Singapore Dreaming hits home hard. Lesser known movie but every Singaporean needs to watch it. Especially the part where the guy quit being an SAF regular then couldn't find work and end up selling insurance.
Sometimes I wonder if Singapore Dreaming is less known because it exposes the emptiness of the Singapore dream. And we rather celebrate the heartwarming or funny movies.
Singapore Dreaming even takes what should be an unlikely and happy event (winning toto) and making it feel hollow. Since the entire family is ripped apart. Plus, most of the characters are flawed and real. Even Seng who is the narrative's asshole, you feel sad for him when he's failing all the job interviews.
The ending is at best "not terrible".
It touches on so many topical issues like the rat race, patriarchy, domestic workers, the 5Cs, foreign workers. And so much is still relevant today.
>Singapore Dreaming even takes what should be an unlikely and happy event (winning toto) and making it feel hollow. Since the entire family is ripped apart. Plus, most of the characters are flawed and real. Even Seng who is the narrative's asshole, you feel sad for him when he's failing all the job interviews.
>The ending is at best "not terrible".
Pre-war French arthouse films were like that lol.
"The family has one son, Seng (Dick Su), and one daughter, Mei (Yeo Yann Yann). Despite Mei's superior academic performance, the family has consistently shown favouritism for Seng. Even though he was ostensibly the academically poorer sibling, dropping out of school in Secondary 3, his parents still chose to fund his overseas polytechnic education instead of furthering his sister's education."
Holy shit, too real.
I watched Singapore Dreaming as a teen, it hit home back then already, but rewatching it recently as an adult was really a gutpunch like nothing I've ever felt.
It's really a testament to how well written and how well shot (as well as how Singaporeans are the same no matter what era it is) it was that whatever social commentary back then is still as valid today, if not moreso.
It's almost like Singapore has changed massively yet nothing has changed.
I wonder if the bit about CK leaving SAF to end up selling insurance is still a relevant stereotype now though. I know it was a massive stereotype/joke in the 90s.
I think it still is? A lot of regulars leave SAF then realise their work experience isn't relevant to outside jobs and then end up as insurance or real estate agents because the barriers to entry is really low.
Just follow law is pretty good narrative about work life and education but of course it aint real by any stretch. The scene with the medium says so much about work culture in singapore
IMO Just Follow Law's focus was more towards work life, with emphasis towards the red tape in the public sector
Jack Neo spent more time documenting education in SG in the I Not Stupid series & We Not Naughty
Translated "Do you know what are professionals? When there's work, Work. Try your best to work even if it results in failure, at the same time collect payment regardless of results."
Doesnt have the same oomph or impact when spoken in hokkien though LOL.
Gang jiao jo, jin liong jo, lui zao yaaa...
Love it.
I'll say 'Singapore Dreaming' is also a good movie that summarises the Chinese-focused aspects of Singapore.
The rites, conversations, topics discussed within the movie, are all quite relatable to the general Chinese person in Singapore, although not to the extent that 'How to make millions before grandma dies' does.
The two movies you've mentioned are comedic (but topic-focused) takes on the issues and perspectives that many Singaporeans face, while 'Singapore Dreaming' is a lot more comprehensive, sober and realistic.
I have to emphasise 'Chinese' here because I haven't been exposed to locally-produced movies that capture the other ethnicities' concerns.
Saw this film when shared with my secondary school teachers almost 20 years ago, stuck with me and i can totally relate to this when i transit to a working adult
This post reminded me of [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDXrdVzt1m8&t=112s) on how [McDull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDull) represents Hong Kong's cultural zeitgeist (circa late 1990s), and I always wondered what represented our cultural zeitgeist.
It's obviously [Singa the Lion](https://www.sg101.gov.sg/resources/connexionsg/singathelion/).
Designed to be as inoffensive as possible by a group of artists working in a government ministry as part of a social engineering campaign spanning decades. [Suffered from burnout and midlife crisis](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singa-the-courtesy-lion-i-quit) but eventually returned to workplace after taking a break.
Pretty much Singapore culture in a nutshell.
Honestly right on the dot with those two. Jack Neo could have been great on an international stage if he evolved on that same trajectory but he took the other route and now here we are…
Yeah i just watched 小孩不笨3 and the discreet ads and 10+ crying scenes made it look so cheap in trying to garner sympathy and feelings from the audience. I actually enjoyed the first of both series back when he tried to actually convey a message and not recycle scenes from chinese dramas.
