The Rape of Malaya (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film
Released in 1959, The Rape of Malaya is a war and history film directed by Ramon A. Estella, running about 120 minutes.
What it’s about. 'Mata Hari' was Malay Film Productions’ second war movie based on the Japanese invasion of Malaya/Singapore in 1941-42, released a few months after the resounding success of Lamberto Avellana and P. Ramlee’s 'Sergeant Hassan'. Written by Abdul Razak (who did the scripts for the 'Pontianak' film series) and directed by the prolific Ramon Estella, the movie stars beauty queen Maria Menado (of Pontianak fame) as ‘Matahari’, the daughter of a kampong headman who is captured by the Japanese. She witnesses the atrocities committed by the invaders, who tortured her father to death and rounded up innocent women to become prostitutes and mistresses for their commanders. Not wanting to cower to the enemy, Matahari (which means the sun in Malay and was also the name of a real-life WWI German spy) decides to form and lead a guerrilla force to fight the Japanese.
Who’s in it. The Rape of Malaya stars Maria Menado as Mata Hari.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Rape of Malaya page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Rape of Malaya tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Grave of the Fireflies, The Pianist and Apocalypse Now.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Rape of Malaya (1959)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Rape of Malaya change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Rape of Malaya?
- The Rape of Malaya stars Maria Menado.