Review: ‘The Apprentice’ is a symbolic story of maturation
Wan Hanafi Su plays Rahim in “The Apprentice.” (Olivia Kwok)
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com. The views expressed are his own.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 96 minutes (~1.5 hours)
“The Apprentice” is a Singaporean drama set in a prison. A young prison guard becomes the apprentice of the hangman who executed his father. It stars Fir Raham (Aiman), Wan Hanafi Su (Rahim), Mastura Ahmad (Suhaila), Koh Boon Pin (James), Nickson Cheng (Joseph), Crispian Chan (Randy), and Gerald Chew (Hock). It is rated M18.
“The Apprentice” might sound and look like an art film, but it’s a surprisingly palatable offering that has both interesting subject matter and a touching story of maturation. It’s shot beautifully, yet this dedication to aesthetics doesn’t overpower the tale that the movie has to tell. It’s a wonderful Singaporean movie that’s both fresh and informative, accomplishing so much in just 96 minutes.
Suhaila (Mastura Ahmad) ponders in “The Apprentice.” (Olivia Kwok)
Highlights
The detail that goes into a hanging
Every step of the hanging process is covered in exacting detail without the sort of jargon that would make it incomprehensible to those outside of the field. It’s a fascinating look at the amount of work that goes into the act, and the stringent requirements that make it such precise piece of work. “The Apprentice” is worth watching simply for this documentary aspect alone.
Moral dilemma is not overdone
The issue with doing a film about capital punishment is that you will inevitably have to cover the morality of executions. While the movie does give some time toward the ethical debates of this issue, it doesn’t come across as a lecture for either side of the argument. It’s not lip service either, since the characters truly believe in the sides they take, but it doesn’t dominate the film. Instead, it contributes towards the richness of the film by examining the issue for us, but letting audiences come to their own conclusion.
Father-son bond
Rahim (Wan Hanafi Su), as mentor to apprentice Aiman (Fir Rahman), inevitably comes to become a parental figure to the hangman-in-training, fulfilling a certain sort of dramatic irony, given that he was the executioner of Aiman’s father. Yet even with this subtext colouring their interactions, you can feel the bond growing between, despite Aiman’s hesitation and reluctance. It has powerful emotional resonance, showing that the human connection can, and does overcome nigh insurmountable obstacles.
Strong themes
So many themes pervade the film, but none more so than than that of succession. Coupled with the coming-of-age journey that Aiman must go through, as well as the symbols that carry so much emotion with them, you get a strong sense of his inevitable destiny. It reminds you of the purpose of this film, and gives you motivation to see Aiman embrace his adulthood and let go of his tormented childhood.
Aiman (Fir Raham) at work in “The Apprentice.” (Meg White)
Letdowns
So much smoking
Nothing against smoking as part of characterisation, but Aiman and Rahim pull out a cigarette every other scene. While it certainly shows that smoking is ingrained into the prison culture, and it is depicted artistically, you can’t help noticing how many times this element shows up in the film. It’s a bit distracting to see a cigarette in the foreground for the umpteenth time.
Aiman’s conflict in “The Apprentice.” (Meg White)
“The Apprentice” is a beautiful story of symbolism and growing up, and shows an aspect of Singapore that few have seen.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this more than once? Nah.
Score: 4.0/5
“The Apprentice” opens in cinemas 30 June, 2016 (Thursday).
