Why It’s Time For Us To Support Singapore Films
In a recent gathering with two friends, one in education, the other in public transport, I felt a new-found sense of validation as a Singaporean film-maker. One of them said: “You should be proud of me. This year, I watched two local films: Long Long …
Apprentice
This week, a new Singapore film, ‘Apprentice’, opens in our cinemas. It deals with the death penalty. In this sophomore feature, following his well-received debut ’Sandcastle’, Boo Junfeng tackles the subject of capital punishment. It has garnered positive to glowing notices around the world, with …
Daniel Yun: Journey Of A Singaporean Filmmaker
A single-minded focus of being the best drove and defined the former boss of MediaCorp Raintree Pictures During last year’s mid-autumn festival (中秋节), a day when ethnic Chinese worldwide celebrate what is also called Mooncake festival by gathering with family and eating sweet moon-shaped pastry, …
Spotlight
We can all remember a time when something happened, and we had expected some friends to call, to ask, to speak up, or just say something. After a while, when they didn’t, we were perplexed, confused. Then it dawned on us. We were on our …
Soya Bean Drink
I messaged a friend recently, after meeting a young man still in school but intent on getting work experience and exposure. I have been impressed with the young people I am interviewing for internship. They are not only hardworking, often juggling a few part-time jobs …
Eye In The Sky
An Anglo-American operation pins down a group of Somali terrorists in a small house in Kenya where they are about to embark on a suicide bombing. A missile strike is ordered on this house. Suddenly, a little girl wanders into the kill zone. Unfolding almost …
An ‘Interstellar’ Moment For Singapore Films
Last week, I left an Imax cinema not fully understanding a movie yet feeling inspired. It was the science fiction movie, ‘Interstellar’. I knew, hearing the excited chatter among the friends I saw the film with, that like ‘Inception’, this movie would generate a lot …
I Not Stupid
Recently, I was asked which Singapore film would I rank as the most significant, the kind of landmark movie that paved the way for change and helped create the semblance of an industry we have today. I did not hesitate in giving an answer. ‘I …
Can You Recognise Me?
This was a movie I wanted to watch. A return to the Zhang Yimou movies with Gong Li that captivated and moved audiences around the world. I could see the mood feel, the colour palette, the fine acting, the 1970s China, all coming together to …