Discoveries from Singapore World Cinema

Longing for human contact Xiao Wu tries all he can to make a connection through physical and metaphorical walls in that hour between night and day.

Singapore movie

He Jianhao is released from the Boys' Home and his mother Huifang, is worried that he would be led astray again. Thus, she wants him to look after her stall in Bugis under her stepsister's supervision. Jian Hao's girlfriend Shanshan also manages to convince him to retake his O-levels. Jian Hao is getting back on the right path and his future seems promising. Jianhao's friend, Zach, joined a gang Yi Ren Tang to get protection as he is always bullied by Alex. Wang Guodong is a gang leader of 660 and also the father of Alex. Jianhao joined the Yi Ren Tang after much persuasion from Zach...

Lion Men 2 picks up after Mikey’s superb performance. Shi Shen becomes jealous of Mikey, especially after he discovers Mikey’s feelings for Xiao Yu. Determined to succeed, Shi Shen spends more time training, neglecting Xiao Yu. Situation worsens when Xiao Yu is kidnapped, forcing Shi Shen and Mikey to choose between the competition and their love for Xiao Yu. Who will step up to save her?

Set in the near future, this is a tale about Han, a boy born with a handphone inside his head. Han is now eighteen years old and he is in love with Mei, a girl born with two small speakers inside her head and a small TV inside her right palm. Han and Mei must struggle with the fact that they will always be three feet apart.

When Nina wins free airline tickets, she leaves her dingy apartment and part-time factory job in Yamato City, Japan for Singapore with her friend Su.

In Singapore, where even vapes are illegal, three rebellious schoolgirls are caught smoking by the principal. Their revenge prank takes a sinister turn.

Returning to sell her old family home, a Korean Guatemalan immigrant confronts buried memories and lingering emotions, ultimately finding closure within its familiar walls

A middle-aged woman, her son and mother reside in a flat near a quarry bearing the name of Little Guilin, modelled after a famous landmark in China. She pretends that she is a prospective buyer who arranges to view several condominiums, claiming a token or borrowing a moment from each family that resides in them. Glimpsing the man-made quarry through different windows, her obsession culminates when she finally decides to take an excursion of sorts to visit it.

A young man reunites with his long-lost mother during a high-stakes Asian game show, only to discover a terrifying secret: at night, his mother transforms into something monstrous.

In a dingy motel room that is as hot and clammy as the jungle painted on its walls, a sexual threesome has been arranged to take place. Except that the two men lying in wait are officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau, ready to apprehend their suspect, who is going to show up with crystal meth at any moment. Staff Sergeant Boon is garrulous and relaxed; for him, this is a job just like any other. Inspector Anton, on the other hand, is preoccupied and tense, and is increasingly restless. As the wait for the suspect lengthens, it is apparent Anton has something infinitely more personal at stake. In what appears to be a routine crackdown operation, which walls will come tumbling down, and what thresholds will be crossed? In the film’s tropical swelter, how does one ascertain that everything one sees is not a mirage from a fragmenting mind?

In 1948 Malaya, WWII vets Iz and Abe face vengeful ex-ally Chin Liu, who betrayed them during the war and now leads terrorists to their village. Haunted by past trauma, Iz must confront both his demons and Chin Liu's deadly advance.

A young lawyer, Jane Liu, is assigned by her mentor to help Madam Wong, a 75 years old repeated shoplifter, as a pro bono defense counsel. What seems to be an easy open and shut case suddenly takes a weird turn when Jane discovers that Madam Wong's repeated petty crimes are intentional and deliberate.

Ringo the Rat (voice of Tom Arnold) and his pal Oriole the Ox compete in a big race, and discover that persistence and teamwork are just as important as speed when it comes to crossing the finish line first. Determined to thwart the plans of her long time enemy, the Jade Emperor, she sets forth to prevent the success of the Race be impeding the 12 chosen ones.

Three teen students growing and maturing together in Bangkok, Thailand as they deal with family, peer pressure, and coming to terms with their own sexuality.

Ah Bee goes on a comedic odyssey through Tiong Bahru Social Club, a data-driven project to create the happiest neighborhood in the world. Little by little, his encounters with the neighborhood's residents reveal the absurdity of life.

Puteri Gunong Ledang (or The Princess of Mount Ledang) is a 1961 Malay period film directed by S. Roomai Noor and based on the Legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang. The film introduces actress Elaine Edley in her first film role.

