Western movies are great, and so are other foreign ones. But we have many homegrown gems too. If your mum is a hardcore movie fan who loves watching local films, there are plenty of good ones that she may or may not have heard of. In this Month of Mothers in May, treat your mum with a movie marathon of all the best Malaysian-made motherhood-themed films, both old and new.
Tearjerker
After years of estrangement, a mother and son reunion ends in a tearful goodbye when he finds out she’s dying from cancer. Desperate to reclaim all the lost time, Nin does everything he can to fulfil his mother’s last wishes before she passes away. As the two mend their relationship, Nin begins to understand his mother’s actions in the past. Sometimes our parents have a funny way of expressing their love for us, even if it means being absent for most of our childhood. Show Me Your Love is a heart wrenching film about reconciliation, forgiveness and mortality. Definitely a movie you watch with a box of tissues nearby.
Spine-Chilling Suspense
I’m sure OG fans of local Malay ghost stories will know this movie from memory. Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam is about the tragic story of a woman who died in childbirth and awakens as an evil spirit bent on exacting vengeance. Possessing the body of an innocent girl, Meriam begins terrorising all those who had a hand in her demise. History soon begins to unravel as all those embroiled in the haunting begin to piece together the mystery behind it all. A spine-chilling movie about a twisted mother-daughter relationship that is worth the watch if your mum enjoys supernatural horror.
Family Drama
Bu, Kasih Suci embodies all the fates of mothers which collide in the aftermath of a car accident: a homemaker, a pregnant wife and an old widower. Innocent lives hang in the balance as all the families attempt to mend their rifts before it’s too late. The film shows their conflicts and dilemmas leading up to the tragedy, of struggling to make ends meet, of choosing between motherhood and career, and of trying to save a failing marriage. Starring notable names in Malaysian cinema, Bu, Kasih Suci explores the complexities of parenting, the value of sacrifice and a mother’s unwavering love.
Edge of Your Seat
Fans of psychological thrillers will love this revenge flick of a mother’s bloodthirsty mission to find her daughter’s killers. M4M4 is about Aini, a single mother whose 15-year-old daughter was raped and killed by a gang of lowlifes. The killers are never found and the police have failed to find any suspects. Determined to avenge her daughter’s death Aini goes on a manhunt, all the while evading law enforcement who will stop at nothing to stop her killing spree. M4M4 will definitely keep you at the edge of your seats, so brace yourself for some very disturbing scenes.
Profound Musings
A teenage girl wrestles with ideas of religion, mortality and the hereafter when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Determined to find the answers, 15-year-old Aisyah begins sifting through the lore of different faiths in the hopes of finding some grain of truth to quell her fears. Accepting of her curiosity, her parents allow her to find her own answers in her own time, hoping it will help her make peace with her mother’s impending demise. A controversial, thought-provoking indie film, Mentega Terbang makes us think about the hard questions, questions about race, religion and death. If your mom enjoys deep, philosophical, movies, Mentega Terbang should definitely be on her list.
Trailblazers
The first locally-produced film about childhood autism, Redha explores all the challenges of raising a child with this disability. The story is about Danial, a recently diagnosed autistic child whose father refuses to acknowledge his condition. Alina, Danial’s mother, tries her best to get her husband to embrace their son for who he is. The film beautifully captures the hardships faced by both autistic children and their parents, the hurdles they must overcome and most of all how important it is to have the support of your family members. Based on true events, Redha (Beautiful Pain) will have you looking at special needs children in a totally different light
Oldie but A Goodie
A classic Malay retelling of the Cinderella fairytale, Bawang Puteh, Bawang Merah is about an orphan girl who dreams of a better life as she suffers at the hands of her evil stepmother and sister. Without giving too much spoilers, the protagonist marries a prince and lives happily ever after. But not without some shenanigans happening in between. You may be wondering where the motherhood theme fits into the movie. Well, just like in the original Brother’s Grimm version, “The Little Ash Girl”, Bawang Merah’s mother is reincarnated into a magic tree who grants all her wishes. The film alludes to the same scenario, where the power of a mother’s love is strong enough to transcend life and death. This cinematic throwback is definitely worth the watch, if anything for the nostalgia factor.
Embracing Our Local Cinematic Gems
Local movies have something that international films simply lack. And that is the ability to portray Malaysians in their own setting. Something that makes a story all the more compelling and relatable. We find ourselves relating to the characters and storylines more deeply when it’s about people from our community. In terms of motherhood, you’ll definitely feel a stronger emotional pull from watching all the mothers who look so much like your own—both in appearance and demeanour. There is no doubt that your mum will be able to identify with her onscreen counterparts as well. And that makes the experience all the more memorable. So, give these movies a try. They may just send you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
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