By The Level and Jafwan Jaafar

One of our country’s consummate storytellers, the late Yasmin Ahmad succeeded in narrating the complex, tangled and fractured tale of modern Malaysia with amazing delicacy; and shone a light on the nooks and crannies of our fractious society with unparalleled insight, bravery and sensitivity.

But what of the story of Yasmin herself? Was there more to the accomplished director, scriptwriter, pioneering advertising luminary and loving daughter, sister, wife and mother that has not yet been told?

To find out, we made a trip to Ipoh – site of the Yasmin Ahmad Museum (Yasmin@Kong Heng) – for a discourse with a friend, a colleague and a relative of the late filmmaker: film critic Hassan Muthalib, rising director Liew Seng Tat, and sister/muse Datin Orked Ahmad respectively, and followed them into the past as they reminisced over a woman who was a contemporary, visionary, mentor and benchmark, all in one.

The free-ranging interview touches on myriad fascinating topics, including Yasmin’s revolutionary and iconic commercials, her legacy and palpable influence in major films such as “Ola Bola”, her wonderful “abnormality” and inimitableness, and the tremendous impoverishment of the local arts industry as a result of her passing – and allowed the tale of Yasmin to further unfold.

Also published in FMT’s youth portal, www.thelevel.my