN
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For the setting of the stadium, I would say they succeed in making it feel like in the 1980s. Because nowadays stadium are full with technologies equipment . High ranged camera, high quality of commentators equipment. But in Ola Bola you could actually see what in the 80s people use for the soccer match.
For the review, I would say I’m really touched with the emotion and feeling they gave to the viewers. After watching this movie, I can feel how the 80s people lived their life at that moment comparing to now. And the setting of the background really suited well with the genre they wanted to show. 9/10 I would rate this movie.
As for the society part, people at that time could not manage to buy a television set. Which if one of the
neighbourhood members bought it, everyone would have assume they are rich. But in this movie, a parent of the
International player which are not really rich bought the television just to see her son playing for the team. She
even invites her neighbour to come and watch together. From my perspective, this is how 1980s people used to live their life. Comparing now, i believe some even dont know who is their neighbour.
IIn the fun fair, when the casting were made. They had to use the real old 1980s object such as the old coke bottle , the old fun fair fairy wheel and to make thing more realistic i realize most of the thing have rusty effect on it.
As I watched the Making of the film, one of the director quoted saying at the generation ‘ Everything is simple but everyone is happy’. Comparing to now, technologies are way more advance than what they have in 1980s. As in the movie, one simple old radio can make everyone gather around. Listening to the live broadcast .
In the movie, the main objectives of the direct is to bring people back to the year of 1980s where the actual
incident happened. To make story more realistic, he had to use what 1980s people use. The old background such
as, lockers room, football field which untreated field, fun fair and rubber plantation . According to the director of
Ola Bola, he search entire Malaysia just to find the perfect spot for the recording, as for the rubber plantation he
managed to find it in Segamat, Johor.
It all started from a young professional writter, Marianne. She was assigned with 1 last final assignment before she leave to england. She had to travel all the way from a urban area to a suburb area to find Erik. The film was cast in an old train which bring the feeling of 1980s to come alive. Along the travel period of the train, the surrounding
which is planted with all green also bring the 1980s to come alive because at that time technologies and economic weren’t as good as now. But in the end, she decided to stay in Malaysia after knowing the stories behind the true beauties of malaysia history
It is a story set in the 1980s during tumultuous economic times, about an unlikely team of footballers whose
disagreements have left them with a streak of embarrassing losses. Personal issues have caused each of them to
crack under pressure while the team slowly falls apart. They have only one chance left for international glory, and
this multicultural team has to find it in their hearts to overcome their individual odds and unite for the sake of an
entire country.
To critically assess the Genre and Background & Setting of the film.
Did it successfully convey?
And was it suitable?
Could you easily understand the setting?
Director: Chiu Keng Guan
Movie: Ola Bola