Filmmaker Dain Said’s latest work, Interchange, makes the rounds at film festivals, writes Syahirah Mokhtazar
Film director Dain Said is basking in the limelight of his yet-to-be released Interchange. Last August, the fantasy thriller was screened at the 69th edition of the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland at its famed Piazza Grande.
The film was screened on the festival’s iconic outdoor screen, accessible to over 8,000 viewers. Sharing the screen with 16 international titles, the festival opened with Jason Bourne, the Hollywood action film directed by Paul Greengrass starring Matt Damon, with Interchange screened right after.
This third feature of Dain’s left its mark on a few other international festivals like Northern American Premier at the Toronto International Film Festival Etrange Paris Film Festival, and Vladivostok International Film Festival throughout last month.
This month, Interchange will be screened at the British Film Institute London Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival before its Asian premiere in Singapore at the Singapore International Film Festival on Nov 23. Never mind that its local release is only scheduled for Dec 1, Dain feels honoured to see Interchange selected as the opening film at SIFF.
“I’m thrilled to see Interchange getting acknowledgement from various film fests. It’s truly an honour,” he says.
Dain, who previously brought us thriller Bunohan in 2011, also helmed Dukun, a controversial horror film, which never saw release due to technical issues.
Interchange stars Iedil Putra, Shaheizy Sam, Nadiya Nissa,Indonesian Nicholas Saputra (who starred in Ada Apa Dengan Cinta), and Prisia Nasution, a fellow Indonesian actress who is Iedil’s wife in real life.
The film is about forensics photographer Adam (Iedil) who is dragged into investigating a series of macabre ritual murders in the city by his best friend Detective Man (Shaheizy). Adam then befriends Iva (Prisia) who is on a mission to rescue souls of the people in her tribe who have been trapped inside a glass plate negative. Nicholas is the tribe’s spirit who takes on the form of a human to help Iva.
”It’s a story about two worlds colliding. Adam will eventually be dragged into Iva’s world. He is then faced with consequences that are tragic and horrific.”
EXPERIENCE AT LOCARNO
Despite our casual coffee session, Dain comes dressed in a beige coloured suit and white shirt.
Sipping his drink, the director, who speaks with a hint of British accent, recalls his experience at the prestigious festival. “I love that I got to meet a lot of people from all over the world. It’s a celebration of culture and it was truly an eye-opener. You get to view stories from all around the world, ones that are not only about superheroes,” he says.
When asked about reviews by foreign film critics, Dain says: “We received mixed reviews but mostly good. Many said they loved it because it’s magical and unique as the film incorporated tribal elements. Most importantly, they loved the performance by the cast. The support from audiences was heartwarming.”
CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE
Filmed entirely in Kuala Lumpur for 35 days, the production was wrapped up last year. “Shooting in the city is a lot more difficult as you have to deal with the logistics, sound pollution and more. Also, filming on the streets of Chow Kit and Chinatown meant we had to deal with gangsters in the area.
“There were so many things that slowed down the production. To ensure everything goes smoothly, you need assistance from the authorities, like the police.
“But the one thing you can’t control is the unpredictable weather,” says Dain.
The script for Interchange took three years to finish. “I enjoyed the writing process, but I prefer writing novels or short stories. Writing scripts is entirely different altogether, as it gets very technical — so in that sense, I’m a little slow. It works better when I’m writing with another person.”
Dain and his wife-cum-producer Nandita Solomon who is also co-founder of film production company Apparat, worked together with June Tan and Redza Minhat to complete the script.
Tan is a writer, whereas Redza is also an actor and producer, famous for co-founding Projek Disko Baldi and for his performance in the 2013 thriller KIL, a movie about a suicidal young man directed by Nik Amir Mustapha.
On the cast, Dain says he made the right choice.
“I saw Shaheizy’s performance in the movie Songlap and I was impressed. Nicholas, on the other hand, is a cinema god. I went to see him in Jakarta. Thankfully he liked the script and idea. I’ve met Prisia before and have discussed this film with her for some time. As for Iedil, I’ve seen his performance in short films and theatre and they were great. I love the energy brought by the cast,” he says.
COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION
As a filmmaker, Dain has expectations to meet.
“After you write a book, draw a painting or make a film, it’s in the court of public opinion.
“The wonderful thing about making a film is that you learn so much. It’s not just about creating a story, you learn about wardrobe and make-up too. People think that making films is glamorous but it involves long hours. But I enjoy telling stories.”