The film's story revolves around the tragic love affair between Kassim Selamat, a poor musician, and Sabariah, the only daughter of a wealthy woman. The movie is notable in that the opening act starts out as a light-hearted romantic comedy, but at the 30 minute mark turns into a dramatic tragedy. Like a number of P. Ramlee's works, the film criticizes the unofficial caste system that separates the wealthy from the poor.

Rohaya (Roekiah) must separate from her lover, Kasim (Rd Mochtar), so that she can marry her father's choice, the disreputable but rich Musa (Eddie T. Effendi). The night before the wedding, Kasim plays the song "Terang Boelan" for Rohaya, and they agree to elope. The following day, Rohaya and Kasim escape from Sawoba Island to Malacca, where Kasim begins work at a drydock and Rohaya keeps busy as a housewife. They discover that Kasim's old friend, Dullah (Kartolo), has lived in Malacca for some time.

After much effort, Wei Xiong becomes a well-known teppanyaki chef. A young girl, Luo Ling, idolizes him and decides to go after him; she even resorts to trickery to move into his house. Yu Qing is not pleased that Luo Ling has developed a cordial relationship with Wei Xiong’s father. Moreover, Wei Xiong remains aloof towards her due to his promise to compete fairly for her affections only after Guo Tian is released from prison. On the other hand, Yu Qing is also hesitant to take her relationship with Wei Xiong to the next level as she feels responsible for Guo Tian’s voluntary surrender to the authorities. The three friends are finally reunited upon Guo Tian’s release from prison. Wei Xiong, Guo Tian and Yu Qing are hunted by a mysterious person, and Yu Qing ends up getting captured. Wei Xiong and Guo Tian are forced to hurt each other in order to save her. The mysterious person eventually gives Yu Qing an ultimatum – to choose between the death of Wei Xiong or Guo Tian.

Tomas, the old venerable mayor of the remote town of Kawalan, learns that the invading Japanese will set up a garrison there. He organizes willing members in his community to set up a hidden settlement in the middle of the forest, where they can live unaffected by the horrors of war. As a young revolutionary during the 1896 fight against Spain and then as a soldier fighting against the Americans, Tomas had witnessed the effects of violence on people and become a pacifist. Now, he must see if inhabitants of the hidden settlement can escape the sufferings wrought by the war.

A new wave of Asian horror movie filmmakers is capturing the attention of film studios desperate for box office success. From Tokyo to Hong Kong and Bangkok to Seoul, this two-part documentary describes how Asian directors have successfully married the power of local myths and superstitions with cutting-edge filming techniques and innovative storytelling, producing some of the scariest moments in the history of cinema. True Asian Horror includes scenes from The Ring - the movie voted by cinemagoers around the world as the scariest movie ever - and modern horror classics such as The Eye and Phone. Sit back as the directors of these classic films reveal how they manage to frighten the life out of their audiences and hear film critics explain why Hollywood is terrified to turn its back on Asian moviemakers whose meteoric rise to the top has been just plain scary.

Film Kaseh Sayang is a a Malay film which was published in Malaysia in 1957. The film issued in the form of black and white film without color. After entrusting her baby girl Sukartini to the servant, Kartini leaves Singapore with her husband, Sudanto, to avoid the war. Halimah, the servant takes great care of the child despite her hardship and poverty. After the liberation of Singapore, Kartini returns to take her child back. Halimah is not willing to let go of Sukartini and runs away with her. She is caught eventually and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment. Though Sudanto and his wife win the child over, their hopes are shattered, as the child does not regard them as her parents.

My Love Sinema is a touching, nostalgic love story filled with inspiration, courage, passion, resilience and heart. Set in 1950s Singapore, we relive the charming lifestyle of that era, and follow one man's never-ending pursuit of his passion in both cinema and love, sharing a fate that crosses generations.

Singapore, the present day. Mai Wei (Mark Lee), a successful branch manager for slimming company Natural Beauty, is sacked for cutting corners in the name of profit and attracting the ire of customers. Enraged, he sets up a rival company, My Way Slimming Centre, with several Natural Beauty employees, including Jie (Jeremy Chan), younger brother of his wife Zu Er (Yeo Yann Yann). As Natural Beauty continues to expand, Mai Wei goes on the offensive, licensing a herbal slimming pill, Dadavianxiaovoo, that contains a banned substance. As his company's image representative he chooses the massively overweight Wang Yao Yao (Tay Yin Yin), daughter of his favourite wonton noodle stall owner (Wang Lei), and feeds her the pills in large doses. Meanwhile, Zu Er, who's desperate to have a child after eight years of marriage, starts believing the gods have cursed them because of her husband's unscrupulous business practices.

