"Histeria" features first Malaysian lesbian kiss on screen
Histeria, a horror film being released in Malaysia today, will feature an on-screen lesbian kiss. So what, right? Well, it's the first kiss shared by two Malaysian actresses on screen — ever. And it wasn't easy getting it in there, either.
For starters, it didn't have good odds for passing the Malaysia National Censorship Board, being that it was to be the very first girl-on-girl kiss. But the actresses weren't even convinced they wanted to do it. Nurliana Samsudin and Sharifah Norazean are among a group of six boarding school girls (yes, this is a feature film, not adult film plot) who pretend to be possessed, thus evoking some actual demonic spirits. (Sounds a little bit like The Crucible, but without Winona Rider.)
In a recent interview, the stars talk candidly about how uncomfortable they were with the idea of locking lips, and they even tried to rely on tricky camera angles to create the illusion of such an awful encounter, but it wasn't convincing enough — they had to suffer through a second take.
"Our lips touched briefly and that's it," Samsudin told The New Straits Times. Sounds sexy! Now I can see why they are so worried about this film.
Samsudin said says she's received some flack from friends and family, but director James Lee stated that he simply wanted to show the reality of life in an all-girl school.
"Such relationships exist in schools and that's the message we want to send to the audience," Lee said.
I'm curious as to what Malaysian critics are more scared of — the idea that two actresses are willing to barely touch lips for a horror film or that there are actual lesbians in their all-girl boarding schools? Since it's a horror film, though, they really shouldn't worry — the lesbians will probably get killed off in the end. They always do.
- jamie murnane's blog
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WoAh
As someone actually from Malaysia, I never thought that a filmaker would even try for a lesbian kissing scene. the way censorshp board is there, chances are it will not make the cut, even at the most mature rating.
I don't know what exactly was their motivation for their statements about the kiss, or their actual attitude towards it, but right now my theory is something in between denying any implications that she enjoyed the kiss at all -because she's afraid that it would somehow reflect her actual sexuality; or its around the same attitude straight guys would have when kissing another guy (you know, throwing up in their mouth). Most girls I know aren't even open about any kind of PDA with someone they are completely in love with, let alone with someone you don't have any chemistry with.
Jebus
I did not see that one coming. Malaysia is a cool country and I love it there (my parents live there and I visit a lot) but Nickiy is right, most people there aren't into PDA's, let alone two woman kissing - no matter how brief.
Wow, I'm surprised.
Wow, I'm surprised.
Never thought a girl-girl lip-brushing scene would even... make it through the Malaysian cencorship board. I'm not Malaysian, but we've heard lots of things about how conservative the government is.
But kudos to James Lee for being so brave to bring out the fact that homosexuality does exist in Malaysia (or in any countries) too!
It's about time...
Jeez. It's about time, people!
Still, I think I'm a little surprised. I mean, come on, they've censored
a crapload ofmany films here, so one coming from Malaysia is a development.Kudos to James Lee!
I am not from Malaysia but I
Surprise, Surprise...Technical Glitch
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2432137/Article/index_html
I saw the trailer few months back and it was a blink-u'll-miss moment which had me going.. huh? Did I just saw what I thot I saw...
I saw the trailer too~
Yeap I saw the trailer sometime ago and I thought I sorta saw something interesting going on...but I wasn't too hopeful of ever seeing a real lesbian kiss in malaysian cinema, let alone a kiss between two teens, so I pushed that thought away and ignored it. I thought it was probably just my imagination. Can't believe it gets covered here. Great job you guys on AfterEllen. You guys really do cover ALL LGBT news all around.
But it's sad to say that this same sex kiss isn't one shown in good limelight about lesbians. It's no surprise living in this country that the "technical glitch" somehow happened. I doubt its anything technical. Thanks Rain for posting the article :)
Wow
I went blank for a moment. All i have to say is props to the director for making a bold move. I'm not from malaysia but living in a tiny island near there is enough to know that malaysia is the last or if not never ever to feature girl on girl lip action. Wow. My country is kinda conservatively strict too and things like this sometimes get cut or never get aired. Wonder if the movie is released here. Hmm. Kudos to the director though.
phew
im glad i survived malaysian boarding school without being killed off.
whats sad is that what the director really wanted to convey was that "these acts" are wrong and only just happen in malaysian boarding schools mostly because the girls lack love and dicipline(or maybe possesed).Thus the movie is not at all a step forward but many step backwards in potraying bad behaviours by teens(like some other malaysian movies portraying "rempit" which is illegal motor racing and how these rempits have inconceivable bad behavious,eg.drugs and etc)
recently,malaysian government created a new law against woman dressing up alike as men which they call the "penkid syndrome".when these people are only innocent butch.And what saddens me more is that some teenagers use this syndrome as an excuse to rebel which starts a generalization/cliche that lesbians have bad behaviours,angry and hardcore when some of them are obviously not even lesbians.These people act like theyre in some kind of a cult or group(eg.emo,punks).
now,lesbians are not only unaccepted as a whole in malaysia,we might even get jailed for it.
Actually...
It's not the Malaysian Government that ruled the 'pengkid' ruling... It's the syariah court. It's a ruling which is made by the same ppl who said smoking is 'haram' but u still see ppl smoking everywhere even the so called 'imams'. So I don't see that sticking as yet.
You're right. The masses here in Malaysia did not blink when watching movies abt teen sex, drugs, illegal racing etc but caused such a commotion abt two girls 'touching' lips.
thnks rain
its the fatwa ryte?
and the banned smoking?!didnt noe that one.hmm is this the same people who ruled against yoga as well?
exactly,and like i sed earlier theyll never portray two girls kissing as an act of love n etc. itll only be sheer indecency and intolerable behaviour.
Yupeyupe
Yupe, the Fatwa Council'. Same peeps who banned yoga. The smoking ruling was quite sometime ago.
Tho can't beat the ruling of a certain state banning women who works in public from wearing lipstick and high heels. That had me rolling on the floor for days...
sigh
Quote: "director James Lee stated that he simply wanted to show the reality of life in an all-girl school.".......
seriously James Lee? well im glad he thinks he can find "the reality of life" in an all gals school..keeps gals like me pretty safe and free to move about in co-ed schools..
hey btw, JB lacks pengkids lah!! COME TO JB!!!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=592845534&ref=nf
lol suev
hahah JB huh?
most people here in afterellen will be thinking u mean jennifer beals.haha.in a semi serious note tho,ure ryte about co-ed n stuff.ouh and rain,wth?!thats certainly as bad as it is in saudi.(ok i am higlighting the word ALMOST).
impressed...
Malaysia = Indonesia
Malaysia = Indonesia = Conservative
Both countries are very similar in several aspects.