User reviews

Babah, a Malaysian film that dives into the struggles and love of a father for his family, is a movie that tugs at the heartstrings, even if it doesn't always hit its emotional marks. It's a sincere, genuine effort to celebrate the resilience and sacrifices of fathers, making it a story that feels personal and deeply rooted in love and care. However, its execution leaves room for improvement, particularly in its storytelling depth and pacing.

The strongest aspect of Babah lies in its heart. The film captures the journey of a father with tenderness and authenticity, portraying his sacrifices and dedication to his family in a way that feels both universal and uniquely Malaysian. The first half of the movie is especially impactful, showing the grit and perseverance of Babah as he navigates life's challenges to provide for his daughter. It's in these moments that the movie truly shines, resonating with anyone who has witnessed or experienced the quiet heroism of a father.

The wedding scene stands out as a particularly poignant moment. It's a scene that will either make you reminisce about the love and care you've received from your own dad or evoke a longing for what you wish you had. It's emotional, raw, and sincere-a perfect encapsulation of the film's intent to celebrate fatherhood.

However, the second half of Babah stumbles as the focus shifts away from the titular character to his daughter. While her story is compelling in parts, the shift feels abrupt and diminishes the emotional connection built in the first half. Babah, who should remain the heart of the story, becomes sidelined, leaving viewers longing for more depth and continuity in his journey.

The film's pacing also suffers due to frequent time jumps. Scenes that skip several years between events make the story feel fragmented and hollow, preventing moments from fully breathing. The narrative feels like a "fill in the blanks" exercise, robbing the audience of a deeper emotional connection. While some scenes stretch on for minutes, they're often followed by rushed sequences that disrupt the rhythm of the storytelling.

In terms of performances, Qi Razali is a standout as Babah. He embodies the character with such authenticity that it's impossible not to see your own father in his portrayal. His warmth, strength, and vulnerability make Babah a character worth rooting for. Sweet Qismina and Adam Lee deliver commendable performances, though Sweet's portrayal occasionally feels overdone. Cristina Suzanne, while strong in her moments, is let down by a script that doesn't fully utilize her character.

Visually, the film's color grading is a triumph. The use of a mustard yellow palette for the past and a richer, more saturated look for the present beautifully captures the essence of each era. It's a small but impactful touch that adds layers to the film's atmosphere and storytelling.

As for its emotional impact, Babah largely depends on the viewer's personal experiences. For some, it might be a tearjerker; for others, the time gaps and lack of depth might prevent full immersion in its emotional beats.

Verdict: Babah is a heartfelt film with a clear message of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of fatherhood. While it falters in depth and pacing, it's still worth watching, especially for its sincere portrayal of a father's unwavering devotion. It's a movie that celebrates family, even if it doesn't fully realize its potential.

My brain was pretty fried after a recent marathon of Hisayaso Sato's birthday binge. My brain was basically begging for a palate cleanser. "Babah" came highly recommended, and I figured, what the heck? I went in with zero expectations, which, as it turns out, was a genius move. This movie is a solid step above "awful," and that's almost entirely thanks to Qi Razali's performance as Babah; he completely carries the film. The first 20 minutes were genuinely good-I was totally on board and ready for a good drama. And shoutout to the little kid who played young Maya, she better than some adult actors, a tiny bit of sunshine in the whole thing.

After that promising start, though, things got wobbly. The timelines were all over the place, and the writing completely fumbled the emotional payoff, especially when it came to Babah's struggles. It's a real shame, because the potential was right there. For example, the dad's clown gig-which the poster totally lied about-was awkwardly shoehorned in, and we ended up with more screen time for Maya's husband and his truly funny beard. I swear that barber deserves an award! And the way Maya's death was handled was so out-of-left-field, with no decent writing to back it up.

Despite all that, at least the movie's heart was in the right place, showing Babah's passion for music being fulfilled by his daughter. It could have been so much better, but hey, at least it was a decent way to kill a couple of hours.

