Yeo Yann Yann Shines In Wet Season (Plus, 13 Other Must-Watch Local Films)
While we've always had a complicated history with the arts, there's no denying that Singaporean films are making their mark here and abroad.
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Singapore may be small, but we are a nation burgeoning with talent! So, what better way to celebrate our uniqueness and verve than with a film (or two!) that celebrates the best of local cinema?
While we've always had a complicated history with the arts, there's no denying that local films are making their mark here and abroad with their daring vision and alternate, experimental story lines.
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One of these films is Anthony Chen's acclaimed new release, Wet Season, which stars Yeo Yann Yan and Koh Jia Ler as a teacher and student who form an unlikely friendship.
We had a chance to speak to Yann Yann about the film and here's are some excerpts from our phone interview with the acclaimed actress:
You recently won Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards (an accolade that many liken to the Asian Oscars). How did this make you feel?
"I won Best Supporting Actress there in 2013 for Ilo Ilo and it was very dreamy the first time. I learnt a lot more from my experience this time because I'm older now and more mature so I was able to absorb more. This time there was also a round-table talk with my fellow nominees and the audience so we were able to talk about the process of learning about a character. It made me feel less lonely knowing that everyone puts their heart and soul into their work. I met women there - my co-nominees- who inspired me with their work ethic and their passion."
What did you feel when you won the award? Did you expect to win?
"Honestly, being at the Golden Horse Awards and being asked to present, I was very wary. The presenting was the most nerve-wracking part for me, not so much receiving my own award. You see, because I'm an actor, I usually stand behind the character so to stand on stage as myself was scary but I wanted to challenge myself and that's also why I agreed to give a TED Talk on performing. As for Best Actress, I didn't have time to celebrate getting this achievement much because we had so much publicity to do and travelling for press for this film. When I did think about the award I thought 'It's about the job, not about me' until a friend of mine reminded me that I should be celebrating this moment that many people wait their whole lives for."
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Why should Singaporeans watch Wet Season? What about it will resonate with the audience you think?
"The movie has already been to more than 10 film festivals around the world and even sold out in some places. We've had many foreign audiences that love the film but truly, Wet Season will have the most recognisable moments for Singaporeans so I hope that Singaporeans will watch it because the message is touching: No matter how tough the situation you find yourself in is, don't forget the sunshine in your heart. I'm so glad that the film is making people believe in the light again. Human emotions don't really differ wherever you are so this film affects everyone."
How do you feel about getting the Inspiring Woman in Film award at SGIFF this year?
"It's the first time I've gotten an award for my body of work. It was very heartfelt, and I'm very honored to receive this award. I've never expected myself to be an inspiration for anyone. I've very lucky that I get to be part of an art form that can inspire people. This award shows people the possibility of growth as an actor in Asia."
Ready to explore other films that give us a slice of Singaporean life? Here are some films that everyone on the Little Red Dot must watch to get a sense of what it means to be a true local:
Ilo Ilo
Also by filmmaker Anthony Chen, this 2013 movie addresses a topic that Singaporeans of all ages hold very close to their heart: The relationship that exists between a domestic helper and the children of the family that they look after. Ilo Ilo is about a family who is facing financial collapse in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis trying to hold on to their jobs to stay afloat, as well as deal with their misbehaving son.
Singapore Dreaming
Directed by Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, this Singaporean husband-and-wife duo was inspired to create this film based on hundreds of emails the couple received from Singaporeans about their life stories and attempts to achieve the Singaporean Dream of wealth and influence. In the film, a working-class family struggles for a better life against the harsh realities that prevent them from reaching their dream.
7 Letters
Singapore’s seven most illustrious directors gathered their creative storytelling and filmmaking talents in a one-of-a-kind project celebrating Singapore’s 50th year. In it, they each present their individual views of Singapore and how growing up in the city-state has influenced their lives and careers.
The Songs We Sang
Released in 2015, The Songs We Sang is a documentary about Xinyao, a style of Singaporean folk music that was popular in the 1980s. Director Eva Tang hopes that the younger generation will remember a period of history in Singapore where the diaspora of Chinese youths found a place to vent their feelings of displacement and disenchantment.
Army Daze
This film was released two decades ago and is still relatable to young men in Singapore today, and will provide insight on the National Service system, especially how it’s viewed by those who must join it. The film features an economically and culturally diverse group of six young men entering National Service and their experiences with the army.
Forever Fever
Army Daze is amusing, but Forever Fever is really a fully fledged comedy. The comedy, starring Adrian Pang, is about a grocery store employee who idolizes Bruce Lee. In an improbable turn of events, his life goal of owning a motorbike is dictated by his performance in a dance competition.
12 Storeys
The second feature film of Eric Khoo and the first Singaporean film to be screened at Cannes. Regarded as the most important film ever made in Singapore, the film is a realistic commentary of the ordinary tragic lives of everyday Singaporeans living, literally and figuratively, in a pigeonhole.
881
The musical-comedy-drama is about the unique Getai culture of Singapore. After being blessed with phenomenal singing voices by the Goddess of Getai, two friends are transformed into the hottest acts on the Getai circuit. They end up attracting the wrong kind of attention and must fight to keep their title. Though sometimes ridiculous, this feature film is full of heart and sidesplitting laughs.
15
For a raw taste of Singapore’s underbelly, particularly of its youth gangs, this cult favourite from Singapore filmmaker Royston Tan is a must-watch. Featuring (then) real-life gangsters, 15 is a striking and realistic portrayal of a side of local life you may not be familiar with but is nevertheless still Singapore. With Hokkien tunes and stylistic shots of early 2000s Singapore, this is certainly a film that will keep you on edge. Loosely plotted, 15 follows the gangsters’ interactions with a modernising Singapore as well as altercations with some of their more educated counterparts.
Apprentice
Released to rave reviews and screened to a standing ovation at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Apprentice was also selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. Touching closely on Singapore’s death penalty, director Boo Junfeng infused visuals that are thematically complex without compromising the story, which remains a personal one with several broader messages such as how to reconcile guilt, professi, nal duty and personal vendetta. Catch this for a thought-provoking story with fantastic acting by local actors such as Fir Rahman, who plays the titular apprentice learning the ropes from a seasoned hangman and whose past returns to haunt him just as he earns the trust of his superior.
Mee Pok Man
This vibrant debut feature of Eric Khoo follows a noodles seller and a prostitute, who fall in love as things got bizarre – without spoiling anything, there is necrophilia, some violence, and tons of disillusionment and naive aspirations. Still a favourite among film buffs today, Mee Pok Man is timeless in its themes: Consumerism, food, sex, love, and alienation.
Pop Aye
This indie spectacle by Great Women Of Our Time 2017 Arts & Media nominee, Kirsten Tan, follows a disillusioned architect reuniting with his long-lost elephant companion in Bangkok. The movie follows their experiences as he tries to bring it back to their rural hometown. A journey of self-discovery, Pop Aye not only entertains but also comforts and moves. If you’re feeling jaded, watch this.
Sandcastle
A coming-of-age story, Boo Junfeng’s debut feature film Sandcastle sees a young man forced to come to terms with new-found knowledge about the past, and what it means for the future. It also explores his life experiences, such as his first romance and his grandmother’s worsening Alzheimer’s disease. It won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the Vietnam International Film Festival, and was the first Singaporean film to be screened at the International Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival.
This post was updated on 6 December, 2019.