Best Malaysian documentary movies
A curated collection of popular documentary movies from Malaysia.
Highland Tower (2013)
Highland Tower (2013)
In December 1993, a luxury condominium tower block collapse after ground erosion from the neighbouring hillside. About 50 people lost their lives and to this day has become one of the darkest and saddest tragic incidents in Malaysian history. Twenty years later in 2013, a group of documentary filmmakers venture into the remaining two blocks that is left standing to do a ghost hunting expedition. What they discovered is not for the faint-hearted.
Ola Bola (2016)
Ola Bola (2016)
Set in the 1970s, a multicultural team of Malaysian football players struggle to overcome personal and collective hardships as a team. Together they create the most triumphant zero to hero story and gain a place at the Asian Games.
Ten Years before Independence (2007)
Ten Years before Independence (2007)
October 20th, 1947 was a historical day in the Malayan people's constitutional struggle for independence from British colonialism. This documentary chronicles the events that culminated in the Malaya-wide 'Hartal' day of protest against the undemocratic Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals devised by the British Colonial Government, and the rise of the people's democratic movement in Malaya, ten years before independence.
Eye on The Ball (2019)
Eye on The Ball (2019)
This documentary follows Malaysia's national blind football team, known as Harimau Buta, on their journey to qualify for the World Blind Football Championships. The footballers Asri, Kenchot and Rollen, along with their coach Sunny Shalesh, are also working hard to defend their 2017 ASEAN Para Games' championship title.
The Big Durian (2003)
The Big Durian (2003)
On the night of 18 October 1987, a soldier ran amok with an M16 in the area of Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Due to the thorny circumstances of the time and place, his amok triggered a citywide panic and rumours of racial riots. Why did he do it? Why were Malaysians so jittery at the time? And what happened next? "The Big Durian" speaks to 23 Malaysians (some real, some fictional) to find out.
We Are No Different (0)
We Are No Different (0)
Could you imagine a dark-skin Indian guy speaking fluently in Mandarin and telling you that "I’m a Chinese"? Have you ever seen a little Chinese girl with fair skin being able to write fluently in Tamil? A Malay woman who is over 50 years old, only reunit
Needle Through Brick (2009)
Needle Through Brick (2009)
A documentary that follows various practitioners of Chinese martial arts in the modern world.
Startup: The Real Story (2021)
Startup: The Real Story (2021)
Over the years Malaysia as a country has invested millions into promoting tech startups, in an attempt to replicate Silicon Valley in the West. This documentary looks at a 10year journey of e-Sentral, an e-book tech company that began as a startup, and its journey going through the different phases of growth. The film interviews startup industry players in Malaysia; leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs sharing their perspectives and experiences on how it actually is, and not as how it has been typically portrayed. A must watch if you like the tech space as the film portrays a genuine feel for perseverance and grit.
Chilli Powder and Thinner (2021)
Chilli Powder and Thinner (2021)
Chili powder and thinner painted the based on true story of young Malaysian boys in police custody, where they were brutally beaten and lost a dear friend.
Hibiscus (2019)
Hibiscus (2019)
'Hibiscus' highlights the city's hidden beauty and the warmth of its people that may go by unnoticed on a daily basis but are beautiful reminders to appreciate.
M for Malaysia (2019)
M for Malaysia (2019)
M for Malaysia documents the 2018 Malaysian General Elections when the people of Malaysia, led by a 92 year-old former Prime Minister, overthrew one of the longest ruling governments in the world. Despite endless barriers thrown at them, the tense campaign pushed on with the most surprising result in the country’s history.
Life in 24 Frames a Second (2021)
Life in 24 Frames a Second (2021)
"Life in 24 Frames a Second" is a film about hardship, misfortune, perseverance and triumph. The personal stories of John Woo (The Killer), Anurag Kashyap (Sacred Games), Rithy Panh (The Missing Picture) and Lav Diaz (The Woman Who Left), who survived extreme poverty, disease, sexual abuse, genocide and civil war to go on to become maestros of world cinema. 'Survivors' united by their abiding love of the movies.
Village People Radio Show (2007)
Village People Radio Show (2007)
A portrait of village life in South Thailand, home of retired Malay-Muslim members of the communist party of neighboring Malaysia. Recollections of the decades-long guerrilla war are interspersed with a Thai radio soap opera.
Bukak Api (2000)
Bukak Api (2000)
Bukak Api was made to heighten HIV/AIDS awareness amongst the sex-worker community in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, portraying the subculture as honestly as possible. The film was a community effort which brought together various agencies, residents, brothel owners, sex-workers, film students and production houses in support of the need for community-friendly information. It is an example of Pink Triangle Malaysia's working approach of community development for HIV/AIDS education, support and care. Bukak Api or "to open fire" is street lingo among sex-workers to mean "to have sex with a client".
At Rainbow’s End 2 (2020)
At Rainbow’s End 2 (2020)
This follow-up to 2017's "A Rainbow's End" tells the true story of seven HIV-Positive youths, aged from 8 to 16 years old, who live at the Rumah Jaireh foster home in Batu Arang. Due to the stigma attached to HIV, these children are abandoned, abused and shamed despite suffering from the illness through no fault of their own. The movie aims to fight for their right to receive a proper formal education and to educate the masses that these youths future lies in everyone's hands.