MediaCorp's "881" focuses on 'getai' culture in Singapore
Posted: 01 August 2007 2354 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Loud and colourful 'getai' or 'song-stage' performers are taking the centrestage in MediaCorp Raintree Pictures' latest movie, "881".

Director Roystan Tan and the actors made a special entrance to the news conference on Wednesday using a lorry that was also featured in the movie.

In fact, the entire meet-the-media session was held in a getai setting.

The main characters in the movie are the singing duo, known as the Papaya Sisters, who perform for the spirits of the dead, believed to roam the earth during the 7th Lunar month.

And parts of the movie show characters speaking in Hokkien – a dialect not understood by its director and lead actor Qi Yuwu.

Despite that, Tan and Qi joked that they have picked up the skill of singing Hokkien songs.

MediaCorp Raintree Pictures hopes that this movie can reflect Singapore's unique culture in the international market.

"881" was sold to distributors in Japan, even before the film production ended.

The movie will be screened islandwide on National Day, 9 August.


- CNA/so