Quiet is the New Loud
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Toronto Singapore Film Festival '08, lah
I met more Singaporeans over this past weekend than I ever had over the past three years in Canada, all congregated in one venue. From April 4th-6th 2008, the Toronto Singapore Film Festival (TSFF) returned for its third year and brought out the overseas Lion City denizens in support for the island state's film industry.
This year showcased a selection of 23 films of shorts and features. We managed to watch a substantial proportion of it: 18 Grams of Love and 4:30 while volunteering, Just Follow Law with the complimentary ticket, and we also paid to catch the Short Films Presentation and Singapore Dreaming. The festival made the right choice to open with the romantic-comedy 18 Grams that had an interesting plot quite unlike others. Even though 4:30 dragged on depressively, I enjoyed it as it is so powerfully thought-provoking with its underlying theme and the inconclusive ending up for self-interpretation. It also had this sad Chinese oldie song that I cannot get out of my head. Dreaming had such a big hype at the festival, rightfully so for realistically depicting the contemporary Singaporean way of life. We watched it before but seeing how it was the closing film, we had to join in. The Short Films Presentation was quite a letdown and a bore, although there were a few brilliant standouts.
I felt right back at home with the identifiable lahs-lohs-lehs, the local food being sold by a home caterer (mee siam, satay, currypuff, kuehs!), and the films that were uniquely Singapore with Singlish, ah bengs, markets and hawker centres, 4D lottery queues, and more, while including the prerequisites of every true red-and-white Singaporean movie: the shots of people, walking in Raffles Place and/or chatting or texting away on their handphones, the scenic locations of the Merlion, the Singapore River panning up to the CBD skyline, and HDB neighbourhoods. It was almost too detrimental to our pockets being there with all the money spent. At least all goes in support of the Singaporean culture, which is greatly appreciated since it is so rarely exhibited here.
DAY 1
Opening Party @ Revival Bar after the 18 Grams screening. (Credit)
The Hos vs a Foo, whose two brother backups will soon be on their way from S'pore.
DAY 2
Mee siam, yam cake and satay.
Kuehs and currypuff.
Q&A for short film Zogang. (Credit)
Zobou while we wait for our evening volunteer shift. Well, I was actually working on my assignment, but the yellow walls of the Innis Cafe were too irresistible!
DAY 3
Entrance to the theatre @ Innis Town Hall.
Checking out the synopses for the Short Films Presentation as we wait.
Our coloured glasses, featured as a prop in the short film Colours.
Closing Party @ Innis Cafe with fellow volunteers.
Six of the 7 are Singaporeans loh..
The committee and volunteers cheer to the successful end of TSFF'08. (Credit)
This year showcased a selection of 23 films of shorts and features. We managed to watch a substantial proportion of it: 18 Grams of Love and 4:30 while volunteering, Just Follow Law with the complimentary ticket, and we also paid to catch the Short Films Presentation and Singapore Dreaming. The festival made the right choice to open with the romantic-comedy 18 Grams that had an interesting plot quite unlike others. Even though 4:30 dragged on depressively, I enjoyed it as it is so powerfully thought-provoking with its underlying theme and the inconclusive ending up for self-interpretation. It also had this sad Chinese oldie song that I cannot get out of my head. Dreaming had such a big hype at the festival, rightfully so for realistically depicting the contemporary Singaporean way of life. We watched it before but seeing how it was the closing film, we had to join in. The Short Films Presentation was quite a letdown and a bore, although there were a few brilliant standouts.
I felt right back at home with the identifiable lahs-lohs-lehs, the local food being sold by a home caterer (mee siam, satay, currypuff, kuehs!), and the films that were uniquely Singapore with Singlish, ah bengs, markets and hawker centres, 4D lottery queues, and more, while including the prerequisites of every true red-and-white Singaporean movie: the shots of people, walking in Raffles Place and/or chatting or texting away on their handphones, the scenic locations of the Merlion, the Singapore River panning up to the CBD skyline, and HDB neighbourhoods. It was almost too detrimental to our pockets being there with all the money spent. At least all goes in support of the Singaporean culture, which is greatly appreciated since it is so rarely exhibited here.
DAY 1
Opening Party @ Revival Bar after the 18 Grams screening. (Credit)
The Hos vs a Foo, whose two brother backups will soon be on their way from S'pore.
DAY 2
Mee siam, yam cake and satay.
Kuehs and currypuff.
Q&A for short film Zogang. (Credit)
Zobou while we wait for our evening volunteer shift. Well, I was actually working on my assignment, but the yellow walls of the Innis Cafe were too irresistible!
DAY 3
Entrance to the theatre @ Innis Town Hall.
Checking out the synopses for the Short Films Presentation as we wait.
Our coloured glasses, featured as a prop in the short film Colours.
Closing Party @ Innis Cafe with fellow volunteers.
Six of the 7 are Singaporeans loh..
The committee and volunteers cheer to the successful end of TSFF'08. (Credit)