A land Imagined, feature film directed by Singaporean film director Siew Hua Yeo started off with two police officers in search of a missing China mainland immgirant worker in Singapore. Taking set on reclaimed island, filled with mega construction machine this film takes off from the worker's point of view, not linearly in-depth as it splits with the policeman's mindscape and the surrealism the two shared through dream. Wang, the China construction worker got his hand injured and handicapped, shifted his role into lorry driver fetching Bangla workers from one point to other. The two characters (Wang and the officer) are in search of someone, and both of them share similar underlying sleeping problem, awaken to the nightlife of this ever connecting busy nation.
As most scenes took place in the construction site, which made frequent sight to audience but never closely observed, it felt familiar and distant at the same time. The director was said to have spent one to two years of research being around the site, hanging out with the workers. In Singapore's ever-ascending development the buzzing immigrant is often seen as a group of people impermeable to the fact each departed from a rich background, a dilemma between home and future. Unknown to many the agency's high cost service to the land imagined was found worth owing money as a promising investment for a start. Settling here, workers' passport is held to ensure obedience and performance, in consequence of the on-hold return to the family. A line perfectly described during the post screening talk, when he said that during research process he met a worker having resided for over ten, fifteen years yet never really felt as a part of the mainstream society.
Amidst the surreal state, a dancing scene commonly practiced in worker's homeland showed their trans movement to the singing and drum, captured seemingly on to it they are, to the lyrics representing the missing state of connection. Instead of bar, night club or red district to bring out the night life, the use of 24 hour gaming room fits well to Wang's sleepless state and encounter with the staff, that brought him to more escapism.
To my personal preference, the dreamlike part adds tiny disruption to the flow. Though it's smooth transition doesn't detach, it holds our bond to the character and topic from intensifying. Emotionally it puts you in the broad floating state. It does successfully maintain consistent ambient that interstates reality and dream throughout, which is a challenge. The dialogue and acting are realistic on the most parts. However, some parts seem incomplete, floated in the air that a few more lines or scenes could've added balance to. Not that all things should be explained or have a polished resolving, plot holes can tribute the audience's role to part in. Having too many of them, however, as one moved to the other, creates distance. In this reality inferred topic that implies loaded reflective narrative, the bare truth in itself is rich. The sufficient research this project has attained can do justice to it and bridge the audience more connected to the story and the topic. If only we were allowed to enter their life more, with more view to reality outlook the film has provided in the beginning. The surrealism is a good approach for this controversial inflicted topic, but it took a little too much proportion in ratio to the mysterious plot rooted from major social phenomenon to unveil. The director said along with this film, a documentary is on the making which might be the reason he is more keen with this direction for the film.
All in all, it deserves to be along the internationally acclaimed film. It's worth applauding for any local film to look into local's politically and socially charged topic in humanity lens. The fiction reinforces the extent of reality implied in the story. This topic like it or not roots Singapore's identity and needs to be shown to the public in multiple approach time and again.
As most scenes took place in the construction site, which made frequent sight to audience but never closely observed, it felt familiar and distant at the same time. The director was said to have spent one to two years of research being around the site, hanging out with the workers. In Singapore's ever-ascending development the buzzing immigrant is often seen as a group of people impermeable to the fact each departed from a rich background, a dilemma between home and future. Unknown to many the agency's high cost service to the land imagined was found worth owing money as a promising investment for a start. Settling here, workers' passport is held to ensure obedience and performance, in consequence of the on-hold return to the family. A line perfectly described during the post screening talk, when he said that during research process he met a worker having resided for over ten, fifteen years yet never really felt as a part of the mainstream society.
Amidst the surreal state, a dancing scene commonly practiced in worker's homeland showed their trans movement to the singing and drum, captured seemingly on to it they are, to the lyrics representing the missing state of connection. Instead of bar, night club or red district to bring out the night life, the use of 24 hour gaming room fits well to Wang's sleepless state and encounter with the staff, that brought him to more escapism.
To my personal preference, the dreamlike part adds tiny disruption to the flow. Though it's smooth transition doesn't detach, it holds our bond to the character and topic from intensifying. Emotionally it puts you in the broad floating state. It does successfully maintain consistent ambient that interstates reality and dream throughout, which is a challenge. The dialogue and acting are realistic on the most parts. However, some parts seem incomplete, floated in the air that a few more lines or scenes could've added balance to. Not that all things should be explained or have a polished resolving, plot holes can tribute the audience's role to part in. Having too many of them, however, as one moved to the other, creates distance. In this reality inferred topic that implies loaded reflective narrative, the bare truth in itself is rich. The sufficient research this project has attained can do justice to it and bridge the audience more connected to the story and the topic. If only we were allowed to enter their life more, with more view to reality outlook the film has provided in the beginning. The surrealism is a good approach for this controversial inflicted topic, but it took a little too much proportion in ratio to the mysterious plot rooted from major social phenomenon to unveil. The director said along with this film, a documentary is on the making which might be the reason he is more keen with this direction for the film.
All in all, it deserves to be along the internationally acclaimed film. It's worth applauding for any local film to look into local's politically and socially charged topic in humanity lens. The fiction reinforces the extent of reality implied in the story. This topic like it or not roots Singapore's identity and needs to be shown to the public in multiple approach time and again.
