Tilam 2025

Directed by Taylor Ong Yin Meng

Siti has devoted herself towards preparing her 7-year-old son Aqil - who has autism - for an upcoming psychology assessment; this assessment will dictate if Aqil will qualify for a mainstream primary school. Her family has also been dealing with a bedbug infestation. Despite her husband’s financial worries and her mother-in-law’s frustration at Aqil’s inability to speak Malay, Siti is bent on sending Aqil to a mainstream primary school. However, Aqil fails the assessment despite his savant-like memory. Compounded with the recurrent bedbug infestation, Siti loses her temper at a distressed Aqil. It is only when Aqil makes a small act of kindness towards her and the bed bugs that Siti is touched by his empathy, finally putting down her pride as a mother and deciding to send Aqil to a special education school.