Every special occasion, such as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, must have movies that you and your kids can watch to celebrate.
The same can be said for National Day, which is coming up at the end of August!
There are many activities you can do at home to boost your national spirit. One of which is to watch Malaysia Independence Day movies.
If you make the day special, your children will understand how important it is. It’s not only about celebrating the country’s independence, but also about remembering the sacrifices of our soldiers.
The hardships that our forefathers, our people, had to endure to protect this land and obtain ‘Merdeka‘. National Day movies exhibit and enlighten all of this.
Without further ado, here are some of the best movies to watch with your kids on August 31st.
Get that popcorn ready and sit back to enjoy the patriotic feeling that these movies will provide!
You should be aware that some scenes may be violent and inappropriate for your children to watch. So, close their eyes or distract them with a conversation during that time.
Tanda Putera (2013)
This movie explores the friendship that developed between Malaysia’s second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak, and his deputy, Tun Dr. Ismail, following the racial riots of May 13, 1969, which marked the height of the country’s unification issues.
Despite the fact that they both have health issues, they keep it a secret. All because to improve the nation’s situation and prevent the family from going through a difficult time.
He then started racing against the clock to put various plans into action to ensure the stability and future of the nation.
Discover what he had in mind, how he went about carrying them out, and how it affected our nation through this movie.
29 Februari (2012)
The narrative chronicles the life of Budi (Remy Ishak), a character who only grew once every four years after his leap year birth on February 29, 1896.
The strange occurrence caused Budi’s physical condition to stagnate and led the neighbourhood to view his disability as a curse.
It depicts scenes that are absolutely mind-blowing. Budi, on the other hand, believed that his extended life was a gift from God.
He had the chance to witness this nation’s long process of change from the Land of the Malays to Malaya to finally becoming a free and independent Malaysia.
In the film, he also starts to understand what love and happiness are when he meets Lily (Jojo Goh), a bright-eyed 16-year-old Chinese girl.
Their love story, however, faces numerous obstacles. The family was unable to accept it due to racial and religious differences.
When you start watching this movie, you and your kids will undoubtedly be unable to stop because you are curious about the ending.
1957 Hati Malaya (2007)
It is clear from the title that this movie revolves around Malaysia’s independence.
This historical film can instil a sense of patriotism in the audience by showcasing Malaysia’s national treasures.
This includes images of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and Datuk Onn Jaafar. As well as occasions when the Malayan Union flag was lowered and the word ‘Merdeka‘ was chanted.
It all began with a group of young people from various backgrounds and perspectives attempting to publish the picture book 1957 – Hati Malaya.
They discovered love, friendship, loyalty, and an understanding of the 1957 struggle during their search.
They went in-depth, infused the stories and events with a lot of emotion, and transported the audience back to the era when the Malay people’s spirit first rose to demand independence.
This is one National Day movie that will make you and your kids appreciate our forefathers’ struggle for independence.
Paloh (2003)
This movie takes place sometime around 1944. Due to the conflict between the Japanese army and the Malayan Communist Party at the time, the people of Malaya had to deal with pressure.
It tells the story of four friends, Ahmad, Osman, Puteh, and Harun, who work as Japanese police officers and are also caught up in the upheaval.
This film also features the complicated love stories of Ahmad and Siew Lan, as well as Puteh and Fatimah.
Meanwhile, Osman, a Japanese spy, has joined communist forces to avenge his Chinese father’s death.
The atmosphere is chaotic because of all these tensions. Some people favour independence, while others favour keeping their colonial status.
On the other hand, Fatimah’s father also joined the communist forces in an effort to defend his beloved nation and fight the colonialists.
The movie contains a lot of conflicts that occurred, which might confuse you.
But to somewhat understand this film, you must pay close attention to every detail.
Leftenan Adnan (2000)
This film depicts the story of a soldier who is willing to sacrifice his life to protect his people and country.
It all started in 1934, when British soldiers arrived in Kampung Sungai Ramal, Kajang, Selangor, with the intention of recruiting capable local youths for the Malay Army.
Adnan Bin Saidi was one of the young people in the village who was interested in joining the military, but his parents disapproved of his plan.
