#SHOWBIZ: 'Miselia': Director Ekien Zainal's eerie Covid isolation telefilm premieres Oct 10 on TV1
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as global attention focused heavily on the economic fallout and job losses, director Ekien Zainal found herself drawn to a quieter, darker tragedy unfolding behind closed doors: the intense psychological strain on locked-down families.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, director Ekien Zainal was captivated by the psychological toll isolation had on families confined to their homes. This personal reflection gave birth to her telefilm, Miselia, which delves into themes such as trauma, identity disorders, and the vulnerability of human nature during extreme isolation.
Ekien's motivation went beyond the job losses and economic impacts that dominated the news at the time. She wanted to explore the strain on families, particularly wives and children who were overwhelmed by constant problems. The intense pressure they faced became the foundation for her screenplay.
The title of the film, Miselia, is a coined term inspired by the scientific concept of mycelium, the intricate network of threads that make up a fungus. The protagonist in Miselia endeavors to support her household by cultivating small mushroom beds. This agricultural act symbolizes the blurred line between reality and illusion, as seen when mushrooms release spores.
In the film, spores appear during noon, a deliberate deviation from their real-life pattern to emphasize the character's hallucinations and the differing personalities within the household.
To create the film's eerie atmosphere, Ekien chose to film in Fraser's Hill and constructed a fictional setting called Valmont Hill. This alternate location, complete with unique street signs, allowed her to maintain the dark narrative's separation from actual places. The ensemble cast, which includes Ellie Suriaty, Azhar Sulaiman, Niezam Zaidi, Adam Shahz, and Shiqin Kamal, received high commendation from the director.
She praised their performances, giving them a near-perfect rating of six out of five stars, stating that each actor delivered a powerful portrayal that evoked strong emotional responses.
Production crews worked diligently to ensure the highest quality for Miselia. The film is set to premiere on October 10 on TV1 and will be available for streaming on RTMKlik.
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