Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The upcoming movie “magiK,” premiering on November 30, brings to light the communication struggles of the deaf community through the story of a seven-year-old deaf girl named Kit, living in Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, a locale famed for its fireflies. This Malaysian film, a passion project by writer-director duo Bea and Yasu Tanaka, aims to create greater awareness and understanding of the deaf experience.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the film took about three years to complete and is set to captivate local film enthusiasts. Her inspiration for the story stems from her 15-year background as a teacher for the deaf. She expressed her desire to share her experiences and provide insights into the deaf community’s world. Bea emphasized that being deaf should be seen as a different ability rather than a disability, with the primary difference being the mode of communication – sign language.

Yasu Tanaka explained that the capital ‘K’ in the movie title signifies the communication (‘komunikasi’ in Malay) challenges faced by Kit, both with the fireflies in her village and with other characters in the film. He shared his aspiration for the film to encourage continuous efforts in communication and understanding, drawing inspiration from Steven Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ a movie that inspired him to become a film director.

“magiK” features a talented cast, including well-known actors Beto Kusyairy, Nadia Aqilah, Mak Mah, Roy Azman, Nam Ron, Iman Corinne, and newcomer Qisya Hairulzain, who portrays the character Kit. The film delves into Kit’s world, her interactions with her mother Fiza, who encourages her to learn sign language, and her unique connection with the fireflies, symbolizing the challenges and beauty of non-verbal communication.

Through this narrative, “magiK” seeks to shed light on the often-overlooked experiences of those living with hearing impairments and to challenge the perceptions surrounding disabilities and communication barriers.