05-05-2025
Malaysian films shine at Beijing International Film Festival
KOTA KINABALU (May 5): Two Malaysian films shot in China and Sabah shone at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival which was held from April 18 to 26.
Malaysian filmmaker Michelle Xin has represented Malaysia in showcasing the two works that highlight the rich cultural and community spirit of Malaysia.
The first, The Rise of Lion II, produced by Xin World Sdn Bhd, is an inspiring feature film rooted in the traditional art of lion dance, telling a story of perseverance, heritage and belief. The film starred Melissa Wong and Ricky Lee in the leading roles, and was filmed in Chengdu, China.
The second is the heartfelt The Story of Papar Town, presented by Melissa of WSG Group, featuring an inspiring story about Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui.
'I look forward to more international collaborations in the future, to bring more Malaysian stories to the world stage, and to bring the world back into our local communities,' Michelle the Beijing International Film Festival.
This year also marks the 130th anniversary of cinema in the world and 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema.
The Beijing International Film Festival not only showcases Chinese films to the world but also provides a gateway for foreign films to enter the Chinese market, serving as a platform for cultural exchange between filmmakers from China and around the globe.
Michelle added that the participation in the Beijing International Film Festival marks an important step in strengthening cultural exchanges and promoting Malaysia's unique narratives globally.
The Story of Papar Town made its official debut at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in China recently.
Produced by the WSG Group spearheaded by Sabahan property developer, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, the film showcases Malaysia's rich and diverse cultural heritage and communities.
Its screening at the film festival not only brought the story of Sabah to the global stage, but also invited the world to step into the heart of the local community.
Directed by Michelle, The Story of Papar Town was meticulously crafted over two months of preparation.
The film involved 80 actors and took 10 days to shoot, and a month to edit. Filming took place across several locations, including Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu.
The Story of Papar Town stars Melissa, Susan's daughter, in the lead role. She portrays the childhood version of her grandmother, Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui. The male lead in this documentary short film is 37-year-old Sam Loo from Penang, who plays the younger version of Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Kwok.
Sabah-born singer Wesley Liew takes on the role of the Chen's saviour, Kapitan Chen Chee On.
Melissa, who is also a director of the WSG Group, brought The Story of Papar Town to the 15th Beijing International Film Festival.
In an interview at the event, she expressed hope that the film would promote cultural exchange whilst share Malaysia's unique story with the world.
Meanwhile, Susan said she often listened to her mother recounting stories about Papar when she was little.
'I would follow my mother to my grandmother's house in Papar every school holiday.
'That's why Papar has left a deep impression on me — its memories are etched in my mind.'
Susan said her mother has endured a difficult childhood in her hometown.
'I told myself that one day, when the time was right, I would turn my mother's stories into a documentary short film, so that future generations of our family, as well as the world, could understand the incidents that took place in the small town of Papar during the 1940s.
'Today, I have finally fulfilled that dream.'
Told in the form of a memoir, the film recounts the hardships and struggles faced by Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mu during her early life in her hometown of Papar. It is a touching and emotional narrative, which culminates in a satisfying and fulfilling ending. The film highlights the remarkable resilience of individuals in the face of adversity.
Set during the 1940s, amid the turmoil of World War II, the story depicts the difficult childhood of Chen, who came from a poor family. Her father tragically died after being tortured by the Japanese army, leaving her mother to raise several young children on her own. In her early teenage years, Chen was sold by her mother to a wealthy family as a child bride — but in reality, she lived a life of hardship akin to that of a slave.
She had to wake up before sunrise at 4 am, to chop firewood, fetch water, and grind grains — taking on every household chore. Her meals consisted only of leftovers from the family, and at night, she slept on a wooden plank in a corner outside the house.
As a teenage girl, she endured unbearable suffering. She recalled that another girl who had shared the same fate had once been tortured to death in that very place. And that planted the seed of escape in her heart.
One dark, windy night, under the cover of darkness, she seized the moment while her masters were fast asleep. She ran with all her strength, heading toward a place where she saw lights in the distance. That night, she arrived at the home of Kapitan Chen, a prominent landowner in Papar town. Fortunately, he took her in with kindness and gave her refuge.
The next day, the family tracked her down at the Chen's residence and came to reclaim her. After some negotiation, Kapitan Chen paid to redeem her freedom and kept her on as a helper in his household. From that moment on, Kapitan Chen became her life saviour.
