LONDON: United Kingdom-based Malaysian cinematographer Darius Shu's short film, Mical, premiered to rave reviews after it was released online on Tuesday.
Mical, which chronicles the true story of a 7-year-old boy's struggle with dyslexia, was released on Silverprince Pictures' YouTube channel.
The film became available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada on Sept 15.
On YouTube, it has garnered more than 13,000 views in under 24 hours.
Its screenplay, written by Malcolm Duffy is based on the true story of Pat and Mike Jones. The film stars Jayne Lunn, William Biletsky and Dale Grant,
The story, set in 1977 in Bristol, is about the boy, Mike, and how he copes after being diagnosed with dyslexia. After his teachers continue to fail him, his mother takes matters into her own hands to help her son fulfil his true potential.
The film has been officially selected for the Oscar/ BAFTA qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival 2020 and is also an official selection at the Manhattan Film Festival and Miami Short Film Festival.
Shu, 26, who is also the film's associate producer, said he was delighted with the reviews so far.
"We've had very good response. We've had great comments from the public and many felt emotional after watching the film," Shu told the New Straits Times.
Shu, who was born in Petaling Jaya, Selangor but is now based in the UK, said Mical is a project close to his heart.
"I relate to the story. I felt the struggles the protagonist, Mike, went through in school as I went through something similar, especially in Mathematics.
"It was incredible to capture the emotional parts of the film and visually telling the story in cinematography, as well as having the audience feel what Pat (the mother) and Mike are going through."
Shu admits that he has a passion for stories about "people who overcome the odds" and hopes the film will raise awareness on dyslexia in Malaysia as well.
Shu, who has a Master's in Film Production of the Arts from Bournemouth University, had his work nominated for Best Cinematography at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards 2018, London Gold Movie Awards 2018 and Oniros Film Awards 2018 in Italy.
His film, His Hands, was nominated for Best Narrative Short at the Tribeca Film Festival 2019.
It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.