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SINGAPORE : Singapore continues its strong showing at this year's Cannes Film Festival with love story "HERE" selected for screening at the 41st Directors' Fortnight section.
Written and directed by Singapore filmmaker and visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen, "HERE" will make its world premiere at the Festival which runs from May 13-24. This is the fifth straight year that a Singapore film will be featured at the Festival.
"'HERE' represents a cinematic amalgamation of my interests and experiences in painting, conceptual art and sound art. I believe it to be a new kind of Singapore film - a total sensorial experience that is hopefully also a head-trip," said Ho.
The film which was shot over 11 days in a former mental hospital in Singapore, tells the story of a middle-aged man who struggles to make sense of his reality following the sudden death of his wife. While undergoing a mysterious treatment known as the 'videocure', he learns a profound lesson about love and fate.
"HERE is both a love story, and also a story about the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's idea of 'Amor Fati' or love of fate - in which the test of an affirmative life is that of someone who is willing to live his life over and over again, without making a single change," said Ho.
The film is scheduled to be released in Singapore in June.
The first-time feature film director is also eligible for the Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera) award, a distinction for best first feature film in any one of the Cannes' selections - the Official Selection, the Directors' Fortnight or the International Critics' Week.
Mr Kenneth Tan, Director of the Singapore Film Commission and Chief Operating Officer of Media Development Authority of Singapore said, "Singapore films have been gaining traction in the international markets over the last few years. Our varying styles and genres have been featured at Cannes every year since 2005, presenting our young filmmakers with a valuable launch pad for their international film careers. I am confident that local filmmakers such as Ho will continue to make their mark around the world."
Singapore's showing at Cannes began as early as 1997 when Eric Khoo's "12 Storeys" was invited under the Un Certain Regard section. In 2005, Khoo's "Be With Me" opened the Director's Fortnight, which is known for selecting cutting-edge films with an original directorial style, followed by the 2006 country showcase where 12 Singapore feature films and short films were presented at the World Cinema event.
In 2007, Anthony Chen's short film "Ah Ma" clinched a Special Mention at the Festival, while Pok Yue Weng's short film "SuperDONG" and Ekachai Uekrongtham's feature film "Pleasure Factory" were screened at Directors' Fortnight and Un Certain Regard respectively. Last year, Khoo's latest film "My Magic" became the first Singapore film to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
- CNA/il
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