A Malaysian Patriotic Film That Causes Trouble

Mat Kilau, a Malaysian patriotic film, is now available on Netflix. The film is full of exciting battle scenes in which the villagers fight for their independence from British colonialism; nevertheless, it also raises many problems. The film was directed by Syamsul Yusof and features a cast that includes Adi Putra, Beto Kusyairy, Fattah Amin and Yayan Ruhian, among other actors and actresses.

The Malaysian historical figure Mat Kilau, who fought against British settlers in Pahang before Malaysia’s independence, serves as the inspiration for the film’s storyline.

The following is what the movie synopsis reads on Netflix:

A LEGENDARY WARRIOR LEADS HIS PEOPLE IN GUERILLA WAR AFTER BRITISH ARMIES INCLUDE PAHANG TO PROTECT THEIR HOME FROM THE RISK OF COLONIZATION.

This review from Mat Kilau has some light plot details.

As is the case with most patriotic themed films, Mat Kilau begins by depicting the atrocities perpetrated by the colonizers against the country’s indigenous people. An English officer armed with a rifle who is relentless in his actions; the soldiers surrounding him obey every order issued by the officer.

Since it is difficult to finish these types of films without elements that are likely to infuriate audiences, the film features controversial characters such as selfish traitors, jealous subordinates, political intrigue among the nobles, and so on.

Coming back to the fact that the men surrounding him are Sikh soldiers, this has led people of the community to watch the film closely, and it also gives the impression that it does not do justice to the actual historical events that took place. In light of this, while the film is tailored to the preferences of Malaysian audiences, it may not do the same for other audiences.

The hero of the story takes on British forces as he tries to inspire those around him to share his passion for the cause over the course of the film. In addition, I feel obligated to point out that the parts that used Malaysian martial arts were not only remarkable, but also a lot of fun to watch.

The film is sure to thrill audiences in Malaysia to feel a wave of patriotic fervor, and it will bring joy to viewers in other countries as well. On the other hand, it will also be criticized for having problematic aspects such as the inclusion of Sikh warriors and distorted historical facts.

For the most part, this is an entertaining piece of work that deals with historical personalities, but also strays from the truth for the sake of the film. It’s hard to say the same about the plot itself though, as the fight scene will be popular due to their martial arts style being different from what we usually see.

The ending isn’t very satisfying and feels more like a terrible cliffhanger, suggesting it was written with a possible sequel in mind.

In summary: Mat Kilau

If you’re in the mood for a patriotic movie and can see beyond a few minor flaws, this movie is fun to watch and an excellent choice for those individuals. However, it is not a movie that everyone should see.

The movie left me with conflicting feelings, and while I don’t want to offend anyone, I think it’s best not to see it.

What did you think of Mat Kilau? Share your thoughts with us in the section below!

Overview

The events in the novel take place in 1892, when the land of Pahang was still under the control of the British colonial government. This was three years before the Federated Malay States were established.

The British had exploited the wealth of Pahang’s products belonging to the Malays by imposing taxes on merchants, harvesting the produce from the people and interfering in their traditional practices and religious affairs. This allowed the British to take advantage of the wealth that belonged to the Malays.

The British action, which was carried out without the approval of the Malaysian people living in Pahang, has led the Malaysian people to take action against the British.

Mat Kilau, a Malaysian warrior, along with his father, Tok Gajah, and his friends fought vigorously against the British government to protect Pahang, his homeland; and Malaya and frees it from further occupation. In doing so, they were motivated by the desire to defend both Pahang and Malaya.

The British were placed in a position of conflict and pressure when Mat Kilau and Tok Gajah devised a cunning strategy of resistance, which ultimately resulted in a brutal battle.

