Danny Lim’s “18?” – Citizen Graffiti in Malaysia What is 18? This mysterious number is but one of a prominent crop of graffiti that has popped up around the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Sprayed at strategic urban spaces and applied with a seemingly socio-political agenda, the 18? graffiti and its like (eg “Legalize ganja”, “Ada apa dengan National Service?”, “Pertahankan Hak Asasi”, etc) brazenly takes its place alongside advertising banners and billboards in our urban sightlines. What does it mean? What is it selling? Why? Who did it? 18? – the documentary – attempts to uncover the mystery behind the graffiti. 18? is the runner-up in the amateur category of the 2005 Freedom Film Fest. Benjamin McKay’s review of the 2005 Singapore International Film Festival for Senses of Cinema website has this to say about 18? (in the final para): “But in concluding this report let me just mention one more short film that rose up and hit this reviewer in the face at SIFF 2005, for the film itself better answers the question I so arrogantly pondered, and the good news is that you the reader can share this little gem with me, for in the spirit of the film, it has no copyright. I am talking about Malaysian director Danny Lim’s 18? (2004), a film that in a quirky 18 minutes takes us to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to investigate the search for the space to criticise and to create and along the
Rory Kennedy talks about her film GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB (Documentary Competition)
Video Rating: 4 / 5