AI Pin Cai Hui Yin (translated as AI: A Pin’s Tragic Destiny) is a Singaporean film that explores the intersection of technology and human emotions. The movie is set in a near-future world where artificial intelligence has become deeply integrated into daily life. It follows the journey of Pin, a woman who becomes emotionally entangled with an AI program. As she grows more dependent on the AI for companionship and support, her relationship with the virtual entity intensifies, blurring the lines between reality and artificiality. The film delves into themes of loneliness, identity, and the ethical challenges surrounding AI, exploring how technology can shape human experiences and connections.

The story tells us about a young prince called Suria Kencana who was cursed and turned into a cobra by his step mother. As a result, he became snake by day and human by night. The magic spell can only be broken by a necklace, Panca Delima, that is worn by a kind hearted girl called Teratai. Teratai has two other evil and greedy sisters. One of them got herself killed when she was too greedy in plucking the gold leaf from the magic tree. The other was envious when Suria Kencana fell for Teratai. She stole the magic necklace and allied herself with Suria's step mother, hoping to get a big reward from her. Did Teratai and Suria managed to break the curse?

An award-winning interior designer returns to Singapore to visit her mother and reminisces about how much she and her city have changed.

A twisted south east Asian tale of 3 groups of individuals - a drug dealer who banged up a young girl, a pair of con men who wants to turn over a new leaf, and 4 cabin crews whose lives were turned upside down over a fateful night of drugs and booze. A series of twisted events that is both a study on cause and effect, and how our actions affect the people around us.

The poor trio of best friends Do, Re and Mi live in a simple treehouse in the forest, where they work together collecting, cutting and selling firewood at the local marketplace. One night they hear a voice calling for help in the forest. Although they are scared that it is a spirit trying to trick them, they follow the voice and discover that it is coming from a bamboo tree. The bamboo tree is wounded, and asks them to pull out the arrow that is stuck in it. They comply, and the bamboo transforms into a young woman, who explains that she is a supernatural spirit. She thanks them and gives them each a magical item. Do receives a magic carpet that can fly, Re receives a telescope that can see anything the viewer asks of it, and Mi receives a harmonica that can give them any wishes they want.

A 2006 Singaporean film and the sequel to the 2002 film, I Not Stupid. A satirical comedy, I Not Stupid Too portrays the lives, struggles and adventures of three Singaporean youths - 15-year-old Tom, his 8-year-old brother Jerry and their 15-year-old friend Chengcai - who have a strained relationship with their parents. The film explores the issue of poor parent-child communication.

Manis and her fisherman father receive a guest named Suleiman at their humble kampung house. He is well-liked by them both and becomes a frequent visitor who helps out with the daily chores. Unbeknownst to Manis, the young man is in fact a prince-in-disguise. So a romance between a royal and a commoner blossoms, as the couple exchange teasing pantuns at the next opportunity - while gathering wood, or while tidying up the rumah ibu. All is bliss when Manis agrees to marry Suleiman in secret even after finding out his true identity. Separation of the loving pair beckons when the prince receives news from the palace and returns to his ailing father, who at his death bed agrees to a royal intermarriage between his son and a princess from a neighbouring monarchy. A family reconciliation and cursed tragedy ensue.

Based upon an urban legend of 2 rivalling bak kwa shops, "Hao Han Bak Kwa" and "Mei Mei Bak Kwa". The founders of these two stores however, Zeng Mei Mei (Irene Ang) and Chen Hao (Ha Yu), used to be lovers, yet, turned against each other for their own personal, selfish reasons. While the two engage in a battle to win a bak kwa competition, their children get engulfed in a complex relationship with one another... And there begins the story of the bak kwa war!

Yang is a widower who is used to living a solitary life. He lives a simple and poor life. His eldest daughter is married and resides in Kuala Lumpur, his second daughter is still studying in Singapore and his youngest son works as a small-time salesman. Yang`s real troubles begin when he realises that he cannot afford to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year. However, a chance encounter with his long-time friend, Lin, who has become a millionaire, changes Yang`s life as Lin offers Yang a once in a lifetime chance of becoming a millionaire for a month.

