A Review of Syamsul Yusof’s Malaysian Box Office Hit, Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (2022)

Abstract

Malaysian film Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (MKKP) directed by Syamsul Yusof tells the story of the Malay warrior Mat Kilau and his father Tok Gajah as they battle the British Empire to rescue Malaya from colonial rule. The film has become one of the highest-grossing Malaysian films of all time, earning RM97 million at cinemas in Malaysia, including Brunei, and Singapore in just 50 days. The film’s success highlights the potential of films to support national economic expansion and cultural diplomacy. This paper uses qualitative research design and content analysis to analyze the film’s portrayal of unity in Malay society in that colonial era. The five guidelines for social and psychological needs from “Uses and Gratification Theory” were adopted to validate the portrayal of unity application in the film and cinematic masterpiece production. Analysis indicates 60% of the narrative used is based on true stories, visuals, and dialogue to initiate emotional and aesthetic experiences to the audience, reflect the Personal Integrative Needs through heroics Mat Kilau character, Integrative Social Needs by highlighting the various Malaysian ethnicities act in the film and the Tension Release Needs for the audience when the climax of the film brings joy and relieve as results of the efforts and initiative to unite and fight together and gain a victory from British Colonizers. Therefore, these content analyses provide sufficient and significant evidence to conclude that MKKP entertains and effectively conveys the historical values, nationalism, and unity of Malaysian society.