TEACHING is regarded as the most noble profession, for schoolteachers endure lots of hardship, both from bad-behaving students, as well as bureaucrats who demand a lot from them.
For the first time, Malaysia's No. 1 actor Datuk Rosyam Nor follows in the footsteps of Bahamian and American actor Sir Sidney Poitier in playing a dedicated school teacher, who transforms a class of unruly students into gems.
Welcome to 'Memoir Seorang Guru', Malaysia's answer to Poitier's hit movie of the 1960s 'To Sir With Love'.
'Memoir Seorang Guru' is based on a novel written by a real-life school teacher, which indirectly chronicles his experiences teaching in a rural setting.
It marks versatile Rosyam's first major attempt at playing a no-nonsense schoolmaster, and he truly shines in it.
Renowned as a father figure who shares important lessons he learnt from his own teachers, Rosyam has dedicated his latest movie to his teachers from Sekolah Menengah Seri Pantai in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur.
He always thought it great to play someone like his teachers, and 'Memoir Seorang Guru' has turned out to be a "tick" on his bucket list.
The two-hour movie sees Rosyam play a teacher named Sunan, who is initially feared by his schoolchildren but they gradually warm up to him and vice-versa.
'Memoir Seorang Guru' is based on the best-selling 1988 novel of the same name by school teacher and novelist the late Azizi Abdullah, who won the South East Asian Writers Award in 1988.
It is produced by Tanah Merah Ventures Sdn Bhd and KalamAriff Holdings Sdn Bhd, and producer Arisz Abdul Rahman had Rosyam in mind for the iconic role of Sunan.
Indeed, Rosyam is just the man for Sunan as he looks like a strict school teacher, and has played dozens of "tigers" over the years.
The role of Sunan is also tailor-made for him because he served as a "teacher" to new actors and actresses during his actor search 'Pilih Kasih', which ran for three seasons in 2009.
Filming took a month last year in Kangar, Perlis; Kuala Kangsar, Perak; and the Klang Valley, and Rosyam's friend drama producer Fadzil Teh rightfully suggested Perlis, his home state, as it was scenic with blue lakes and limestone hills that look out of this world.
Arisz, Rosyam and director Kyoll Hamzah auditioned the young actors and actresses, who played Sunan's students, and the little ones did a great job with coaching from Rosyam and Ellie Suriaty Omar, who plays the mother of one of the pupils.
The movie begins with Sunan, a 70-something retired teacher from the big city, who attends a reunion dinner with his former students.
About two decades ago, he was posted to a remote school in the north of the country and had to teach a class full of "no-hopers".
With a combination of harsh discipline and getting to know their family backgrounds, he moulds all of the schoolchildren into successful adults.
The movie is a "one-man show" where leading man Rosyam shares the limelight with new, inexperienced yet very natural young actors and actresses.
The kids are believable playing as naughty schoolchildren, and this shows that Rosyam and Ellie, who are experienced acting coaches, taught them well.
The best of the starlets are the trio of "bad boys" Alias, Mihad and Mat (played by Danish Zamri, Baqir Jamalullail and Hafiy Al-Tamis), who spar a lot with their teacher, but gradually learn to respect him.
Many of the movie's dramatic scenes involve Sunan and the trio, and best of all, we get great satisfaction seeing how the bond between the fearsome teacher and mischievous boys unfolds.
Several moving scenes are bound to reduce viewers to tears.
One of them is when Alias' pet monkey attacks Sunan, and the boy is forced to wound the primate severely before it can inflict serious damage on his teacher's vital organs.
Another is when an adult Alias is reunited with his teacher, and Sunan tearfully apologises to him for slapping him.
'Memoir Seorang Guru' sets a pure gold benchmark for the adaptation of best-selling novels into movies.
Syabas (congratulations) to Kyoll, Arisz, Rosyam and the ensemble cast and crew. Hopefully, the movie will win big in film awards soon.
NOW SHOWING
MEMOIR SEORANG GURU
DIRECTOR Kyoll Hamzah
STARRING Datuk Rosyam Nor, Nabila Huda Suhaimi, Johan As'ari, Ellie Suriaty Omar, Trisha Ooi, Zul Huzaimy Marzuki, Kiky Hannah, Danish Zamri, Baqir Jamalullail, Hafiy Al-Tamis, Dhiyaa Raidah, Rafique Iskandar
DURATION 2 hours
RATING U