when

was the last time someone praised you? when was the last time you praised someone?


sure took you some time to recall..





this was how the movie, 'im not stupid too' started. it really wasn't easy for me to find company to watch this movie. the 1st response i got was, 'huh? are you kidding me? i will not waste my money on local production. this show is for kids.' if we Singaporeans don't support and take pride in our local productions, who will? besides this is really one show that i didn't regret watching. and who did i watch it with in the end?

the perfect candidate: my mum. (she was reluctantly initially as well, but i sure bugged her enough for her to give in. hah. i could tell in the end she enjoyed it much. more importantly, we spent quality time together that night.)

frankly, i used to be quite annoyed with Jack Neo's unceasing emphasis on him being a director. (if you watch local tv, you'd have noticed that everyone addresses him as 'Liang-Dao' or 'Director- Neo'. and when that happened, i rolled my eye.)

now, im seeing him in a different light. to date, i haven't watched anything that can cause me to tear one moment and the very next moment laugh. i dare say Jack Neo has close to perfected his unique artistry of exhibiting the ever-so-Singaporean allegory for the social realties of modern day Singapore in his tear-jerking (the emotional way and the laugh-till-you-tear way) movie.

it is really about the love between parents and children. simple theme, yet powerful storyline. in one the scenes, a dying father said, 'there is no such thing as a bad child, only parents who have failed. i've failed, my son. im sorry but i love you.' a friend of the dying father also remarked, 'your dad loved you too much, but too much in the wrong way.' my translations really don't do the original mandarin dialogue justice.

if you're a true blue Singaporean, the many incidences in the movie you'll find all too familiar, too close to your heart. personally, i identify so much with the young actors that watching them felt like watching a movie of myself, no holds barred.

- have you ever felt like your parents don't understand you and wanted to know why?

- are you so jaded of you family?

- do you often feel so put down by society, the standards you and others set for you?

- have your parents ever commented they don't feel appreciated?

- have your parents ever praised you?

- have you longed for love. the unconditional one only your dad and mum can give?

i have.

go watch the movie.

it's deeper than you think.

____________________

'Careful. Slippery when Wet.'

[i saw this sign at bedokswimmingcomplex.]