Walid - an action film with a strong social message

Filmmaker Areel Abu Bakar’s latest cinematic offering, ‘Walid’, tackles many hot-button topics.

Written by Areel and Hafiz Derani, Walid (which hits local cinemas on Sept 14) puts the spotlight on issues such as the right to education, migrant rights, stateless children, and human trafficking.

Throw in some well-choreographed silat action scenes and this movie should draw in the viewers.

Walid revolves around the titular character played by Megat Sharizal Yusoff who spends his free time teaching underprivileged children. He notices a young girl Aisha watching him teach and invites her to join in.

Aisha and her mother are shunned by villagers because they are “outsiders”. However, that does not stop Walid from teaching her and a special bond develops between teacher and student.

All that is shattered when Aisha and other children are...