Caught the series of Singapore Films on Arts Central just now. Every Sunday in the month of Aug, from 9pm to 11pm. Filmed by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans. All supremely, poignantly executed.
Tan Pin Pin's Singapore Gaga is perhaps the most famed amongst the 3 screened tonight. Her ability to juxtapose and present ironically differing perspectives on the same established facts is admirable. She does not reveal personal judgements explicitly. Instead, she leads you to form your judgement. Powerful.
KC Teo's The Bus is very heartland-ish. One can instantly connect and feel for the various characters packed in that overcrowed, locked double-decker. One man doing his job, in the only way that he knows. Intention versus execution.
Anthony Chen's Ah Ma is the most difficult for me to swallow. Excruciating to watch scenes of death claiming one's loved one. That hooked-up respirator.. the beeping and finally silent monitor.. those bare seats. Even the female Ah Ma lead looked, at some angles, like my own grandma, I thought. The pain was searingly raw. A testament, perhaps, to the film's success.
People are our only resource.
The usual trumpeted triumphs aside, these film-makers who worked to produce such poignant, reflective pieces that tugged at locals' heartstrings, at the same time, thrusting our Little Red Dot into international film limelight, deserve more than just a standing ovation. Perhaps a National Day commendation medal of sorts, wouldn't you say?
Singapore, a city of Possibilities.
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