Overall is good, i just hope they dig in and elaborate more on certain conflict. Its to light and such a waste because the storyline is there. The punchline, casting is solid. Certain scene time should be limited as it is too draggy at times. However the timeline jump was good and it made me recall some of our nostalgic moment or items from 20 years ago such as the phone, the language etc.. overall is good and i highly recommend this movie. The way the movie end is predictable but in a way, it still unpredictable.

I think the climax should be up a bit to make it more beautiful. Need more movies like this to watch when we stress. 😁

Babah is a highly anticipated Malaysian film that unfortunately fails to live up to its potential, leaving viewers with a sense of frustration and disappointment. Despite its promising premise, the movie misses the mark in almost every area.

The storyline, which centers around a father-son relationship, is riddled with cliches and predictable tropes. Instead of exploring complex emotional dynamics, it settles for shallow character development and contrived plot points that fail to resonate. The pacing is sluggish, with scenes dragging on far too long, often without any significant payoff.

The acting, though well-intentioned, is lackluster. The performances feel wooden, with the actors unable to infuse their characters with enough depth or nuance. It's clear that the emotional weight of the story was meant to be carried by these performances, but they fall flat, leaving the audience indifferent.

Visually, Babah is nothing to write home about. The cinematography is unremarkable, with standard shots that fail to capture the beauty of the Malaysian landscape or the essence of the characters' emotional journeys. The music, while not intrusive, adds little to the overall tone and feels more like an afterthought.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Babah is its wasted potential. The film had a chance to delve into important themes like generational conflict and reconciliation, but instead, it squanders these opportunities with its uninspired direction and lack of focus. What could have been a heartfelt and meaningful story becomes a forgettable experience.

In a year full of strong cinematic offerings, Babah stands as an unfortunate reminder of how even the most promising ideas can fall apart due to poor execution.

First and foremost, this is not a perfect film, but that's precisely its charm. There's a rawness to it, an intentional choice, I believe by the producers, that makes its flaws feel deliberate rather than accidental. It's a straightforward, easily digestible story, yet don't mistake its simplicity for mediocrity. This film thrives in its quiet moments of longing-an emotion that lingers long after the credits roll.

Though I didn't shed tears, it touched something deep inside, stirring a feeling in my chest that's hard to put into words. The performances, especially from Qi Razali and Sweet Qismina, are exceptional, with the two of them anchoring the story with emotional depth and nuance. Their chemistry is palpable, bringing the narrative to life in subtle, yet powerful ways.

The cinematography, imperfect as it may seem, is beautifully crafted to evoke a sense of nostalgia. Its deliberate "rough" style, mimicking a handheld recording, only enhances the emotional texture of the film. It's a bold artistic choice that makes the experience feel both intimate and real.

In the end, I truly enjoyed this film and look forward to revisiting it soon. It may not be flawless, but it's the kind of movie that stays with you, lingering in the heart long after it's over.

I cried so much while watching this movie. The pure love between the son and daughter is so beautifully portrayed that you can feel it through the screen. The raw emotion and authenticity of the film made it even more powerful, and I absolutely loved every moment of it. The songs included in the movie were like a cherry on top, adding even more depth to the story and making it even more heartfelt. Huge props to the director for creating such an incredible piece of work. Well done! I've never felt so compelled to review a movie before, but this one truly deserves it. Malaysia, please keep making more films like this! The actors were also phenomenal, delivering their performances with such sincerity and skill. I love how realistic the movie felt, capturing emotions and moments in such an honest way.

Babah is a good intention with rather a straightforward plot and good acting especially for Babah and Maya. On a personal level, there are so many aspects/ scenes showcased in Babah resonates with me. I like that the message "kenapa babah tak macam babah orang lain" is a sentiment that almost universal, where we daughters tend to see our dad is rigid in certain way that we compare them fathers.

Well, overall film isn't perfect. It was rather one perspective. I wish it could show more details, inclusive of other perspective. Maybe not as much that it overshadowed babah. But details will add to depth. There are awkward moment here and there and script is rather surfaced. But the surface it touched, hit anyway. The messages are positive. It encourages viewers to appreciate and show gratitude, the moral aspects are all checked. I sobbed hard and importantly it worth the ticket. Hence and eight from me.