And the trope of a loved one dying in order for the antagonist to see their wrongdoings is soo fucking overused.
I just watched yesterday.
The discreet ads looks super intentional as a joke.
Do you really think Tung Lok need the advertising this way?
Come to think about it, there were quite a lot of crying scene, Mark Lee's daughter getting slapped or Xiang Yun's hospital scenes were superb, the pregnant wife and the church daughter were alright (I mean it would be realistic to cry in those situation). Mark Lee at the last part with the remorseful scene also seems to be intentionally long and followed with a sad funny music
All th3se resonate well with Malaysian audience but I feel singaporean audience find it cringey.
Got Xiang Yun / Mark Lee at 小孩不笨3 meh?
小孩不笨3 is terribly disappointing, the ad placements is so terrible, >!the super thick burger part with the pork floss!<, and that flag, is like telling the audience, \*We know this is super terrible but look who our sponsor is\*
The movie is so cringe, if it was on netflix i probably just keep forwarding the movie.
I actually watched it at KSL yesterday lol the audience quite liked the movie it seems.
But the hospital scene was literal back to back crying. Like we know she was remorseful, but i feel like there are better ways to flesh out her character as a spiteful competitive person trying to right her wrongs and other ways of expression other than crying.
Also why the mother sound so angmo? She not singaporean ah?
llo llo and Singapore Dreaming, Money Not enough 1-2 also hits the spot but I think in terms of scriptwriting, the first two are more raw and unfiltered
Talking Cock the movie. Great range of voices from across the social classes and backgrounds, I think there’s scenes that are dated but it’s still a good laugh.
https://youtu.be/oliO9SK_EKM?si=lgwGr80QTHxox4Ze
https://youtu.be/-VSEQFExDC0?si=KTxoKXsHLzP7ZZjS
Zombiepura
- local Singlish + Hokkien + Malay
- local listen & follow rules blindly
- higher rank dominate lower rank
- Chow Keng power
- bravery when in crisis
- think out of the box
- troubleshooting skill
- Sacrifice for younger generations
- some corruption heh
- lay on swords self damage
- some selfish leaders
- never say die mentality
I wouldnt say best... But i love Talking Cock... came across this during poly and we love it so much that we actually found one day and used one of the classroom to project the movie and we all just watched it.
"The whole country talk cock!"
The Diam Diam Era. Set in 1980's, it is an interesting story of a family moving from kampung to HDB Flats, covering major policy changes and political eras.
but must a movie about a place be filmed there? [https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/shows-movies-filmed-on-location-and-didnt](https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/shows-movies-filmed-on-location-and-didnt)
Singapore Dreaming hits home hard. Lesser known movie but every Singaporean needs to watch it. Especially the part where the guy quit being an SAF regular then couldn't find work and end up selling insurance.
Sometimes I wonder if Singapore Dreaming is less known because it exposes the emptiness of the Singapore dream. And we rather celebrate the heartwarming or funny movies. Singapore Dreaming even takes what should be an unlikely and happy event (winning toto) and making it feel hollow. Since the entire family is ripped apart. Plus, most of the characters are flawed and real. Even Seng who is the narrative's asshole, you feel sad for him when he's failing all the job interviews. The ending is at best "not terrible". It touches on so many topical issues like the rat race, patriarchy, domestic workers, the 5Cs, foreign workers. And so much is still relevant today.
I think many Singaporean have a higher opinions over films like Singapore Dreaming over the many comedies that've been made in the past decades.
>Singapore Dreaming even takes what should be an unlikely and happy event (winning toto) and making it feel hollow. Since the entire family is ripped apart. Plus, most of the characters are flawed and real. Even Seng who is the narrative's asshole, you feel sad for him when he's failing all the job interviews. >The ending is at best "not terrible". Pre-war French arthouse films were like that lol.
"The family has one son, Seng (Dick Su), and one daughter, Mei (Yeo Yann Yann). Despite Mei's superior academic performance, the family has consistently shown favouritism for Seng. Even though he was ostensibly the academically poorer sibling, dropping out of school in Secondary 3, his parents still chose to fund his overseas polytechnic education instead of furthering his sister's education." Holy shit, too real.
