Ola Bola

Ola Bola

Official theatrical poster
Directed by Chiu Keng Guan
Produced by
  • Najwa Abu Bakar
  • Tung Yow Kong
  • Datuk Steven Lim
Screenplay by
  • Chan Yoke Yeng
  • Tan Pik Yee
Starring
  • JC Chee
  • Luqman Hafidz
  • Saran Kumar
  • Marianne Tan
  • Katrina Ho
  • Bront Palarae
  • Frankie Lee
Music by Onn San
Cinematography Chin Ting Chang
Edited by Gwyneth Lee
Production
company
Distributed by Golden Screen Cinemas
Release dates
  • 28 January 2016 (2016-01-28) (Malaysia)
Running time
 117 minutes
Country Malaysia
Language
Budget RM5 million[1]
Box office RM16 million (as of 7 March 2016)[2]

Ola Bola is a 2016 Malaysian sports football film directed by Chiu Keng Guan. The film tells about the glories of Malaysia national football team which successfully entered the 1980 Summer Olympics. The film was released in Malaysian cinemas on 28 January 2016.

Plot

A journalist, Marianne is commissioned to research the Malaysia national football team of the 80s. Disillusioned by her working life in Malaysia, she decides to emigrate to England once she completes the project. She goes to Sabah to interview Eric, a former player for the team.

In 1980, the team practises for the upcoming pre-Olympics matches, with captain Chow Kwok Keong serving as interim coach until Harry Mountain takes over. Meanwhile, aspiring sports commentator and Chow's friend Rahman practises with his mentors. Mountain revises the formation, such as by having Eric change from reserve goalkeeper to striker. Having not getting used to the new formation, and also due to Chow disobeying the coach's orders, the team is unable to win any friendly matches. Soon, Eric and fellow striker Ali have a falling out over the squad number 10. Chow assumes responsibility for their embarrassing performance and quits the team.

The team continues on their losing streak. In the meantime, the three younger brothers of Muthu the goalkeeper are injured in an attempt to help their father deliver coconuts by lorry. Fed up with Muthu's (fruitless) football endeavours and his not being able to help with work, Muthu's father reprimands him. Muthu contemplates also quitting the team out of perceived incompetence, but does not do so.

Chow remembers his pledge to lead the team to glory and decides to rejoin the team. Mountain welcomes him back and advises him to "not make the same mistakes I did when I was younger." After extensive practice and military training, the team finally starts winning again.

Malaysia competes with South Korea at Stadium Merdeka in the final match, where Rahman is assigned to commentate. In the first half, an opponent informs Ali that Malaysia is boycotting the Olympics. During the half-time break, Ali shares the news to his teammates' disappointment. Mountain and Chow knew about this all along, but could not disclose it lest team morale be affected. Not willing to give up, Muthu encourages them to play on resolutely regardless whether they make it to Moscow. They display excellent skill and teamwork later on as Rahman delivers a thrilling and emphatic commentary. Ali scores the decisive goal; they win 3–2.

In the present day, Marianne gets the now-elderly Chow on television and has changed her mind about leaving. In a post-credits scene, she tells her boss Rahman that she knows his "secret": his past career as a football commentator.

Cast

Main Cast

Supporting Cast

Special Appearance

Cameo Appearance

Original Soundtrack

The original soundtrack for the movie, Arena Cahaya is written and performed by Zee Avi.[3] The song is co-produced by Zee and Rendra Zawawi.[3]

"Arena Cahaya"
Single by Zee Avi
Released 23 November 2015
Recorded 2015
Genre Acoustic
Length 4:15
Writer(s) Zee Avi; Rendra Zawawi
Producer(s) Astro Shaw

Controversies

Some members of the public, including two key players in the Malaysian team that qualified for that Olympics, voiced concerns over the potential confusion that may arise from the distortion of certain facts depicted in the movie. That includes the actual scoreline and the player scoring the winning goal in the qualifier against South Korea.

The production team has since clarified that the plot is "inspired by a true story" as mentioned in the opening scene of the movie, and is not meant to be a historical account.

References

  1. ↑ "You will believe again, says ‘Ola Bola’ — Lee Yew Meng". Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "‘Ola Bola’ rakes in RM23 million at local box office". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Zee Avi performs theme song to footie movie OlaBola [VIDEO]". Retrieved 19 February 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, May 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.