Joon Goh
Director
Zarul Albakri
Producer
Malaysia
Country
Logline

In the underbelly of Kuala Lumpur, an Indonesian migrant teen forced into underground fights and a schoolgirl trapped by her volatile mother find sanctuary in each other. Fuelled by karaoke fever-dreams and the power of pop music, their fragile bond sparks a desperate bid for freedom.

Short Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Saleha survives under the grip of her volatile mother in a suffocating Kuala Lumpur apartment. Bago, an Indonesian migrant teen, arrives hopeful - only to be trapped in brutal factory work and illegal fights. When they meet, something shifts. In a world that treats them as expendable, their fragile bond becomes a flicker of hope. Between secret stairwell meetings and stolen karaoke moments, they imagine a way out. Fuelled by the aching fantasy of pop songs and the raw need to be seen, they begin to dream beyond their confines. But the city tightens its grip - Saleha’s rebellion triggers cruel punishment, and Bago sinks into violence and addiction. When vengeance comes for them on a dark beach, Saleha is forced to choose: save what they have - or save what’s left of herself.

Joon Goh
Joon Goh

Joon Goh is a Malaysian filmmaker exploring power and survival in Southeast Asia’s hierarchies through the lens of genre. He began his career in London with Revolution Films and Vice Media before returning to Malaysia to pursue more personal storytelling. His short MOP (2023) won prizes at Fantastic Fest and QCinema. He also co-created the satirical comedy series Sitik Tok (TV3, 2021), which hit three million viewers. The Willing, a coming-of-age fable set in Kuala Lumpur, will be his feature debut.

Zarul Albakri
Zarul Albakri

Zarul Albakri is a Malaysian film producer, director, and soundscape artist with a long career spanning feature films, television, and the arts. He has twice won the Best Malaysian Film award: Matinya Seorang Patriot (Death of a Patriot, 1985) and Spilt Gravy on Rice (Ke Mana Tumpahnya Kuah, 2022). His cult classic Kembara: Seniman Jalanan (1990) earned him a Special Art Direction Award. More recently, Zarul produced the short, MOP (2023). He is currently producing a feature documentary on the life of playwright and actor Jit Murad. Beyond film, Zarul runs OurBodySpace, a soundscape healing studio in Kuala Lumpur.