Abang Adik

The shadowy corners of Kuala Lumpur’s Pudu area are home to a community of foreign migrant workers who have lost their status and struggle daily to survive. Deaf and mute Abang, the elder brother, accepts his fate and works hard for a stable life. His younger brother, Adik, rebels against their circumstances, resorting to illegal activities in the hopes of one day leaving Pudu.

The two orphaned brothers rely on each other day by day, with social worker Jia En helping them navigate the process of obtaining identification documents. Just as their fortunes seem to be changing, an unexpected incident shatters their dreams of upward mobility.

Directed by Malaysian filmmaker Jin Ong, the film draws inspiration from social news and real-world issues to vividly depict the challenging lives of undocumented migrant workers. The film portrays the seemingly hopeless lives of the two brothers while shedding light on the marginalized situations in Malaysian society.

Preceded by the short film Flavours of Hope: Nourishing Community, Cultivating Change (7 min)
A CBC documentary on Flavours of Hope, supporting immigrant and refugee women in turning their cooking into thriving businesses.

Feb 17: Virtual Q&A with director Jin Ong

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