From heartfelt dramas to neo-noir thrillers, Singapore’s film industry continues to produce an intriguing array of movies. Here are 10 must-watch Singaporean films that capture our nation’s culture, history, and diverse narratives. All of these showcase Singapore in movies, and offer a rich and multifaceted view of our Little Red Dot.
Director Eric Khoo is often seen as a pivotal figure during the mid-90’s the revival of our local film industry. And if there’s one work of his that best captures the Singaporean condition, it’s surely his sophomore feature 12 Storeys. Khoo’s film gives us a warts-and-all look at life in the Lion City, where the struggles of three ordinary households who live in the same HDB block intertwine in fascinating yet sobering ways.
This was the first local film to premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Among other praise, the film is lauded for the performance of a certain Jack Neo, who plays the troubled character of Ah Gu with surprising restraint.
12 Storeys is available on mewatch.
Shirkers is an autobiographical documentary by Sandi Tan, who unravels the mystery of a road movie she made as a teenager that was stolen by her mentor. The footage, which was shot in the summer of 1992, is transformed into Tan’s deeply personal look at the lost histories of her youth.
This documentary’s interesting premise and craft won it the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as acclaim from audiences around the globe. To Singaporeans, however, Shrikers is particularly valuable as a window into Singapore’s past, as well as the burgeoning local indie film scene in ‘90s.
Shirkers is available on Netflix.
Set during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Ilo Ilo tells the poignant tale of a 10-year-old boy who develops a special bond with his Filipino domestic helper as he deals with the anxieties of his parents’ worsening finances and the troubles of youth. It’s a coming-of-age, realist drama, and immigrant story rolled into one, showing us many sides of what it means to live in Singapore during the tumultuous late ‘90s, and even today.
Ilo Ilo has won numerous awards, including the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival – the first Singaporean film to do so – and Best Film at the Golden Horse Awards. This film made its director Anthony Chen a household name, which he has built upon with follow-up features such as Wet Season and The Breaking Ice.
Ilo Ilo is available on Amazon Prime.
Before Ah Boys To Men and Ah Girls Go Army, there was Army Daze, a film that captures the rite of passage that is National Service with arguably more authenticity. Directed by Ong Keng Sen, the film follows five BMT recruits as they face some of the trials and tribulations of army life — but with plenty of the crass humour that made it a box office hit.
There’s no doubt that Army Daze can seem a little dated, with its numerous cliches and stereotypes that have not stood the test of time. Nevertheless, it remains a classic of local cinema that’s relatable to most Singaporean men.
Army Daze is available on YouTube.
Few documentaries about Singapore are able to capture its sights and sounds the way Singapore GaGa does. The film sees prolific filmmaker Tan Pin Pin roam our city, observing Singaporeans as they go about their daily lives, whether commuting to work, busking, or recounting personal narratives.
Singapore GaGa is the first local documentary to be released in cinemas. Its seven-week sold-out run at The Arts House, as well as its critical success, is perhaps testament to its unique draw as a film.
Singapore GaGa is available on Netflix.
Based on the Kevin Kwan novel of the same name, Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel, a Chinese-American professor, who becomes involved with one of the richest families in Singapore. What ensues is a romp-filled romantic comedy that explores extreme wealth and the very Asian conflict between family and individuality.
While the film has been criticised for not being Singaporean enough, that has not stopped it from achieving worldwide commercial success—it grossed over $238 million on a budget of $30 million. Crazy Rich Asians has, for better or for worse, become the most widely seen representation of Singapore on film.
Crazy Rich Asians is available on Netflix.
While Jack Neo’s films continue to have widespread mass appeal, it is his older films that have had a lasting impact on Singaporean culture, most notably I Not Stupid. This comedy-drama portrays the lives of three Primary 6 students who struggle with academic expectations and parental demands, doing so with considerable satirical wit.
I Not Stupid is not only one of the top-grossing Singaporean films, with over $3.8 million at the box office. It also sparked significant discussions about the education system in our country, highlighting its flaws and paving the way for meaningful reforms.
I Not Stupid is available on Netflix.
Perhaps the most conceptually ambitious entry on this list, A Land Imagined follows a police officer searching for a missing Chinese construction worker, who spends his nights playing a mysterious video game. This feature debut by director Yeo Siew Hua quickly spirals into a surreal neo-noir thriller, where dreams and reality become indistinguishable from one another.
A Land Imagined won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. It is also notable for tackling themes relating to migrant workers in Singapore, shedding light on an often overlooked aspect of our society.
A Land Imagined is available on Netflix.
The Maid is a horror film by director Kelvin Tong that makes heavy use of Singaporean superstition and folklore. The story follows Rosa, a Filipino domestic helper who arrives in Singapore during the Seventh Month, a time when the Chinese believe the gates of hell are open and spirits roam the earth. Rosa soon finds herself entangled in a web of supernatural occurrences and dark family secrets.
Lauded for its atmospheric tension and portrayal of cultural taboos, The Maid broke the box office record in Singapore for horror films, earning $700,000 on its opening weekend.
The Maid is available on Netflix.
Arguably the most maximalist film on this list, 15 is infamous for its zany yet brutal portrayal of teenage gangsters in Singapore. Many of its characters are played by actual street kids, whose chaotic lives are pushed to extremes thanks to director Royston Tan’s creative visual approach. Take the infamous Salakau chant scene, for instance, which sees the film transition into what is basically an over-the-top techno music video.
15 can be hard to track down, especially since it has a history of censorship—the Singapore Police Force’s concerns about potential gang-related violence led to 27 cuts being made to the film. We’d encourage you to find a copy online to watch if you can, or catch it in local cinemas if it ever is screened again
These Singaporean movies will give you a range of perspectives on the country we all call home. While Singapore doesn’t have the largest local film scene, these colourful, idiosyncratic films prove that our cinematic landscape is small, but mighty.
This article was written by Enze Kay.
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