Before there was A Land Imagined, there were landmark Singaporean films like A Yellow Bird (2016). The social drama by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker K. Rajagopal should need no introduction by now; it premiered in competition at Cannes Film Festival in 2016, Rajagopal’s debut feature film after a string of awards and successes with short films.
The film follows the gritty path of 38-year-old Siva Sudhakar, a freshly released ex-convict now shunned by his family. He embarks, an urban vagabond, on a quest to track down his ex-wife and daughter, and in doing so crosses paths with an illegal but kind Chinese sex worker. Just as he starts to find solace in his new friend, Siva comes face to face with unsavoury new truths about his family.
Sivakumar Palakrishnan as Siva. Photo credit: Joseph Nair
It’s gloomy, it’s abrasive; it’s the kind of raw local cinema film buffs today salivate over. And luckily for them (and you?), it’s about to be immortalised on DVD forever. Launching Apr 18 at Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, A Yellow Bird on DVD will be Rajagopal’s first film on DVD. The DVD will retail at $23, and also contain the filmmaker’s short film The Flame that was part of the SG50 anthology 7 Letters. Inside, you’ll also get a booklet with a Director’s Interview on his inspiration and themes for A Yellow Bird.
The coveted DVD will be available online and in-store from Apr 18—but pop by on the day itself for a special meet-and-greet with the director, cast and crew members. You’ll also get to watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and hear from the team themselves about the making of the film. Time to dust off the ol’ DVD player at home.
A Yellow Bird DVD Launch is happening Apr 18, 7:30pm at Objectifs Chapel Gallery. Admission is free
