Not so surprising 9 September
The film with surprisingly little relevance to the date 9th September
The film titled 9 September is a romantic comedy with no difference. Tomboy girl meets nice guy, tomboy girl bullies nice guy, things happen, she leaves the country, then finally comes back and makes a discovery that changes her forever.
Yet, it did get a tear or two out of me.
So, what made it work?
The acting is only moderate. Lead actor Pierre Andre, who played the lead – Kogi, could have been better. I know because I’ve seen him bring characters to life. It didn’t cut it for me here because he has the kind of look that gives the impression that he’s no pushover. So when he gives in time and again, it just didn’t seem convincing enough. Don’t get me wrong – the acting wasn’t bad. He made the character seem sweet enough. It’s just that deep down inside, you don’t think he’s someone who’d realistically let someone else push him around and make decisions for him. This is all the more clear in the scene when he was lecturing – strong poise, decisive voice and knowledgeable conversation.
Fasha Sandha played the female lead, Nia. In what seems to be a never old concept, she starts the film all rough, tough and tomboyish. The thing I find unnerving about this role is that just because a girl wears Bermudas, that makes her a tomboy. And just because she favours sports shoes over a pair of high heels, she’s suddenly all gruff as well – because you know, ladies in skirts are dainty and soft and all that.
As you’d have it, the pretty looking Fasha really struggles to pull off the bully part. For one, you find yourself asking, ‘How could one so good looking be so rough?’ For another, tomboys don’t usually walk around in thick make-up.
chemistry between the leads?
I suppose because it’s a comedy that you’re not supposed to take it seriously. Which is why I shouldn’t have noticed things like her punches looked unreal enough to not be able to cause black eyes.
So, the chemistry between the leads maybe lacking in the beginning. But it picks up pretty quickly. Mainly because Kogi has a way of dealing with Nia’s offbeat temper.
It’s surprising also that the audience learns very little of the main characters. They’re so busy arguing about anything and everything that you don’t really know Nia’s personal details. For one, I have no idea what she does or what her character background is. And it was only late into the film that you learn what Kogi does for a living and see another side of him (that knowledgeable and serious lecturer side of him).
And then, there’s the what’s suppose to be exciting part of Nia’s ex-boyfriend coming back into the picture and her consequent departure to (of all places) Tokyo for (of all durations) a whole year.
If I was Kogi, I’d probably not be bothered with Nia anymore. But people do strange things and so does Nia, who continues to break all the rules in the final act.
As the film closes, you find that you’ve already been drawn in by the simplicity of it all. The rendering of the theme song and its related lyrics – in perfect synonym with the objective of the movie nails the finale.
9 September has a predictable plot with predictable characters. But I didn’t predict that I’d be moved by it.
