KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first university-produced film, "The Story of TARCians" (TSOT), is set to be released on Dec 5.
Directed by award-winning director Mark Lee See Teck, the film, a full-production by Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), focuses on youth, friendship, and the determination to continue studying for a brighter future.
TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei said the documentary film tells a heartwarming story about how young Malaysians obtained a tertiary education and the history of the notable local higher education institution, firmly rooted in facts.
"We want to tell our story in an effective way and we thought why not try a documentary-film that is based on facts yet still entertaining," he said during a press conference after the media screening of the show at Pavilion KL on Tuesday (Dec 3).
Prof Lee, who is also the executive producer of the film, said the university was involved in every step, including the storyboard and scriptwriting, to ensure everything remained true to history.
"We hope to reach out to as many as possible members of the public so that they can get to know us," he added.
The documentary film, spearheaded by the Alumni Council, is the first to be produced by a Malaysian university and takes place in the late 1960s.
It begins with the 18th Annual General Meeting of the MCA when its then-president Tun Tan Siew Sin announced their initiative to establish a higher education institution to help students further their studies due to not achieving the necessary results in their Malaysian Certificate of Education (MCE).
The announcement brings hope to Mei Li, Ah Yuen, Razali, and Rama (played by Alyssa Lee Wan Xuan, Ernest Chong Shun Yuen, Ali Arami, and E. Ramanamohan respectively) who come from different parts of the country.
It captures the emotional challenges and personal growth of young students from that era, bringing us into the stories of the first generation of TARCians.
While their story is told, the film portrays the efforts of those involved in establishing Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC), especially Khaw Kai Boh and Tun Tan Siew Sin, who persevered for two years amidst a turbulent political backdrop, including the May 13 riots.
Weaving fiction and history together, it also features alumni who came to TARC in the 1970s and 1980s sharing their experiences of seeking a brighter future through higher education back then.
The project was launched on Oct 11, 2023, with filming beginning on Jan 15.
The 76-minute film dives into the early days before TARC was established by going in-depth into the emotions, challenges, and obstacles faced by its founders and stakeholders.
The film is directed by, and will be screened nationwide.
There will also be private screenings of the film for TAR UMT staff and students on campus.