About Mat Kilau

Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan is a 2022 Malaysian biographical historical epic film directed by Syamsul Yusof and starring Adi Putra as Mat Kilau bin Imam Rasu, a Malaysian warrior who fought the British colonialists during the Pahang Rebellion before independence. in Pahang, British Malaysia. The film is also known as ‘Mat Kilau: The Rise of a Warrior’. Beto Kusyairy, Fattah Amin, Yayan Ruhian, Geoff Andre Feyaerts and Johan As’ari are among the actors who appear in supporting roles in the film.

The film is set against the backdrop of the year 1892, the period when the Pahang areas were ruled by British colonial rule. It was Rahman Dali, Shahruddin Dali and Yusof Haslam who were responsible for the production of the film. Shooting started in 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2021. Both Studio Kembara Sdn Bhd and Skop Productions Sdn Bhd were involved in the production of the film as co-producers.

On May 13, 2022, the official poster for Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan was presented and the official trailer of the film was made available to the public on June 16, 2022. On the same day, the film screening ceremony took place at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC). On June 23, 2022, the film was presented to the public for the first time.

The film was a hit at the box office. The film had a production budget of RM 8 million, but ultimately grossed RM 96 million after just 40 days in theaters, making it the Malaysian film with the highest-grossing career of all time.

production

The first film that Syamsul Yusof directed in which he did not act was Kebangkitan Pahlawan, which was also the first film that Syamsul Yusof directed. In August 2017, he shared his plans to make a monumental film that would focus on the history of national heroes. He had previously taken on the challenge of working on the script after a number of production companies and filmmakers reportedly failed to film the landmark film, as well as the Mat Kilau battle. He had previously taken on the task of working on the script.

At the KL Special Force film gala held in Petaling Jaya on March 8, 2018, Syamsul made the announcement that he would direct a historical biographical film about Mat Kilau, a Malaysian warrior who fought against the British government in Pahang. The film is about the life of Mat Kilau.

The first day of official shooting for the film was April 1, 2018, although production had to be halted for a while due to a number of unavoidable issues. Adi Putra, a Singaporean actor, plays the role of Mat Kilau in the series. Syamsul claims that Adi was selected for the lead character role because he was able to animate the character and because Syamsul was sure that, as an accomplished actor, Adi would carry the character successfully.

Production on the film was halted in August 2018 due to production issues, but resumed in October. In June 2020, it was reported that the filming for the movie was nearing completion, and in February 2021, it was again reported that the filming for the film was finished, but the screening of the film had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The actual cost of completing the film was revealed at RM8 million on May 15, 2022. The date of this unveiling was May 15, 2022. A total of one hundred days were spent filming the film, and while some of it was in the state Perak, additional scenes were also shot in Pahang, Melaka and Selangor.

Form

• Adi Putra as Mat Kilau
• Beto Kusyairy as Wahidic
• Fattah Amin as Awang
• Johan As’ari as Yassin
• Rahim Razali as Imam Bottoqho
• Jalaluddin Hassan as Haji Muhammad
• Namron as Haji Sulongo
• Farah Ahmad as Yang Chiko
• Wan Hanafi Su as Imam Rasu @ Tok Gajah
• Yayan Ruhian as Toga
• Ali Karimie as Brahim
• Zarina Zainoordin as Rokiah
• Shaharuddin Thamby as Dato’ Bahaman
• Khir Rahman as Usup
• Ellie Suriati as Salmah
• Siraj Alsagoff as Shiduo
• A. Galak as Pak Deris
• Farid Amirul as Goh Hoi
• Mubarak Majid as Father Yassin
• Z. Zamri as Hitami
• Geoff Andre Feyaerts as Captain Syers
• Harith Haziq as Omari
• Wan Suhaimi as Kelubi
• Megat Terawis as Mat Hassan
• Awie Bakri as Haji Ali
• Mark Geoffrry as JP Rodger
• David Abraham as Sir Hugh Clifford
• Dennis Arthur as Professor Cameron

Release

On May 13, 2022, the official movie poster for Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan was made available for purchase. On June 16, 2022, the film’s first screening took place at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC). The official trailer was also made available on the same day.