New Showbiz

You are here:
Yasmine

Yasmine

2014

Not Rated

Director

Siti Kamaluddin

Runtime

109 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Yasmine, a high school student from Brunei, fed up with studying and her strict father, decides to learn silat, a martial art practiced in Southeast Asia, after a boy displays his own knowledge of silat in order to impress her.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.3/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The narrative lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative dynamics. The plot focuses on a student's personal growth and her reaction to a male peer.

Gender Representation

Good

The film subverts traditional hierarchies by centering a female protagonist in the masculine discipline of silat. Yasmine pursues physical agency and autonomy rather than submissive femininity.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The story provides strong Southeast Asian representation by centering a Bruneian protagonist. Utilizing silat as a core element moves the narrative away from Anglo-centric storytelling.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film examines the tension between traditional patriarchal authority and personal autonomy. It explores the friction between a strict father and his daughter's self-actualization.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or sensory disabilities within the provided context.

Strengths

  • Strong Southeast Asian representation through a Bruneian protagonist and regional martial arts.
  • Effective subversion of gender tropes by giving the female lead physical agency and combat proficiency.
  • Meaningful exploration of non-Western heritage and cultural practices.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of visible LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative relationship dynamics.
  • Absence of characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or sensory disabilities.

AI Analysis

Yasmine succeeds as a culturally specific drama that disrupts Western-centric cinematic norms. By centering a Bruneian protagonist and the martial art of silat, the film offers a meaningful exploration of Southeast Asian heritage. The film's strongest asset is its subversion of gendered tropes. Instead of a passive lead, Yasmine seeks physical empowerment through combat, challenging traditional expectations of femininity within her cultural context. However, the narrative appears to follow traditional romantic or competitive catalysts. The lack of LGBTQ+ representation and the focus on a standard student-peer dynamic limits its exploration of diverse identities.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.