It's real AF. That show really nailed it.
This. I watched it the other night for the first time and I felt depressed. Pretty underrated but accurate.
Where did you watch it? Is it available online?
Do you have Netflix? It's on there.
Yes i do! Thank you
No prob!
You can find a low res version on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPOMWsnoBs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPOMWsnoBs)
I watched Singapore Dreaming as a teen, it hit home back then already, but rewatching it recently as an adult was really a gutpunch like nothing I've ever felt. It's really a testament to how well written and how well shot (as well as how Singaporeans are the same no matter what era it is) it was that whatever social commentary back then is still as valid today, if not moreso.
It's crazy how it's nearly 20yrs old but still so relevant...
It's almost like Singapore has changed massively yet nothing has changed. I wonder if the bit about CK leaving SAF to end up selling insurance is still a relevant stereotype now though. I know it was a massive stereotype/joke in the 90s.
I think it still is? A lot of regulars leave SAF then realise their work experience isn't relevant to outside jobs and then end up as insurance or real estate agents because the barriers to entry is really low.
Chap chit pueh he buay chut ke...
Just follow law is pretty good narrative about work life and education but of course it aint real by any stretch. The scene with the medium says so much about work culture in singapore
IMO Just Follow Law's focus was more towards work life, with emphasis towards the red tape in the public sector Jack Neo spent more time documenting education in SG in the I Not Stupid series & We Not Naughty
That scene where they wayang for a minister visit is so dam on point.
Translated "Do you know what are professionals? When there's work, Work. Try your best to work even if it results in failure, at the same time collect payment regardless of results." Doesnt have the same oomph or impact when spoken in hokkien though LOL. Gang jiao jo, jin liong jo, lui zao yaaa... Love it.
I'll say 'Singapore Dreaming' is also a good movie that summarises the Chinese-focused aspects of Singapore. The rites, conversations, topics discussed within the movie, are all quite relatable to the general Chinese person in Singapore, although not to the extent that 'How to make millions before grandma dies' does. The two movies you've mentioned are comedic (but topic-focused) takes on the issues and perspectives that many Singaporeans face, while 'Singapore Dreaming' is a lot more comprehensive, sober and realistic. I have to emphasise 'Chinese' here because I haven't been exposed to locally-produced movies that capture the other ethnicities' concerns.
Saw this film when shared with my secondary school teachers almost 20 years ago, stuck with me and i can totally relate to this when i transit to a working adult
The apprentice. As a Malay Singaporean, it resonates.
12 Storeys. It’s boldy 1990s sg
It’s a pretty arts-style film and is slow paced. Might not be very appealing to the common movie-goer.
Ilo ilo
*Singapore Dreaming* Sixth C stands for *coffin* Anyways fyi the movie is available on YT too, lol~
Army Daze (released in 1996)
YASSSS
15
Ilo ilo
I know some Singaporeans who don't like this movie cus they feel guilty that they treat their helpers like in the movie lol.
Teenage textbook is really sweet.
Talking Cock the movie
Most ridiculous movie made in Sg, never fails to make me lmao.
881
This post reminded me of [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDXrdVzt1m8&t=112s) on how [McDull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDull) represents Hong Kong's cultural zeitgeist (circa late 1990s), and I always wondered what represented our cultural zeitgeist.
It's obviously [Singa the Lion](https://www.sg101.gov.sg/resources/connexionsg/singathelion/). Designed to be as inoffensive as possible by a group of artists working in a government ministry as part of a social engineering campaign spanning decades. [Suffered from burnout and midlife crisis](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singa-the-courtesy-lion-i-quit) but eventually returned to workplace after taking a break. Pretty much Singapore culture in a nutshell.
Lmao good point
Just follow law by Jack Neo
15
Army Daze
Honestly right on the dot with those two. Jack Neo could have been great on an international stage if he evolved on that same trajectory but he took the other route and now here we are…
Yeah i just watched 小孩不笨3 and the discreet ads and 10+ crying scenes made it look so cheap in trying to garner sympathy and feelings from the audience. I actually enjoyed the first of both series back when he tried to actually convey a message and not recycle scenes from chinese dramas. And the trope of a loved one dying in order for the antagonist to see their wrongdoings is soo fucking overused.
