THE premier showing of “The Rise: Ini Kalilah” at The Top banquet hall this evening captured the very essence of the spirit and events which led to the nation’s historic 14th General Election on May 9 this year which changed the political landscape of Malaysia.
The 100-minute movie created and produced by Fred Chong and directed by Saw Teong Hin, Nik Amir Mustapha and Prem Nath had a very Malaysian mix of actors and actresses and multilingual. Behind a setting intrigued with shady business dealings, doubts of conscience in the line of duty and matters of the heart which exceeds the superficiality of race and skin colour, the production team of “The Rise: Ini Kalilah” managed to piece together the emotional jigsaw of greed, fear, love, hope and above all, patriotism which culminated to the final outcome of the birth of a new Malaysia.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the movie premier with his wife Tan Lean Kee and several members of his administration and elected representatives, remarked on how every effort by Malaysians who truly love the country contributed to the demise of the old regime and subsequently gave renewed hope to the nation.
“This movie tells how Malaysians from around the world, coming together to make sure their ballots papers go into the ballot boxes, to vote for a change of a new country,” he said.
“It’s a truly Malaysian style movie which is election-inspired, unity-themed drama and is going to be screened in local cinemas from September 13 onwards. This movie is the best gift to celebrate our Malaysia Day. It is indeed a truly multiracial, multicultural and multilingual film, telling the story of 6 individuals on May 9, on how Malaysians from all around the world unite together to vote out the corrupted and kleptocracy government,” Chow added.
Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Alvie Cheng