The Singapore International Film Festival is almost upon us again, and we’re waxing nostalgic about all the wonderful movies that give us hope for the local industry.
1. They Call Her… Cleopatra Wong (dir. Bobby A. Suarez, 1978)
Singapore’s top policewoman was Singapore’s answer to James Bond, and supposedly one of the films that inspired Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.
2. Mee Pok Man (dir. Eric Khoo, 1995)
When a prostitute suffers a car accident, the eponymous mee pok man cares for her in this tragic and bizarre debut film by Eric Khoo.
3. Bugis Street Redux (dir. Yonfan, 1995)
Young Lian takes up work as a maid in the Sin-Sin Hotel and meets a slew of transsexuals, transvestites and sailors in this exploration of Singapore’s bygone era.
4. Army Daze (dir. Ong Keng Sen, 1996)
Ah Boys to Men before Ah Boys to Men, this coming-of-age comedy follows a band of soldiers from different classes and cultural backgrounds.
5. 12 Storeys (dir. Eric Khoo, 1997)
Everyone knows Singapore film is obsessed with HDB life. This one explores the troubled lives of the different residents living in the same block.
6. The Teenage Textbook Movie (dir. Philip Lim, 1998)
Classic teen angst and romance, done Singapore style.
7. Money No Enough (dir. Tay Teck Lock, 1998)
With its crude humor and piercing satire, this film about financial hardship revived the Singapore film industry for a time in the 90s and inspired the likes of Talking Cock and Mr Brown.
8. Forever Fever (dir. Glen Goei, 1998)
Also known as That’s The Way I Like It, this Saturday Night Fever wannabe starred the adorable Adrian Pang as a kung fu-loving grocery store employee who must win a disco contest to get the motorbike of his dreams.
9. Eating Air (dir. Kelvin Tong & Jasmine Ng, 1999)
Debut film of the now internationally regarded Kelvin Tong, this film has been called a “motorcycle kungfu love story.”
10. I Not Stupid (dir. Jack Neo, 2002)
The sharp criticism of Singapore’s education system in this film led to discussions and reform in real life.
11. 15 (dir. Royston Tan, 2003)
Renowned local film director Royston Tan’s raw, hyper-real potrayal of the local gangster scene remains one of Singapore’s more poignant and visually exciting films.
12. Homerun (dir. Jack Neo, 2003)
An adaptation of Iranian film Children of Heaven for Singapore audiences, this is a simple tale about two siblings struggling through hard times and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes.
13. Singapore Dreaming (dir. Woo Yen Yen & Colin Goh, 2006)
When a debt-ridden man suddenly wins the lottery, troubles with his family are only just beginning. Family tragedy with a Singapore twist.
14. The Art of Flirting (dir. Kan Lume, 2006)
Made with just US$150 over two days, this film is Singapore’s answer to the Richard Linklater “Before Sunrise” trilogy, with lots of chatting and a boy-meet-girl story.
15. Invisible City (dir. Tan Pin Pin, 2007)
Most recently in the limelight for To Singapore, With Love, which was promptly banned here, Tan Pin Pin’s hour-long feature deals is a moving portrayal of memories as told through journalists, photographers and archaeologists.
16. 881 (dir. Royston Tan, 2007)
Showcasing the unique culture of getai (a boisterous live stage performance held during the seventh lunar month, also known as the Ghost Festival), this musical comedy was a departure from Royston Tan’s older, bleaker works and serves a fun romp for the mass audience.
17. My Magic (dir. Eric Khoo, 2008)
A heart-wrenching but hopeful film that tells the story of an alcoholic who yearns to reconnect with his son and does so by finding meaningful work as a magician.
18. The Blue Mansion (dir. Glen Goei, 2009)
A character study with a quirky murder mystery in the middle and lots of comedic relief.
19. Sandcastle (dir. Boo Junfeng, 2010)
In Boo Junfeng’s feature debut, a young NS man discovers many family secrets while spending time with his grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
20. Before We Forget (dir. Jeremy Boo & Lee Xian Jie, 2011)
This documentary offers a melancholy look at dementia through an interwoven story of two Singaporean women and their families.
21. Menstrual Man (dir. Amit Virmani, 2013)
A compelling documentary about how an Indian social entrepreneur and inventor enabled rural women in India to manufacture low-cost sanitary pads for their communities.
22. That Girl in Pinafore (dir. Chai Yee Wei, 2013)
A teenage coming-of-age romance with touching musical numbers, wistful dialogue and lots of local flavor.
23. Sayang Disayang (dir. Sanif Olek, 2013)
One of Singapore’s first local-made Malay-language films tells the story of a domestic helper to her demanding windowed employer. Sayang Disayang features enduring Nusantara songs sung live by its cast.
24. Ilo Ilo (dir. Anthony Chen, 2013)
The first Singaporean feature film to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival (the Caméra d’Or award). Nuff said.
25. Unlucky Plaza (dir. Ken Kwek, 2014)
The opening film at the Singapore International Film Festival 2014 is a stylish black comedy about a restaurateur on the brink of bankruptcy, who ends up taking hostages.
26. Banting (dir. M Raihan Halim, 2014)
One of the few Malay-language feature films inecent years, Banting tells the story of a Muslim girl trying to uphold traditional values while coming to terms with her deep-seeded passion for wrestling.
27. 7 Letters (dir. Boo Junfeng, Eric Khoo, K Rajagopal, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Royston Tan, and Kelvin Tong, 2015)
The so-called SG50 ombinus is a collection of shorts by some of Singapore’s most prolific directors.
