#SHOWBIZ: 'Miselia': Director Ekien Zainal's eerie Covid isolation telefilm premieres Oct 10 on TV1

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as global attention focused heavily on the economic fallout and job losses, director Ekien Zainal found herself drawn to a quieter, darker tragedy unfolding behind closed doors: the intense psychological strain on locked-down families.

That unsettling reality inspired 'Miselia', a telefilm exploring trauma, identity disorders and the fragile state of human nature under extreme isolation.

"I didn't just think about the people who lost their jobs," Ekien says following a recent preview of the movie at RTM Angkasapuri.

"I wondered about families — wives and children overwhelmed by constant problems. The pressure back then was intense. That idea grew into a full script."

The project underwent several title shifts, originally named 'Logamaya' and 'Fatamorgana'.

"'Miselia' is a fictional word I made up, inspired by the scientific term mycelium, referring to the fine network of threads that forms a fungus."

The main character attempts to support her household by cultivating small mushroom beds.

Mushrooms serve as a central symbol in the drama of the blurring of reality and illusion.

"If you look closely, you see mushrooms releasing spores," Ekien says.

"In real life, spores are active in the morning, but in the film, it happens at noon.

"That is part of the character's hallucinations. It is a way for the audience to understand the different personalities inside the house."

To heighten the eerie atmosphere, Ekien filmed at Fraser's Hill and created a fictional setting called Valmont Hill, complete with custom street signs, to keep the dark narrative distinct from real locations.

The director had high praise for the ensemble cast, which includes Ellie Suriaty, Azhar Sulaiman, Niezam Zaidi, Adam Shahz and Shiqin Kamal.

"I give them six out of five stars. Every actor gave a dedicated performance that gave me goosebumps.

"The production crew also poured their hearts into the project to ensure top quality."

'Miselia' premieres on Oct 10 on TV1 and will be available for streaming on RTMKlik.