Queer as Punk review joyous portrait of Malaysian LGBTQ+ rebels making noise

"For queer Malaysian punk band Shh Diam!, every live gig is a small miracle. Their name translates as Shut up!, a powerful and defiant cry in a country rife with homophobia. Favouring distorted riffs, heavy drums and swaggering lyrics, the band's powerful sound seeks to drown out the noise of prejudice and discrimination. Their courage, as well as their simple joie de vivre, thrum through Yihwen Chen's documentary portrait."

"Always ready with a joke, lead singer and guitarist Faris is a proud trans man. Rejected by his own family, the charismatic performer finds a safe haven with his bandmates Yon and Yoyo, and their audience. Their songs turn up the volume on issues faced by the queer community, and also bristle with an anarchic sense of humour. One particularly tongue-in-cheek tune is titled Lonely Lesbian; a title taken from a hostile rightwing article citing ways to spot a lesbian, its playful and defiant lyrics reconfigure homophobic ideology into satire."

"The band's activism extends from the stage on to the streets, as the members join in pro-democracy and queer rights protests. Faris is filled with optimism when, for the first time in 60 years, the conservative Barisan Nasional was defeated in 2018, but joy would later turn to anger when the party returned to power as part of a coalition in 2022. Despite the pessimism triggered by the cycles of electoral politics, Chen's film prioritises hope, foregrounding moments of personal triumph, such as Faris's top surgery and Yoyo's beautiful wedding to her girlfriend."

"Political parties might come and go, but people's power seems to rock on. Queer as Punk is in UK cinemas from 15 May."

Shh Diam! is a queer Malaysian punk band whose name translates as Shut up!, a defiant response to homophobia. Their sound features distorted riffs, heavy drums, and swaggering lyrics that aim to drown out prejudice and discrimination. A documentary portrait follows the band over six years, showing major changes in the members and their country. Lead singer and guitarist Faris, a proud trans man rejected by his family, finds safety with bandmates Yon and Yoyo and with their audience. Songs address queer issues with anarchic humor, including “Lonely Lesbian,” which satirizes hostile rightwing ideas. The band also joins pro-democracy and queer rights protests. After political shifts in 2018 and 2022, the film emphasizes hope through personal milestones like Faris’s top surgery and Yoyo’s wedding.

Read at www.theguardian.com