Pendatang

2023 Thriller 98 minutes Directed by Ken Kin Ng

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About Pendatang

In a future Malaysia where the Segregation Act forbids the races to mix, a Cantonese-speaking Chinese family moves into a rural house and finds a Malay girl still hiding in it. They have to decide whether to turn her out or get her back to safety. Fredy Chan, Mayjune Tan, and Shareen Yeo are billed. Lim Boon Siang wrote it. Ng Ken Kin directed.

Cast & crew

More about Pendatang

Amir Muhammad and Elise Shick produced the crowdfunded film. Tan Teck Zee photographed it. Teo Wey Yinn wrote the music. It runs 98 minutes. Wikidata also lists the cost as $70,700. Ng said he did not expect the Film Censorship Board to clear a local cinema release, so the film went on YouTube free, with no ad income, on 21 December 2023. Languages listed are Cantonese, Malay, and Tamil. A full copy is on Wikimedia Commons.

Themes

  • A law against mixing
  • A girl hidden in a new house
  • A family that has to choose
  • Pendatang
  • Segregation Act
  • Malaysia
  • kampong
  • Ng Ken Kin

Look

Tan Teck Zee photographed the Perak house.

Music

Teo Wey Yinn wrote the music.

Preservation

Released free on YouTube. A full copy is on Wikimedia Commons.

Notes

  • Pendatang means a newcomer or an outsider.
  • The house is a kampong house, not a city flat.
  • The Commons file is the full movie.

Scenes

  • The family opens the new house and finds the Malay girl still inside.

Also available

  • YouTube (official free premiere, 21 December 2023)
  • Wikimedia Commons (PENDATANG)