Directed by Ikram Haizammuri, ‘The Day I left’ is a Malaysian short sci-fi drama that follows a man’s journey back in time to correct a wrong-doing. Ady Mohamad stars as the central character. The protagonist returns to a crossroads in his life – alerting himself to cancel his plans due to the forthcoming ill-health of his mother. The short is in the Malay language. Ikram Haizammuri, Najmuddin Azad and Daniel Fakhruddin collaborated on the screenplay.
Throughout the 5-minute film, the short utilizes visual effects and digital technology to aid the narrative and theme. Mohamad’s performance is emotionally captivating from start to finish; however, the narrative lacks substance to keep the audience engaged. Haizammuri’s short would be more compelling and entertaining with a continuation of events or allowing viewers to bare witness to past/future consequences. The film kick’s off with high expectations but falls flat and feels unfulfilled.
Cinematography, sound, lighting and VFX deliver outstanding results and this deserves applause. Hat’s off to Ady Mohamad, a fine young actor whose portrayal equally should be recognized. ‘The Day I left’ experiments with time-traveling and futuristic technology – with credible production design. Unfortunately, the storyline feels uncomplicated and loses intrigue towards the end. Recommend for its experimental and artistic value.
