# Sepet

Sepet (English: Slit Eyes) is a 2005 Malaysian Malay-language teen romantic comedy-drama film set in Ipoh, Malaysia. Directed by Yasmin Ahmad, it tells of a love that blooms between a Chinese boy and a Malay girl. Sepet is a Malay word which, in this context, refers to the 'slit eyes' of the Chinese.

## Plot

19-year-old Ah Loong (who also called himself "Jason") is in charge of a market stall selling pirated VCDs, but is an incurable romantic with an unlikely hobby: he loves to read and write poetry. One day, his life takes a sudden turn one day when a Malay schoolgirl, Orked, comes to his stall looking for films starring her favourite actor, Takeshi Kaneshiro. Jason and Orked start a romantic relationship, although social and racial pressures stand in their way.
Jason is involved in a road accident while Orked is going to England to pursue her studies. In a post credits scene, Orked is shown sleeping beside Jason, both wearing a wedding ring.

## Cast

* Choo Seong Ng as Jason aka Ah Loong
* Sharifah Amani as Orked
* Linus Chung as Keong
* Mei Ling Tan as Mah, Ah Loong's mother
* Ida Nerina as Mak, Orked's mother
* Harith Iskander as Abah, Orked's father
* Adibah Noor as Kak Yam
* Kar Hoong Thor as Pah, Ah Loong's father
* Zehan Marissa as Lin

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| 2005 | 18th Tokyo International Film Festival | Best Asian Film Award | | Won |
| 2005 | Ninth Malaysian Video Awards | Best Film | | Won |
| 2005 | 27th Créteil International Women's Film Festival in France | Best Film | | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Film | | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Original Screenplay | Yasmin Ahmad | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Ida Nerina | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Adibah Noor | Nominated |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Most Promising Actor | Ng Choo Seong | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Most Promising Actress | Sharifah Amani | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Poster | | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Director | Yasmin Ahmad | Won |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Harith Iskander | Nominated |
| 2005 | 18th Malaysia Film Festival | Best Editor | Affandi Jamaludin | Nominated |
| 2005 | Global Chinese Golden Arts Awards | Best Film | | Won |
| 2005 | Anugerah Era | Best Film | | Won |

## Sequels

The sequel to Sepet, called Gubra, was filmed in Ipoh, Malaysia and released in 2006. The third movie in Yasmin Ahmad's Orked trilogy is a prequel to both Sepet and Gubra, titled Mukhsin.

## Adaptations

Theatre company Liver & Lung debuted a musical adaptation of Sepet in September 2019. Shafeeq Shajahan directed the adaptation, with music and lyrics by Shajahan and Badrish. The adaptation was a critical success, winning Best Direction at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2020. Joshua Anthony Gui and Badrika Baluch played the roles of Jason and Orked in the adaptation, receiving positive reviews. Theatre critic website Critic Republic wrote that the musical had an "unexpected quality, where audiences all cried, laughed and smiled together."
Songs from the musical were released on Spotify in July 2021, to celebrate Yasmin Ahmad's 12 year death anniversary.