WANITA CANTIK DAN KEJATUHAN PEMERINTAHAN HEBAT DALAM FILEM “TUN FATIMAH” (1962)

Abstract

Beautiful women have often been associated with great men of authority and governance in various kingdoms. However, according to scholars, the beautiful female subject also serves as a domineering figure that monopolises the man himself. She can also be a contributing factor towards the downfall of an empire and the world of the man she exists in. For instance, this phenomenon occurred during certain Chinese dynasties. Hence, this research, using the film titled “Tun Fatimah” (1962), focuses on studying and analysing the relationship between the beauty of Tun Fatimah – the daughter of the “Dato‟ Bendahara” of Malacca and the wife of Tun Ali – and the creation of a “sultan” (king), who was still a bachelor and governed tyrannically. Subsequently, history witnessed the king‟s downfall as a ruler in the larger context of the Malay World. It also led to fissures within the great Malaccan sultanate. This research utilises a qualitative approach, focusing on the detailed textual-narrative analysis of the film, supported by the epistemology of desire. Findings show that Tun Fatimah‟s beauty, which was befitting as queen for the Malaccan sultanate, is the main factor in contributing to the libido imbalance of the king and the weakness of hegemonic masculinity in the empire. The imbalance triggered the king‟s irrationality as shown through his emotions such as the thirst for vengeance, anger, jealousy, guilt and regret. In conclusion, the factors proved they did contribute fully to creating a tyrannical Malaccan king.