A light hearted comedy about a girl from a small town in Malaysia who dreams of becoming a star in neighboring Singapore. Along the way, she meets a shy coffee shop assistant who Ah Seng who befriends her and encourages her to achieve her dreams. This light hearted comedy with moments of vulnerability and emotion brings forth a message of truth and heart to anyone who's ever wished upon a 'star'.

An assistant professor at a medical college balances her roles as a professional, a mother and a teacher. Her life changes once she witnesses an unexpected incident involving a female student.

What do you get when you cross a retired dragon deity and a sailor? A disaster, a wrecked ship, and a hungry crew stranded on the shores of Singapura.

Lion City (狮子城 in Chinese and “Bandar Raya Singapura” in Malay) tells the love story of Feng Ling, a rubber packer at a factory, and Shao Ming, who is the manager of the rubber factory. When Shao Ming learns that Feng Ling is the daughter of Cheong Ah Choy, he approaches Feng Ling and the two become friends and fall in love with each other. Their relationship goes through many challenges bringing them apart for some time but alas, fate brings them back together in the beautiful Lion City, with consent from their parents to get married. Lion City is the first Chinese film produced by Cathay-Keris in post-war Singapore. The film is highly valued today for its scenic panoramic shots of Singapore in the 1960s as well as references to the political conditions of the time. It is one of the few Chinese films shot from a Chinese perspective during a time when Malay films dominated the industry.

A celebratory road trip for three young couples takes a macabre, twisted and terrorizing detour to an abandoned town haunted by deadly childlike creatures and nothing is what it seems.

This autobiographical film documents an attempt at healing the trauma of touch between mother and child, as the filmmaker and their mother talk openly for the first time about the intergenerational trauma and abuse within their lives. Present day phone conversations are juxtaposed with archival VHS footage, creating a connection between the past and a re-write for the future.

Six filmmakers present six short films about the experiences of Chinese immigrants. Shot across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar, the anthology depicts the crisis of identity that accompanies international migration.

Raja Bersiong, the Fanged King, is a cannibal monarch in the Kedah epic literature Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (HMM). A king with an intense appetite for human blood that over time he grew fangs and began attacking his own people to feast on them.

This short documentary features poet N Rengarajan, a migrant worker from Pudukkottai, India who sustains a practice of poetry as a way of life while working in the construction sector in Singapore. The film, structured around three of his poems, seeks to visually mirror the rhythm and tone of his writing. Together, verse and visuals strive to draw attention to the poet's acute illuminations of the realities of migrant life.

When her seven-year-old son dies in a tragic road accident, a grieving mother, Jia En, seeks the help of her former caregiver, Mdm Seetoh, to bring back his soul so he can be always 'by her side.' However, after several strange and deadly occurrences in the house, Jia En begins to suspect that there is something amiss with the soul she has brought back. In discovering what has really happened, she unravels the horrific truth ... a truth which may cost her her life and the lives of those around her.

A Chinese Singaporean chef, formerly working in Tokyo, finds himself in Okinawa begging a disgruntled old chef to teach him traditional Okinawan food. A top Japanese food critic finds herself in Singapore on an eye opening discovery of Southeast Asian cuisine. In reality both are looking for each other after an emotional breakup years ago. Emotionally crippled by their breakup he searches her home-town for her but discovers instead the art of traditional Okinawan food. Through it he learns the incredible balance of two cultures: Chinese and Japanese - a balance they never had in their relationship. When she suddenly appears in Okinawa looking to find closure he cooks and serves her their final meal. Through it she discovers what she had been yearning for all these years.

John despises his father for being a failure in life. When John returns home to facilitate his father's funeral, his life comes to a turning point, as he discovers the true motivation of his misjudged father.

Shi Shen is the top performer in the Tiger Crane Lion Dance Association, but feels restricted by Master He's traditional mindset. He decides to form his own lion dance troupe, which fuses hip hop and rock with lion dance movements. A major Lion Dance Competition is coming up and Mikey is groomed to be Shi Shen's successor, but he is plagued by a fear of heights. The situation worsens when both Mikey and Shi Shen fall for the Tiger Crane master's daughter, Xiaoyu.

A quiet, introspective boy who sees the world through drawings forms an unlikely bond with a fearless, outgoing girl. Together, they navigate playground mischief and family storms, finding comfort in giggles, goodbyes, and growing up.

