Saturday late night movie

It has been a while since a movie affected this much. I was already in a cab on the way home but I was still welling up a little. Granted, I’m usually very involved in a good story be it told through beautiful text or visuals. But this movie kept me feeling moved, disturbed and impressed even after it ended.

I caught the Home Song Stories last Saturday. The cast emoted so convincingly that they drew me into their characters’ lives. Joan Chen was incredible with her role, layering it with multi-dimensions that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the dilemmas her character faced and the decisions that were made. Somehow, cheongsams with cigarettes always seem to be able to add depth to a character. Qi Yu Wu made his role credible; I would not have been able to tell just from his authentic Hong-Kong accented Cantonese that this China born and bred lad works in Singapore. The only thing that gave him away was probably his delivery in English.

Acting aside, the story was fantastic. Not too sure if this was based on a true story since the credits somehow gave the impression that it was. I don’t think any child should be put through such pain in life, so early in life. The narrator was right – it was a story about himself but also about his mother. The direction brought the story alive, threading tears, fears and shock together with the right tempo.

There was one particular scene that disturbed me. Renee said she expected it the way it turned out. I saw it coming, not the exact way, but was too disturbed by its abruptness and high in-your-face-shock value. The scene remained for at lease five seconds. I know. I tried to not see it but when I looked again it was still there. Plus it brought back what happened a few months ago and I don’t think I’m prepared to witness anything like that, real or reel.

I loved the last scene. When the narrator was typing, Joan Chen walked over. It’s slightly cliché but it worked there. Again, it made me empathise with the struggle that the narrator went through. Moving.

I’m a sucker for such movies. I told Renee, for every Home Song Stories I make her watch with me, she can make me watch five Minority Reports. I know you won’t be that mean.

It was simply a superb production with local talent in front of and behind the scenes. Kudos.