Film Challenge Week 22: A film from a director you’ve never watched
Film: Pendatang (2023)
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Watched on: YouTube
I've fallen so behind on these posts, but I'm determined to finish this challenge before the year ends. Since embarking on this challenge, a new sense of curiosity and patience has unlocked within me. Where I once found comfort in the predictability and pacing of Hollywood films, I now find myself craving stories unfamiliar to me. This challenge has also allowed me to make a dent in my to-watch list as I make my way through the weeks.
Pendatang has been on my to-watch list for 2 years.
I first came across it on social media, as Malaysians were buzzing with excitement over this fully crowdfunded dystopian film that depicts a Malaysia where the different ethnic groups are separated into different acts, because Malaysians had voted on a Segregation Act. As the act is enforced, we follow a Chinese family relocating to a rural village and settling into a kampung home that once belonged to a Malay family. During this time, the family navigates an unexpected challenge with power-hungry authorities and corrupt businessmen.
Most, if not all, Malaysians will understand why the concept of the fictional Segregation Act is deeply intriguing.
Race is one of the 3 topics that are considered sensitive and can get an individual in legal trouble with the authorities. The racial diversity of Malaysia is what makes the country so unique and culturally rich to live in, but it also comes with prejudice and discrimination. Although the Segregation Act will be a nightmare for me, I'm not sure I can say it's the same for the staunch nationalists/racists.
With the grassroots nature of the film's development, I went into it with an open mind to see where it would lead me.
Despite the small budget, I sincerely believe that the team did a pretty decent job in executing the film. The acting may have been amateurish, with limited depth in that the film focused on one specific area, but the story was gripping nonetheless. I was invested from beginning to end, as I found myself rooting for the family and wishing them the best. The film didn't shy away from controversial notions of racism in Malaysia, nor did it sugarcoat the abuse of power that tends to run rampant when there are no checks and balances. There were definitely a couple of scenes that made me deeply uncomfortable, but nothing too gory or disturbing.
I admire the director, Ng Ken Kin's vision in seeing the film released as true to the script as possible by making it available for free on YouTube. I'm sure it wouldn't have been an easy task to get the approval of Malaysia's Film Censorship Board.
As of February 2026, the film has garnered 5.6 million views with plenty of positive reviews in the comments. It was nice to see so many people yearning for more films like this, because creativity truly cannot flourish under censorship. Artists should be able to touch on "sensitive" topics without fear of repercussions from the government. It's a breath of fresh air to see art hold up a mirror against society. I rated Pendatang 4 stars.
