On September 13, 1972, a tragic ferry sinking occurred in a small town called Parit buntar in Perak, Malaysia, which shocked the entire nation. The incident took place on the Kerian River, which separates two regions. Due to heavy rainfall that day, a ferry malfunctioned and sank, resulting in the loss of more than 20 lives, including 17 primary and secondary school students. The event left the town with a deep and enduring shadow.

Although the incident was an unfortunate accident, the ferry driver, Ah Han, was blamed by the local community. Twelve years later, Ah Han, who had moved away with his family due to the tragedy, could not escape the guilt and pain of the incident. One day, Ah Han suddenly lost control and ran out of his house, never to be seen again. The next day, his body was discovered floating in the water.

Having suffered from the loss of her father and seeking to resolve the emotional trauma that had haunted her family for years, Ah Han’s daughter, Ah Mei, decided to return to Bala Bengh, the town where the ferry disaster occurred. She embarked on a journey to uncover the truth and clear her late father’s name, beginning her own “returning” quest.

On the morning of September 13, 1972, a tragic ferry capsizing incident occurred on the Kerian River in Parit Buntar, claiming the lives of 27 people. This devastating event cast an enduring shadow over the beautiful and simple town. A well-known local photographer from Parit Buntar, David Thian, is collaborating with his production team to film “9.13: The Returning “, hoping to help the community move beyond the pain and tragedy of that fateful day.

Recreating the Glory of the Past – In terms of filming locations, the production team chose sites that still exist in real life. For example, the main setting, the hotel, is a colonial-era building that also serves as a coffee shop ( Kopitiam ), creating an atmosphere that is both ancient and nostalgic for the locals. Another example is the street with the traditional cinema at the beginning of the film, where Ah Mei returns from out of town. This street is a long-abandoned cinema street in Kedah, but the art department revived its former glory.

Makeup and Special Effects are Realistic and Scary – With the story blueprint in place, the director created stunning concept art for various characters and special scenes during the script development phase, such as the ghostly figure, the long-tongue ghost, and the shipwreck scene. This helped establish a clear vision for the movie’s early form.

A Work of Dedication – The production cost exceeded 2 million Malaysian Ringgit. From pre-production to shooting and post-production, it took two years to complete. The goal was to perfect every detail and inject fresh, visually dynamic, and plot-driven energy into the Malaysian Chinese market for the audience.