Hands up time, guys – who here is guilty of having taken their parents for granted at some point in their lives? National oil giant Petronas aims to tug the heartstrings of all of you with its new ad campaign for the Chinese New Year, titled Rubber Boy.
The five-minute Mandarin-language online film (a 90-second cut will be aired on TV from tomorrow) follows the tale of a young boy, who says that he deserves to be slapped by his rubber tapper mother. Not something you would expect a proud, self-centred child of his age to mutter, sure, but there’s a reason for that.
We are then transported to the events of the previous day, where the boy is sent to his school by his mother on an old motorcycle. At a red light he comes across a pretty girl ensconced in the comfort of a Volvo 240, and he turns away, embarrassed for being poor – before it starts to rain. He arrives to class soaking wet, where he is bullied by his classmates and called “rubber boy,” and he proceeds to fight them.
At the end of the day, the boy comes home battered, bruised and ashamed, and his mother confronts him for his actions. In a fit of rage, he yells at her for being responsible for them being poor, and insists that she works harder so that they can be rich.
Right now, a lesser soul would have scolded the boy for being ungrateful, but the mother simply tells her son to work with her at the estate for one day to see how hard it was for her to earn money. He shows up the next day, ready to rough it out, and initially gives his mother the cold shoulder – but softens up when he realises that working hard was what his mother had been doing for his sake her entire life.
Heartbroken, the boy goes up to his mother and asks to help her tap rubber, when she gives him the “slap” – which, as it turns out, was merely to catch a mosquito. Humbled, he apologises, and his mother tells him not to help her out, only to study hard. On the way back he encounters the same girl in the Volvo, now upset sitting behind her bickering parents, and the boy finally learns to be blessed with what he has.
“Petronas is proud to be able to bring this warm, enduring story that resonates in the hearts of all Malaysians,” said Petronas senior general manager of group strategic communications Zahariah Abdul Rahman. “Malaysians are uniquely known for our common values of togetherness amongst different generations, forgiveness for family and friends and prudence in conducting personal lives.”
So, watch the video above, and tell us what you think in the comments section after the jump. Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!
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Good ads. Hope ajib know Rakyat is suffering… Please help more Poverty-stricken Rakyat then meaningless Rich AP owners !
He knows and he is doing it by removing protectionism and liberalizing the markets. Only those whom have interest with protection remaining cries to Party Hard for help.
Why he still supporting AP system??? End of yours and ajib fantasy story telling… Rakyat had enough of lies and scandals.
Becoz AP only affects the rich and if they want it, they can afford it?
Removing protectionism? *gags and tries not to spit out my tea*
One only needs to take one look at Proton and the rest is history.
As if hes frendly with P1. He din gip a sen, thats why Tun M went on warpath
Saw the ad, it is a beautiful ad.
What’s CNY about it?
I see it more of a Mother’s Day ad.
Yasmin Ahmad’s four Chinese lady playing mahjong is still my fav!
Damn ninja cutting onion near to my eyes T_T
Walao. Should not have watch this in office. Now have to explain that air-cond is too dry.
same here bro, stupid aircond mata pedih
one of the best toucing comercial ads! bravo…
it was a beautiful ad…..but the late Yasmin Ahmad’s works never failed to bring tears to my eyes……. her merdeka, raya, CNY…. every single thing….. Yasmin Ahmad was a great person, and she delivered great messages.
The best is certainly the Deepavali ad. Who can forget when the grandma said “Cham, cham …” when scolding that guy Muthusamy Karupiah.
Please, next time when writing about a video or movie clip, don’t give out spoilers (the slap, which was revealed at the end). You’re supposed to let viewers watch it and discover what it’s about.
Just wasted 4 min. Instead of spending money to trying to make people cry over the ads, they should check out their staffs that are already crying because of termination.
True also ya
Touching ad, it provides a glimpse of what reality is.
Get two jobs lah.
The story behind this is to get some donation or look for rich spouse. Kisah benar.
PETRONAS never fails to make touching ads like this every CNY… thanks PETRONAS!
Wait till the end,
Eh ah-Hock, latex is cne of the base material for cxxxxx. Otherwise, there is Darth Vader.
You do know that Volvo has got very poor RV just like kimchi right?
Syukur lah.
Poignant.
Seen from another perspective,it destroyed the myth that all Chinese are rich. Poverty transgressed races.There are poor Chinese as well,and most poor people (of all races) are industrious & hard working to make ends meet.
Together, we build a better future for Malaysia.