Made In Singapore
There are many things about this little island of ours that Singaporeans are proud of, home-grown production is one of them.
We round up 5 absolute must-watch Singapore films that have gone down in history as some of the greatest films this country has produced.
Some set you thinking, while others entertain. Some you’d have heard of, while others, 20 years on, still stand as the most memorable films all Singaporeans should be proud of.
Check them out, you’ll be surprised.
Mee Pok Man (1995)
The debut film of Singapore art-house filmmaker Eric Khoo, and the film that launched lead actress Michelle Goh’s acting career, Mee Pok Man is about a painfully shy and intellectually disabled ‘mee pok’ seller’s infatuation and encounter with a prostitute who frequents his stall.
Shot in just sixteen days, with a budget of $100,000, this film has definitely pushed boundaries and broke new grounds.
Army Daze (1996)
You’re in for a good laugh. Long before Ah Boys To Men, there was Army Daze, the first local film that grossed more than 1 million (1.6 million to be exact) in the box office.
With a tagline “From Real Blur to Real Men”, this movie pokes fun at Singaporean stereotypes, goofy 18 year old Singaporeans from different classes and cultural backgrounds as they go through National Service.
12 Storeys (1997)
And he did it again! An Eric Khoo classic in chronicling the trials and tribulations of average heartlanders.
12 Storeys beautifully captures the suppression of individuals as it follows the troubled lives of a group of inhabitants of a HDB block, including a soup vendor struggling to meet his money-hungry wife’s demands, a middle aged woman who continues to suffer from the berating of her verbally abusive late mother and the spirit of a teen who recently killed himself.
Script written in nine months and shot in two weeks, 12 Storeys was screened at Cannes in 1997, the first Singapore film invited into the official selection.
Ilo Ilo (2013)
A box office success, and bagging numerous awards on the world stage, Ilo Ilo is Singapore Film Director and Producer Anthony Chen’s debut feature film, based on none other than his own childhood, being cared for by a domestic helper. A strong portrayal of ordinary Singapore families in times of adversity, Ilo Ilo tells the story about the fall of his working parents during the financial crisis and the strain on the family’s relationship.
A film this high profile, Ilo Ilo is a must-watch.
Unlucky Plaza (2014)
A film that packs a punch both in offering some food for thought as well as great entertainment. Unlucky Plaza is a tale about a struggling Filipino restaurateur whose financial woes spirals into a case of kidnap. Lead character Onassis Hernandez held a group of people hostage, captured it on video, and broadcast it to the world on the internet.
Premiered in Toronto before a sold-out audience, Unlucky Plaza was also shown in New York and Los Angeles after its release in Singapore.
With such strong productions in our report card, we can only look forward to updating this list with more local award winners and box office hits.
Did you know? Also found on ITunes Movies, Our Sister Mambo is Cathay’s first big-screen production in 15 years and its 80th commemorative movie! #justsaying
