Help fund “BANGKIT” – a final year student thesis film about Singapore’s 1964 Racial Riots

WHO ARE WE?
We are a team of Final Year Students from Temasek Polytechnic working on our Final Year Project, a thesis film about Singapore back in the 1964 Racial Riots, titled "BANGKIT".

WHAT IS THE FILM ABOUT?
The film is a period drama about a Malay baker who has to revive her bakery and unite the two races, the Chinese and Malays together during the July and September racial riots in 1964. This film revolves around the issues of the Malaysian federal elections and also touches on the issues faced by Singaporeans during the period of Malaya.

LOGLINE
A Malay baker must overcome her mistrust in the Chinese in order to revive her pastry business and reunite the races during the racial riots.

SYNOPSIS
‘Bangkit’ is a Malay period drama set in 1964. Bangkit, meaning “rise”, will portray its true meaning through the struggles of the protagonist of this film, Salimah. She is a famous Malay baker who is specialised in her kuih bangkit. Her everyday normal life takes a turn when the riot makes its way into her home. A very accepting and nurturing character who treats everyone equally loses trust in the Chinese. Little did Salimah know, she needs the help of the Chinese to get her bakery up and running again. Her distrust not only affects her mentally, but her daughter too. Her husband reveals his true feelings about her precious bakery. It’s up to Salimah in the end to be as forgiving and open minded as she was before her life turned upside down or live on with the hatred she never once dealt with before.

WHERE WILL THE FILM BE SHOWN?
The film also aims to promote National Education (NE) messages, and is picked by the Singapore Discovery Centre to be screened to the general public at their SDC iWerks theatre. There will also be a Film Gala on the 25th of April 2019, whereby the film will be showcased to the Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee. The film will have a home at SDC's iWerks theatre for a year from its premiere date for public viewing. It will also be on display next year at the School of Design's annual Design Show for Design School Graduates of 2019, and will possibly be used for national education purposes.

WHY DO WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT?

As a team, we really want to make this ambitious vision for a film come true as this is the Final Year Project we are doing before we graduate from Temasek Polytechnic School of Design, Digital Film & Television (DFT). To achieve this dream, we sincerely hope we can get as much support as possible from everyone who comes across this campaign. Even a minimum amount of $1 from each person will go a long way in helping us achieve our dream of making this short film come true. We will definitely credit you for your kind assistance at the end of the film.