Bukit Kepong

Bukit Kepong is one of the best Malaysian films ever made, and next to 'Sarjan Hassan' by P. Ramlee, definitely the best Malay-language war movie ever. It tells the true story of a doomed remote police outpost in Johore during the 'Emergency' years, when the Communist Party of Malaya took up arms and began a vicious campaign to establish a Communist state in Malaya(as it then was). Despite the fact that the movie has been attacked as being anti-Chinese (as the guerillas were predominantly ethnic Chinese), this is not so, as the Communists did not just target Malays, they threatened and killed anyone who refused to support their cause, including members of the Chinese community.

The movie is quite well-made, despite a few sillly moments, such as when a group of RELA armed volunteers(local villagers) are pinned-down by a smaller(but better trained) group of Commie ambushers, while on the way to relieve the besieged police outpost under attack by a huge force of guerillas. Despite out-numbering the enemy, they actually succeeded in running out of ammo, forcing some brave(and suicidal) individuals to charge the Commie positions armed only with parangs!

The battle for the police station was long and bloody, with quite graphic scenes. The director skilfully used music, crying women and children to impart to us the horror of losing loved-ones in war where necessary. It's the kind of movie which fills the viewer with a burning sense of patriotism and a desire to kill Communists (with great savagery) by the end of the film.

Whilst not exactly 'Cross of Iron', it is certainly far-better than 'Saving Private Ryan', and it's a great advertisement for the armed forces! Highly recommended.