3 May 2010 – New Outlet
Sun: again thanks to MeiPin for introducing me to this second outlet (the first outlet is on North Bridge Rd, posting 20 Sep 2009). The new outlet does not have my favourite smoked duck pizza, but MeiPin wanted pancakes for breakfast and there are pancakes here. In a couple of days, she will be leaving SIN for her extended adventure and it was nice to have a chat before she flies off. Good luck, safe journeys and take care of yourself, MeiPin. Met with AmyR for the SE Asian Films at the new extension of SAM, The Moving Image Gallery, SAM at 8Q by the new Food For Thought.
The Big Durian/Malaysia**a soldier ran amok with an M16 rifle in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown district 18Oct 1987. His outburst triggered fears of racial riots. Nine days later, there was a clampdown of the Internal Security Act. Did the Malaysian public’s view of the police, media, judiciary, royalty and political process subsequently undergo a radical shift after this incident? The narrator of The Big Durian speaks to some real Malaysians about the circumstances surrounding their reactions. Was not in this part of the world at that time to follow the news, nor too interested in the politics; thus did not get too much into this movie.
Kubrador/The Bet Collector/Philippines****this realist melodrama chronicles 3 days in the life of bet collector Amelita who runs the illegal gambling game of jueteng. Jueteng is so popular that even politicians and the police are believed to have a share in its illicit revenues. Shot on HD video, the camera captures the desperate living conditions of the film’s characters. Excellent acting and filming. Stayed on for the talk-session with the director to learn that over 80% of the people in the Philippines live in poverty… so sad when one can remember that Imelda Marcos had over 3,000 paris of shoes! Surely one pair will be enough to feed a family for a year!!
How rich art is; if one can only remember what one has seen, one is never without food for thought or truly lonely, never alone – Vincent van Gogh