Despite that, Adnan decided to leave the village with a group of friends and travel to the military training facility in Port Dickson.
He then signed up and underwent physical and mental training to become a soldier.
Adnan was accepted into the Malay Army team after being chosen as the best recruit due to his courage and seriousness.
Adnan quickly advanced to the rank of Color Sergeant in 1937. He was also chosen to attend King George VI’s coronation in London that same year.
Not long after, Adnan was promoted to become Lieutenant.
The tragic part came when Lieutenant Adnan Saidi was killed while defending Malaya from Japanese attacks during WWII.
The battle at Bukit Candu, located in Pasir Panjang, Singapore, saw the death of the fearsome Malay soldier.
Make sure to have some tissues on hand when watching this movie!
Darah Satria (1983)
The main character in this film is a great example of someone who is steadfast in upholding his duty to defend the nation, even if it means having to leave his family.
The man’s name is Ariff, and he serves as a junior lieutenant in one of the King’s Malay Soldier Regiment’s battalions.
He frequently took part in operations to track down communist terrorists in the wild.
He then married, but his wife had to live with her parents because he was rarely home.
Later, he received a promotion to full Lieutenant for doing his job commendably.
He wanted to visit his family in the village first before heading to the course. Alas, before he had a chance to rest, he was called back to camp for an operation.
During the fight with the communist terrorists in the forest, his subordinates were killed and injured.
As a result of the wartime incident, Lieutenant Ariff also experienced permanent disability.
Watch the film to find out exactly what happened, and be prepared for some surreal and heartbreaking scenes.
Bukit Kepong (1981)
A tragic event that occurred in Malaysian history during the communist uprising served as the inspiration for the Bukit Kepong film.
On February 23, 1950, the incident took place at Bukit Kepong Police Station in Muar, Johor.
The film begins with the arrival of Sergeant Jamil, the new police sergeant, at the Bukit Kepong Police Station, which has been guarded by 18 police officers.
Bukit Kepong is unluckily quite isolated and far from the main road, making it a convenient target for communist attacks.
On the aforementioned date, communists attacked the police station.
About 200 communists initially regarded this as an early victory. Nevertheless, the valiant police held the station at bay for six hours.
Villagers from neighbouring villages attempted to assist. But the communists seized control of all the main thoroughfares to the police station.
The communists eventually captured and burned the police station after a long battle.
Sergeant Jamil was among the many police officers and their families killed.
The officers’ bravery is remembered to this day although the station was destroyed in a fire.
The movie portrays the police force’s courage and strength in defending the country in the face of an onslaught of communist terrorists.
Sergeant Hassan or Sarjan Hassan (1958)
This could very well be one of Malaysia’s first historical movies.
Sarjan Hassan (also known as Sergeant Hassan on the poster) is a 1958 Malayan war film starring P. Ramlee. Hassan (P. Ramlee), a 10-year-old from Jasin, Malacca.
In the movie, he is portrayed as an orphan who lost his father when he was young.
Pak Lebai (Daeng Idris), Hassan’s late father’s employer, felt sorry for Hassan’s fate and adopted him.
However, Hassan’s adoptive father’s son, Aziz (Jins Shamsudin), is envious of him and despises him.
After years of living together and growing up, they both want to be soldiers, but Hassan’s dream has been dashed.
To make a long story short, Hassan decided to flee his home to join the Malay Army.
In the end, Hassan proved his worth as a soldier and was quickly promoted. First to Corporal, then to Sergeant.
You’ll see how Sergeant Hassan and his platoon were able to control the land route and halt the advance of Japanese soldiers across Malaya.
This classic film is well worth seeing. Plus, you get to enjoy the vibes of P.Ramlee movies.
Bond With Your Kids Through Patriotic Movies
Choose any of the movies above to watch with your kids this National Day—or better yet, all!
You’re not only teaching them about the country’s most historic event, but you could also use the time to bond with your children.
You can explain more about what happened during that time after watching the movies. Perhaps use stories from their grandparents or great-grandparents who had to endure what happened before Malaysia’s independence.
Make them proud of what our country has accomplished so far. And enjoy celebrating National Day!
Motherhood wishes all our Malaysian readers a happy National Day!
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