SHAH ALAM - Astro Shaw's latest film, Gemencheh Boys, proves that a solid storyline can sell, even without popular or great actors.
The film, directed by Jason Chong and Eric Ong, stars a cast of young actors who are not well-known, but they prove that they have something to offer.
Gemencheh Boys is about a group of village boys from Felda Bukit Rokan Utara, Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan who are nicknamed "Six Hells."
Despite being naughty, the boys are transformed into a cricket team by their teacher, Cikgu Azman (played by Pekin Ibrahim).
The team goes on to make a name for itself at the national level.
The film is narrated by national cricket athlete Shafiq Sharif, who represented Malaysia at the Cricket World Cup in 2019 and won the gold medal at the 2017 SEA Games.
Gemencheh Boys is a simple but inspiring story that presents the theme of "no retreat, no surrender."
The film is well-paced and has a strong emotional core.
It is sure to bring back memories of our mischievous childhood days with teachers who encouraged us.
Pekin deserves praise for her excellent portrayal of Cikgu Azman.
Even though she speaks in the Negeri Sembilan dialect at times, her performance is nuanced and credible.