Cinematic Realism and Cultural Education: Malaysian Studio Era Films through a Lukacsian Lens (1950s–1965)

While global cinema has been extensively analysed for reflecting and critiquing social realities through the film realist perspective, insufficient attention has been given to how Malaysian studio-era films (1950–1965) of this era navigated ethical dilemmas, preserved cultural heritage and critiqued societal norms through the lens of cinematic realism framework such as Georg Lukacs’ and educational philosophical principles. Although these films addressed themes of cultural identity and societal challenges during a time of cultural and political transition, existing studies often lack the theoretical grounding to connect their narrative strategies with cinematic realism within educational and cultural impacts. This research employs a qualitative exploratory approach to examine the intersection of cinematic realism, culture and education in iconic Malaysian films such as Pendekar Bujang Lapok (1959), Madu Tiga (1964), Chuchu Datok Merah (1963) and Sri Mersing (1961). Findings reveal that these films reflects the socio-political realities of mid-20th century Malaysia while embedding cultural values. The study concludes that these films not only preserved and celebrated cultural heritage but also served as tools for fostering cultural awareness. By blending storytelling with deeper educational philosophical engagement, Malaysian studio-era cinema demonstrated its transformative potential as a medium for cultural education, offering valuable insights into cultural identity and societal structures while inspiring collective reflection and cultural consciousness.