In late April 2007, Florence Ang, producer of "Solos"[1], the first gay feature-length film and undoubtedly the most sexually explicit gay movie to be made in Singapore about the relationship between a junior college student and his male teacher, announced that it would be withdrawing from its world premiere on April 25 at the 2007 Singapore International Film Festival "to preserve the principle that films at the festival should be shown uncut"[2]. Censors had demanded 3 cuts to the 77-minute dialogueless film. The movie stars veteran actor Lim Yu-Beng as the teacher, co-director and screenplay writer Loo Zihan as the student and Goh Guat Kian as the latter's mother who suffers from depression. Also co-directed by Kan Lume, it bagged the Premio Nuovi Sguardi Award at the 2008 Torino GLBT Film Festival[3]. It was never shown in Singapore.
Storyline[edit | edit source]
Inspired by true events, SOLOS explores relationships among three individuals who are struggling to open up their feelings towards each other. Filmmakers Kan Lume and Loo Zihan co-directed this pathos that dramatizes the selfishness of love and its tragic outcomes. Set in contemporary Singapore, SOLOS follows the endeavors of BOY, MAN and MOTHER. Having been in a relationship with MAN (Lim Yu Beng) for years, BOY (Loo Zihan) eventually grows up and wishes to quit the relationship. Conversely, MAN still wants to be with BOY and for them to settle together. Meanwhile, MOTHER (Goh Guat Kian) is devastated that her son (BOY) has abandoned her and has been in relationship with MAN. As the three characters fight their own demons, SOLOS juxtaposes reality and surreal scenes in order to give clues of each character's inner desires. The film has minimum conversation to give freedom to the audience individual interpretation of the film.
Inspired by true events, Solos explores the relationship between three individuals as they struggle to open up their feelings towards each other. Man (Lim Yu-Beng) and Boy (Loo Zihan) have been in an illicit relationship for years. Growing out of his teenage years, Boy is restless, and starts seeking new sexual adventures. Meanwhile, Boy’s mother (Goh Guat Kian) blames herself for everything Boy has turned out to be and wishes her son to return home to her. Each scene in Solos is at once highly stylized and painfully realistic. The film has no dialogue, but relies on strong visual imagery and sound-design to convey the story.
Full cast and crew[edit | edit source]
Directed by
Loo Zihan
Kan Lume
Writing credits
Zihan Loo
Cast
Peishan Chiew ... Dancer
Guat Kian Goh ... Mother
Yu Beng Lim ... Man
Zihan Loo ... Boy
Produced by
Florence Ang .... producer
Gerald Herman .... producer
Kan Lume .... co-producer
Ricardo Uncilla .... executive producer
Original Music by
Darren Ng
Film Editing by
Meghan Kan
Zihan Loo
Kan Lume
Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin Yang .... scene photographer
Other crew
Kai Cheong .... production assistant
Ian Purnomo .... publicist
Angelika Quadt .... publicist
Mickey Cottrell .... publicist (uncredited)
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- Oiver Ross, "Watching Solos in Singapore: Homosexuality, Surrealism and Queer Politics", Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Issue 38, August 2015[4].