Rise: Ini Kalilah

In a Malaysia on the brink of a historic vote, ordinary lives pulse with the quiet urgency of change. The film weaves together six distinct threads, each a snapshot of everyday citizens whose hopes, doubts and loyalties echo the nation’s larger conversation. The tone is intimate yet expansive, balancing personal moments with the collective reverberation of a country poised for transformation, all rendered in a warm, kinetic visual style that captures market bustle, university corridors and the quiet of suburban homes.

​June moves through the streets as a pragmatic fixer, partnering with the inquisitive Australian journalist Marcus to document the election’s undercurrents. Across continents, Fizah, a Malay student studying in the United Kingdom, feels the pull of home and the weight of her own identity as she contemplates returning for the vote. Within the police precinct, Corporal Azman wrestles with a growing disillusionment, his sense of duty testing against the realities he sees around him, while trying to provide for his family. Each of these figures carries a personal compass that points toward the same national crossroads.

​Shanti balances the demands of teaching at a Tamil primary school with the responsibilities of a polling and counting agent, navigating generational expectations from her father and a tentative romance with Leong, a spirited hawker stall worker who has traveled from Singapore solely to cast his ballot. Meanwhile, Selva, who runs a foreign‑worker agency, bears witness to the quiet struggles of migrant laborers, adding another layer to the mosaic of voices that populate the story.

Together, these characters create a tapestry of hope, tension, and quiet resilience. The film’s structure—interlacing vignettes that gradually converge—keeps the audience listening for the next heartbeat of the nation, inviting curiosity about how these personal journeys will intersect as the decisive day approaches.

Last Updated: September 20, 2025 at 16:45