Singapore Dreaming (2006)

Singapore Dreaming () is a 2006 film set in Singapore. The film follows the Loh family, a typical Singaporean working-class family, through their aspirations for a better life and the harsh reality that makes it difficult for them to fulfill these aspirations. The film is inspired by a 2000 essay, Paved with Good Intentions, that the writers of the film had written for the Singapore International Foundation. A concatenation of e-mails Singaporeans sent to writers Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen on their life stories in relation to the Singaporean dream eventually led them to write, produce and direct Singapore Dreaming. The film stars Richard Low as Poh Huat, Alice Lim as Siew Luan, Serene Chen as Irene, Yeo Yann Yann as Mei, Lim Yu-Beng as CK and Dick Su as Seng.

The film was theatrically released on 7 September 2006, and at one time ranked fifth on the Singapore box office. It won the Montblanc New Screenwriters Award at the 54th San Sebastián International Film Festival, and was the first Singaporean film to receive an IFFPA-recognised international feature film award. Owing to its nature as a Singapore-produced film, Singapore Dreaming received much attention from local viewers, film critics and public figures alike. It has received great praise from some local critics and public figures, most notably from S.R. Nathan, the President of Singapore.



^ Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "Full Credits", Singapore Dreaming. Retrieved 2006-12-01

^ Lee, Kin Mun, Colin Goh, Woo Yen Yen. "Singapore Dreaming." [Podcast entry] the mrbrown show. 2006-09-06.

^ Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "About the Film", Singapore Dreaming website. Retrieved 2006-12-01.

^ Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "Sunday Times: Uniquely, Um", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-07-16. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.

^ Stephanie Yap, "Dreaming up a surprise", The Straits Times, 2006-10-07.

^ Ho Lian-Yi, "Are they heartlanders?", The New Paper, 2006-08-30.

^ Ong Su Bin, "Singapore Dreaming is reality", The Straits Times, 2006-04-14.

^ "top 10 movies", The Straits Times, 2006-09-13.

^ Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "Please Support SINGAPORE DREAMING!"Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-09-05. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06.

^ Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "Singapore Dreaming"Criticine, October 23, 2006. Retrieved 2012-12-17.

Synopsis

Poh Huat (Richard Low), the father of the Loh family, works as a lawyer's clerk. He is married to Siew Luan (Alice Lim), a housewife who likes to brew liang teh (herbal tea) for the family. Poh Huat has a habit of buying lottery tickets in hope of winning and enjoying a better life. He also keeps newspaper cuttings of car models and condominiums and stores them in a box in his room.

Actors