“KID” by Praboo Ariva

“KID” takes us into the murky Malaysian criminal undergrowth, and the descent into this hellish pit turns out to be multifaceted, ambiguous, terrifying but surprisingly human. Based on an excellent screenplay, Praboo Ariva’s film erases the boundaries of good and evil, to tell with a voice that is sometimes poetic, sometimes raw, but always impartial, the new boundaries of Malaysian crime. The sensation that strikes the viewer from the very first minutes is that of a horribly true story. The truth, at the base of this film, is expressed with a refined and fascinating documentary slant, which gives the story a sense of reality. Ariva’s poetics then illuminates the faces, words and actions of the protagonists, and gives the story a universal dimension, which moves away from national borders. Yet it is important to underline the close connection between the story told and the place where it unfolds. In fact, we are faced with a brilliant, young and innovative author who chooses to tell the miseries and glories of his country, in a realistic key that does not sacrifice either aesthetics or truth. Ariva outlines a unique portrait, moving away from the archetypes of genre cinema to reach his style and tell something personal.

The film is therefore a precious work of great value: cinematographic and social. Ariva’s technical mastery is undoubted: despite his young age he boldly launches into suggestive directorial solutions, and never spares virtuous visual choices. An applause certainly goes to the actors, who crown this cinematic success, taking it to a higher level in terms of credibility and emotional involvement.