Forest fires burn in Sumatra; a smoke covers Kuala Lumpur. Grifters beat an immigrant day laborer and leave him on the streets. Rawang, a young man, finds him, carries him home, cares for him, and sleeps next to him. In a loft above lives a waitress. She sometimes provides care and attention. More violence seems a constant possibility. They find another man abandoned on the street, paralyzed. They carry him. While no one speaks to each other, sounds dominate: coughing, cooking, coupling, opening bags; music and news reports on a radio, the rattle and buzz of a restaurant. It's dark in the city at night. We see down hallways, through doors, down alleys. Who sleeps with whom?
Since this film was filmed in Malaysia, I didn't expect this to be erotic or sexy provocative. Malaysia is a homophobic country and they condemn gays.
Indeed, it's a dry film.
The film is so quiet. The characters can speak. They're not mute at all but they are not talking. Even if the film manages to capture gorgeous shots, the silence is just way too boring.
I actually love the homoerotic nursing scenes. Kinda sweet.
