The Tree of Malaya

*Pokok Tanah Melayu*

Globus

Lee Dong-june

***The Tree of Malaya*** (formerly titled ***The Tree of Malaysia***) is a historical epic drama film set in Malaysia during World War II. It was released in 2011 as KB Fan Fiction's 35th feature film.

It is loosely inspired by *The Tree of Life*. Based on an idea to make a Malaysian historical fiction film, the film premiered in competition at the 2011 Asian Fan Fiction Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan, where it won the Golden Samurai.

## Premise

Set in Malaysia during the Second World War, six Malaysian children with struggling families protect a tree they planted in a village from the invading Imperial Japanese Army.

## Plot

The film begins with a dramatization of the founding of Malacca by its future first ruler, Parameswara, in 1396. In the event, he was resting under a tree when he saw his follower's hunting dogs fighting a mousedeer which eventually overpowered the dogs. Believing the area to be a special place, Parameswara named the area *Malaka* after the tree in the event.

A seed from the tree later transitions through the main title to the hands of a 6-year-old Malay girl named Nadia Ramli in British-ruled Malacca in the year 1932. She recalls a lesson taught to her that people must remember their nation’s history. She stays in a Malaccan village with her elder brother, R.L. Nazim, a military servant aged eighteen, and Zamani Mohamad, her best friend of the same age who is the son of authoritarian village chief Zamri. Zamri is a former business worker.

Turmoil begins to ensue in the village due to the villagers' opposition to British rule. The two friends’ best friend, Ah Leong, a Chinese boy, is adrift in his modern life as the son of Ah Keong, an architect. The three regroup and are joined by three other friends: Kim Moi, a Chinese girl, Chandra, an Indian boy and Padma, an Indian girl, all of the same age. The group of six gather around a tree which grew from the seed held by Nadia earlier in the film. Nadia nicknamed it the “Tree of Malaya” in honor of the scene and to make them remember all the events which happen in their homeland from its very formation.

At the tree, they begin reflecting and we see shots of tall buildings under the sky, trees that stretch from the ground up to the sun high in their leaves and scenes from his childhood in the 1920s that all link together. The film later goes to flashbacks on the formation of the Malay Kingdoms during the region's ancient history. Then, the Malacca Sultanate is formed. The Portuguese overran Malacca in 1511, and later the British took over Penang in 1786. Eventually, the scene changes to the year 1942, showing the British Union Jack being lowered and the flag of a new colonial power being raised: the Empire of Japan.

The Japanese invasion of the Malayan village made life miserable for the village folk, torturing them and forcefully implementing Japanization in the village's schools. Japanese war general Yoshiyuki Narita plans to take over the village the friends live in, and commanded that the tree be cut down for the construction of a Japanese bunker. Aware of the general's plan, the six friends try to convince the Japanese army not to cut down the Tree as it gives them memories about their nation’s past. They also learn a bit of Japanese language at school. They head to the Japanese Imperial Army's temporary bunker with Zamri to discuss with General Narita. When General Narita insisted that they will cut down the tree, who is aware of the atrocities carried out by the Japanese invasion, declared war on the Japanese army. Several schoolchildren were gunned down by the Japanese soldiers as they pass by the school. At the same time, Ah Leong began to become resentful to his father's decision to collaborate with the Communist Party of Malaya (PKM) due to the inhumane deeds done to his family by the Communist Party.

During the course of the war between the village folk and the Japanese soldiers which took place at the site of the tree, Nazim was mortally wounded by the Japanese soldiers in the battle. While tending to the dying Nazim, Zamri experienced a flashback when he took a long business trip to Thailand in 1933 and had to part with Nazim, who was one of his most trusted co-workers. Shortly thereafter, the company that he works at closes down due to abandonment. Being unable to sustain his business, he decides to run for becoming the village chief and due to that his friendship with Nazim fell apart. After a brief moment of reconciliation, Nazim passes away. He was later buried in a solemn ceremony along with others who were killed by the Japanese soldiers.

Eventually, in 1945, the Japanese surrender in Malaya due to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After hearing the news of his country's defeat in the war, General Yoshiyuki Narita finally decides not to cut down the Tree and orders his army to retreat. Ah Keong finally realizes the Communist Party's betrayal after receiving the news of their postwar violence and asks his son to forgive his past decision.

In February 1956, the friends, now 30, attend a grand ceremony where the date of independence was announced in Bandar Hilir, Malacca. The following year, the friends go to Kuala Lumpur to search of new jobs. They witness core events during the Malayan Independence Day celebrations on August 31, 1957, including the Proclamation of Malayan Independence.

A week after the event, Zamani leaves for the Tree. At the Tree, he experiences a vision of following his young self across a far distant future where Malaya has become a developed nation. Zamani is reunited with his family and all the people who populate his memory. His father is happy to see him. He encounters Nazim, whom he brings to his parents. Accompanied by a woman in white and her younger self, who is revealed to be Nadia, Zamani looks to the sky in hope. Zamani's vision ends and he leaves the tree smiling.

The film ends in 1963, during the formation of Malaysia. The six friends are now 37 and continue in their working life. They re-visit at the Tree, now renamed the Tree of Malaysia, holding hands as they share their visions of the future.

## Cast

* Zamani Mohamad
* Nadia Ramli
* Lim Ah Leong
* Teoh Kim Moi
* Chandra Samy
* Padma Ragavan
* General Yoshiyuki Narita
* Japanese soldiers
* British officers