Despite a ban on films that show support for gay lifestyles, Dalam Botol's 'non-explicit vision' has proved a box office success in Malaysia
The first homegrown movie with gay themes to be shown in Malaysia has proved an unexpected box office success in the conservative Muslim country.
Opening less than a week ago, Dalam Botol (In a Bottle), about a post-op transsexual who comes to realise that she may have been better off as a man, has already earned more than one million ringgit (£206,000) at Malaysian cinemas, easily recouping its production and marketing costs of 970,000 ringgit. Prior to filming, writer and producer Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman had to submit details to the country's strict censorship board, which nevertheless gave its approval following a couple of amendments.
Malaysian films are not allowed to show support for gay lifestyles: the country still maintains a law against sodomy, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison,...
The first homegrown movie with gay themes to be shown in Malaysia has proved an unexpected box office success in the conservative Muslim country.
Opening less than a week ago, Dalam Botol (In a Bottle), about a post-op transsexual who comes to realise that she may have been better off as a man, has already earned more than one million ringgit (£206,000) at Malaysian cinemas, easily recouping its production and marketing costs of 970,000 ringgit. Prior to filming, writer and producer Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman had to submit details to the country's strict censorship board, which nevertheless gave its approval following a couple of amendments.
Malaysian films are not allowed to show support for gay lifestyles: the country still maintains a law against sodomy, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison,...
- 3/30/2011
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
… Dalam Botol, about a man who has a sex change operation to please his male lover, makes a profit in five days on release
Malaysia's first gay-themed romance film has become a swift box-office hit, turning a profit in just five days on release in the country.
The Malay-language movie, called … Dalam Botol, or … In a Bottle, grossed slightly more than 1m ringgit (£206,000) in its first five days, recouping its production and marketing costs of RM970,000, said Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman, who wrote and produced the film.
She attributed the film's success to its storyline attracting curious cinema audiences who rarely get to see films centred on sexuality because of strict censorship in the Muslim-majority country.
The movie is about a Muslim man who has a sex change operation because he believes it will please his male lover, but his action ends in heartbreak for both of them. Some gay...
Malaysia's first gay-themed romance film has become a swift box-office hit, turning a profit in just five days on release in the country.
The Malay-language movie, called … Dalam Botol, or … In a Bottle, grossed slightly more than 1m ringgit (£206,000) in its first five days, recouping its production and marketing costs of RM970,000, said Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman, who wrote and produced the film.
She attributed the film's success to its storyline attracting curious cinema audiences who rarely get to see films centred on sexuality because of strict censorship in the Muslim-majority country.
The movie is about a Muslim man who has a sex change operation because he believes it will please his male lover, but his action ends in heartbreak for both of them. Some gay...
- 3/30/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
... Dalam Botol shocks conservative politicians but is criticised by gay activists for negative ending
Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love with boy. Boy has a sex-change procedure in a misguided attempt to please his lover. Boy regrets his decision, moves back to hometown and falls in love with a girl.
The plot of … Dalam Botol (… In a Bottle), Malaysia's first feature film with gay lead characters, is causing a stir in the Muslim-majority country, where consensual sodomy is illegal and depictions of homosexuality in pop culture are taboo.
The film opens next Thursday, but has already provoked the ire of religious organisations. The youth wing leader of the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (Pas) called it a "shocking" attempt to promote gay culture.
Malaysia's censorship board advised the film's producer, Malaysian novelist Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman, to cut a nude scene and drop the word Anu – the Malay word for...
Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love with boy. Boy has a sex-change procedure in a misguided attempt to please his lover. Boy regrets his decision, moves back to hometown and falls in love with a girl.
The plot of … Dalam Botol (… In a Bottle), Malaysia's first feature film with gay lead characters, is causing a stir in the Muslim-majority country, where consensual sodomy is illegal and depictions of homosexuality in pop culture are taboo.
The film opens next Thursday, but has already provoked the ire of religious organisations. The youth wing leader of the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (Pas) called it a "shocking" attempt to promote gay culture.
Malaysia's censorship board advised the film's producer, Malaysian novelist Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman, to cut a nude scene and drop the word Anu – the Malay word for...
- 3/19/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
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