ANN/THE STAR – Actor Fahad Iman is holding it together on stage as he embodies a film enthusiast grappling with the heartbreak of losing his partner. Performing in English during the opening night on 24th July, Fahad found his element in Main Theatre’s new show, Love Is A Motion Picture, at Studio Ramli Hassan in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur.
Running until July 28, this one-man play offers an intimate glimpse into the poignant journey of a man seeking solace in his favourite romantic films. Over 75 minutes, Fahad’s character becomes engrossed in the dialogue from two TV screens on set, allowing the audience to recognise some familiar movie lines.
“The character I’m playing is still dealing with grief, struggling alone in his room,” says Fahad, 31, who is usually seen in local TV dramas. This role is a new challenge for him, as it involves a solo theatrical performance where he navigates complex emotions such as sadness, despair, and pain.
“The show relies heavily on interacting with the actors on the TV screens and their film dialogue, so my character has to embody their emotions and intentions,” he explains. Like flipping through a playlist, Fahad switches between dialogue from English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Bahasa Indonesia films.
Directed by Nawfal Zamri and written by Arshad Adam, Love Is A Motion Picture merges fiction and non-fiction to highlight the parallels between art and life. “I draw inspiration from repeatedly watching movies and memorising dialogues that have profoundly impacted my life,” says Nawfal, 37.
“By combining film and theatre, we aim to give audiences a novel experience. At times, it feels like we’re living in a movie, surrounded by drama and a scripted life,” he adds.
Nawfal reveals that he frequently watches Nobody Knows and Shoplifters, two intensely tragic films by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, known for his dark themes.
“The great storylines in these movies inspired me to adapt and express my creativity in a stage production. I also find visual inspiration in their set design and lighting, which I try to recreate in this production,” he says.
Arshad, 35, the production’s writer, believes that audiences at Studio Ramli Hassan will relate to the character on stage, referred to as “Lelaki”, as seeing one’s life mirrored on screen is a familiar experience, especially as a coping mechanism.
“The concept arose from the feeling that everyone has seen a movie scene that seems to be about their own life. It blends real characters interacting with fictional ones, offering a fresh storytelling perspective,” says Arshad.
“We want to blur the lines between what’s on stage and what the audience sees, making it as immersive as possible. By following the character’s journey and obsession with films, we aim to create a personal attachment with the audience, making them feel part of the story,” he explains.
