Bawang Merah & Bawang Merah is an experimental film that investigates the concept of otherness, with a particular focus on the ways in which urban spaces are constructed by and for men. Through the application of psychogeographical methods, the film's protagonists adopt the role of flâneurs, navigating the streets of London in a reflective exploration of their identities. By wearing the traditional garments of the Malayan Peninsula, they intentionally accentuate their status as "others" within a foreign urban context.

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The film's narration draws upon the Malayan folklore of "Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih" (Red Onion and Garlic), reappropriating and reinterpreting the narrative to embody the character of Bawang Merah, who represents the figure of the "other."

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The act of walking serves as an experimental method for examining the relationship between the body, land, and social identity, particularly as it pertains to women from minority backgrounds. The film raises critical questions about the female experience in navigating urban spaces: How does the body respond to moving through a city that is not one's own? When women walk alone, are they perceived as anomalies within the urban landscape?

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Co-directed and created with Alya Rahmat

Bawang Merah & Bawang Merah was the quarter-finalist and selected for public screening at the Student World Impact Film Festival 2023