Abstract:
This qualitative research aimed to examine Yasmin Ahmad's background and sources of her inspiration including how her films negotiated Muslim identities in Malaysias multicultural context through her 6 feature-length films; Rabun (2003), Sepet (2004), Gubra (2006), Mukhsin (2007), Muallaf (2008), and Talentime (2009). Furthermore, the in-depth interview with her family members and friends including scholars and Malaysian film experts was conducted along with examined the relevant documents and literature. The research results revealed that the background and inspiration that inspired her filmmaking were divided into three parts: 1) Family-based nurturing 2) Investigating the principles of various religions 3) Aesthetics derived from personal experience and those nearby. Besides, There are three aspects of the way Yasmin Ahmad's film negotiated Muslim identities in Malaysias multicultural context: 1) The Virtual Identities 2) The Non-virtual Identities identity and 3) The Reinvented Identities. It appeared in two ways: 1) bargaining with people, or flexibility to socially expected norms, practices, and customs that appeared physically 2) bargaining with God, which referred to acting in a way that violated or insulted religious principles while negotiating with religious principles and conditions within the context of morality, humanitarianism, and escape from challenging life circumstances, which highlighted the diversity of Muslims in their religious practices, emphasizing that religion is not just about right or wrong but also about one's identity in relation to one's social role in the modern world and the exchange of other cultures. Thus, the Muslim identities that appeared were flexible, changed, and well-adapted to every circumstance of life.