Back for its fourth run, Singapore Art Museum’s Southeast Asian Film Festival features 20 fascinating contemporary films and documentaries from the region. But if you find it hard to decide which ones to catch, we’ve done the work for you. Book these now:
Aberya (Philippines)
Bad boys and girls run amok in this debut film that follows the fates of four characters on Cebu island: nun-turned-prostitute Angel, drug dealer Mike, accidental porn star Eden and egotistic, womanizing boxer Lourd. Director Christian Linaban’s Woody Allen influences are obvious in his talky, character-driven debut film. Apr 12, 3pm
Mister John (Singapore)
Local theater veterans Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor—who were responsible for Tiong Bahru in 2010 at short film series Civic Life—tackle high drama in this story of infidelity, death, identity and obsession. We’re pretty sure the skilled team (including Zoe Tay as one of the leads) can pull off this rather difficult genre. Apr 18, 7:30pm
Pascalina (Philippines)
Shot by budding filmmaker Pam Miras on a Harinezumi toy camera, this experimental picture details the strange adventures of unlucky-in-life Pascalina, in a subtle critique of the working-class single woman in urban Filipino society. Apr 19, 3pm
Ice Poison (Myanmar)
A look at the world of agricultural poverty and drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle. Taiwan-based director Midi Z forgoes preachiness and examines with frankness and humor the circumstances that drive young Burmese people to the drug trade and the complications that arise therein. Apr 19, 5:30pm
Shakespeare Must Die (Thailand)
Ing K’s film is one of the biggest highlights at SEAFF, not least because it was banned in Thailand (for the full story, catch the accompanying Censor Must Die on May 3, 5:30pm). It’s also an ambitious Thai take on Macbeth—here “Mekhdeth”—combining two pretty unlikely bedfellows: Thai horror and Shakespeare. May 2, 7:30pm
The Act of Killing (Indonesia)
UK researcher and filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer sheds light on both violent war crimes in Indonesia as well as the psychological makeup of the men behind the acts. Dark and illuminating all at once, this disturbing documentary was made with various Indonesian collaborators, who reenact some of their darkest moments. May 4, 1:30pm
Southeast Asian Film Festival is on Apr 11-May 4.