En is an 18-year-old who has lost his father to cancer. As his family is drawn together in a sudden tragedy, he has to decide what he believes in. But in a country where ideologies are forged on constantly shifting sands, he struggles to stay true to what he knows to be right. And in a family that prefers to forget, the sandcastles of all he holds dear seem doomed to be washed away by the tides of time.

From Crazy Rich Asians (2018) to 12 Storeys (1997) to Sumpah Pontianak (The Curse of Pontianak) (1957), Singapore’s film industry is a diverse one and its evolution is nothing short of colourful. Recollecting Singapore’s famed studios in the 1950s to uncovering new waves of filmmakers in 90s and into today’s digital revolution, Singapore Cinema: Between Takes provides an insight into the rich history, and culture of Singapore films and its industry through candid reflections of filmmakers and content creators.

During the global recession, Dale, an American sales coach comes to Manila to teach the staff at a call center how to sell up. He mentions that he's learned these survival techniques from his career in sales and from acting in Hollywood. Rosa, a star-struck employee, goes on line, looks Paul up, and finds that he was in a movie with Brendan Fraser. She volunteers to show him around and texts a couple of girlfriends to join them for the afternoon and maybe the night. By accident or on purpose, messages are garbled and some people may think he's Brendan Fraser. What's next?

"The Ghosts Must Be Crazy" has two different stories entitled "The Day Off" and "The Ghost Bride". In "The Day Off", Ah Nan (John Cheng) and Ah Lei (Wang Lei) goes for their annual in-camp training and they meet a very "on" Platoon Commander. As they're about to play a prank on the Commander as a form of revenge for all the rigorous training they had to put up with, a series of strange things happen. In "Ghost Bride", Ah Hui (Henry Thia) who is unlucky in love meets a stranger, Ah Hai (Mark Lee), who promises him fortune and blessings if he seeks help from 'brothers and sisters' in the netherworld. Ah Hui does so and ends up finding a beautiful jade bangle inside a red packet. Soon after, Ah Hui strikes the lottery, but spends it all lavishly. Just when he is down in the dumps again, Ah Hai offers him another solution and something strange happens.

Lili, a young mother, lives with her gambler husband in a remote part of Sichuan. Lonely and poor, she heads for the city in a bid to earn enough money to save her dying father.

The film depicts 24 hours in a HDB block of residential flats in Singapore. There are three main storylines. San San, fat, silent, and alone, hears the ghost of her mother constantly upbraid her. Ah Gu, a tofu soup vendor, is at odds with Lily, his materialistic immigrant wife, who longs for something he cannot provide. Meng spouts every moralistic bromide of the striving middle class, but is unhinged by his teenage sister May ("Trixie" to her boyfriend) who won't study, parties all night, and seems doomed by youth culture.

A reality comedy that delves into the secret lives of the leading four radio-presenters, detailing how these celebrities deal with living in the public eye, meeting the daily expectations of their fans and their personal issues.

A criminal nicknamed "Godfather" breaks out of jail to complete a mission given to him by his boss, titled "Lottery Heist". After recruiting an unsuspecting actor desperate for money to help his sick daughter, they begin to execute their grand plan. The plan involves swapping out lotto balls to win the jackpot, a prize worth $100 million. As they work through things step-by-step, it soon comes to light that Godfather`s boss plans to kill everyone involved after the mission is completed. Godfather and his new recruit now have to plot to save their lives and keep the money for themselves.

A grieving lover searches for answers beyond the beaches of New York, two betrayed strangers find comfort in their shared pain, and a teenage friendship stirs up hidden feelings, pushing the boundaries of their relationship. Discover 5 stories that question the fate of lost love and the longing for answers. When you fight to hold on to the past, is it ever truly worth it?

50-year-old Jim (Gerald Chew, "Apprentice", Cannes Film Festival 2016 Un Certain Regard) loses his high-flying job in status-conscious Singapore, but his ego and pride compel him to hide this from his wife (Amy J Cheng, "Crazy Rich Asians") and daughter. His only confidante is his best friend (Sivakumar Palakrishnan, "A Yellow Bird", Cannes Film Festival 2016 Critics' Week). Desperately clinging onto the material symbols of his past success, he unlocks a hibernating malevolent force, with sinister roots in long-buried secrets. As his dream life crumbles around him, worlds collide, the lines between then and now become increasingly blurred, and Jim descends into a waking nightmare. REPOSSESSION is a bold, genre-bending film, with an ever-evolving, haunting soundscape from Golden Horse Award-winning composer Teo Wei Yong ("A Land Imagined").