I just watched yesterday. The discreet ads looks super intentional as a joke. Do you really think Tung Lok need the advertising this way? Come to think about it, there were quite a lot of crying scene, Mark Lee's daughter getting slapped or Xiang Yun's hospital scenes were superb, the pregnant wife and the church daughter were alright (I mean it would be realistic to cry in those situation). Mark Lee at the last part with the remorseful scene also seems to be intentionally long and followed with a sad funny music All th3se resonate well with Malaysian audience but I feel singaporean audience find it cringey.
Got Xiang Yun / Mark Lee at 小孩不笨3 meh? 小孩不笨3 is terribly disappointing, the ad placements is so terrible, >!the super thick burger part with the pork floss!<, and that flag, is like telling the audience, \*We know this is super terrible but look who our sponsor is\* The movie is so cringe, if it was on netflix i probably just keep forwarding the movie.
I actually watched it at KSL yesterday lol the audience quite liked the movie it seems. But the hospital scene was literal back to back crying. Like we know she was remorseful, but i feel like there are better ways to flesh out her character as a spiteful competitive person trying to right her wrongs and other ways of expression other than crying. Also why the mother sound so angmo? She not singaporean ah?
Are you confusing Money Not Enough 3 with 小孩不笨3 siah ????
after reading what he wrote I think the person i replied to got confused. But yeah i watched the latter not the former
Hows the theatre at ksl, been to the one at citysq and thought it wasnt great
Well on par with Singapore's i guess. Didn't feel much of a difference
Sound system is a way too loud, bring something to muffle it.
Money no enough is more of portraying Singaporean Chinese families, so can’t say it captures all
Teenage textbook movie
Gangster 15
Be with me, by Eric khoo. Deals with loss of a spouse, incels and lesbians, and an overarching storyline that loosely ties them up together.
18
if non-singaporean movie, id say Hunger Games. Singaporean Movie - I not Stupid definitely.
*2359*, hahahahaha~
Just follow law.
llo llo and Singapore Dreaming, Money Not enough 1-2 also hits the spot but I think in terms of scriptwriting, the first two are more raw and unfiltered
Money No Enough
Of course is Money Not Enough la….
Talking Cock the movie. Great range of voices from across the social classes and backgrounds, I think there’s scenes that are dated but it’s still a good laugh. https://youtu.be/oliO9SK_EKM?si=lgwGr80QTHxox4Ze
The lack of movie titles in the comments best represent our movie culture / culture in SG 
Not joking, but that terrible Hitman Agent 47 movie made me interested in Singapore
Came here to mention that money laundering ‘movie’ lmao
Diam diam era
https://youtu.be/-VSEQFExDC0?si=KTxoKXsHLzP7ZZjS Zombiepura - local Singlish + Hokkien + Malay - local listen & follow rules blindly - higher rank dominate lower rank - Chow Keng power - bravery when in crisis - think out of the box - troubleshooting skill - Sacrifice for younger generations - some corruption heh - lay on swords self damage - some selfish leaders - never say die mentality
Ah boys to men for that nsf culture
Shirkers
[Invisible Stories](https://youtu.be/8y17BEZjq3c)
Singapore dramas back in the 90s would better represent Singapore though…
none. except for ah bois 2 men 😅 . the rest all arty farty s*** that serve to stroke the directors’ ego.
One Leg Kicking
The apprentice.
Try Singapore Dreaming and Ilo Ilo.
I wouldnt say best... But i love Talking Cock... came across this during poly and we love it so much that we actually found one day and used one of the classroom to project the movie and we all just watched it. "The whole country talk cock!"
The Diam Diam Era. Set in 1980's, it is an interesting story of a family moving from kampung to HDB Flats, covering major policy changes and political eras.
Ilo ilo. It might actually be the only good Singaporean film
Crazy Rich Asians is spot on. Locals almost always hang out at the top of MBS and have champagne in the Ferris wheel.
Money no enough 3
Crazy rich asians
Use your brain
Crazy rich asians
im not stupid 3
Crazy rich Asian
Most of that movie was not even filmed in Singapore lol
but must a movie about a place be filmed there? [https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/shows-movies-filmed-on-location-and-didnt](https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/shows-movies-filmed-on-location-and-didnt)
Crazy Rich Asians