Film Screenings

When: 5 & 6 August
Where: The Substation Theatre
Entry: $25 per night / $45 for 2-night package,

“Action” has always been a word voiced traditionally in the history of cinema, by a man behind the camera. Action in general, is an activity, an effort, a deed, a step – An Initiation. Etiquette’s inaugural film event showcases eleven Singaporean women filmmakers under one roof over one weekend, in celebration of the just-do-it spirit in the film industry.

Screening on 6th August will be followed by a Q&A with several participating filmmakers. 

Tickets for the film screening are available at The Substation Box Office from July 1. Drop by 45 Armenian Street on any weekday between 11.30am-8pm. Or call 6337-7800 or email boxoffice@substation.org to reserve tickets.

All profits from the sales of tickets will be donated to the Association of Women for Action & Research.

5th August 7-10pm

  1. Dirty Bitch Sun Koh, 13:42mins (R21)
  2. Substitute A. D. Chan, 20:32mins (M18)
  3. Come Kirsten Tan, 22mins (M18)
  4. Overhead Clouds Yeo Lee Nah, 5mins (PG)
  5. Shout Lillian Wang, 18mins (PG)
  6. Still Life Lillian Wang, 9mins (TBA)
  7. Smell of Rain Gloria Chee, 93mins (PG)

6th August 7-10pm: (Reception at 6pm)

  1. She Shapes a Nation Dana Lam, 21mins (PG)
  2. Bullet Proof Vest May Lin Au Yong, 5:34mins (TBA)
  3. Under the Storybook Sky May Lin Au Yong, 14mins (PG)
  4. Durai & Saro Prema Menon, 30mins (PG)
  5. Pink Paddlers Jasmine Ng & Suzette Cody, 63mins (PG)

Curated by
Mardhiah Osman & Mabelyn Ow

 

About the presented films

5th August 7-10pm

Dirty Bitch by Sun Koh, 13:42mins (R21)

Dirty Bitch is a love letter to the Singapore censors, inspired by a violently censored VHS copy of Claire Denis’ Nénette et Boni, found in a library in Singapore. The obsession with preventing human behaviour to be seen and heard reminded the director of Emerson’s words, “People that seem so glorious are all show; underneath they are like everyone else.”

Substitute by A. D. Chan, 20:32mins (M18)

Joan and her husband Alex take the young undergraduate Hong in as their tenant. Hong is mesmerized by Joan’s beauty, and delights in spending time alone with her while Alex gets tied up at work. As Joan begins to find Hong’s sensitivity endearing, Hong’s admiration for her turns into an obsession. When work commitments take Alex away on an overseas trip, Hong gets the apartment and Joan all to himself.

Come by Kirsten Tan, 22mins (M18)

The film looks at the sexual exploits and explorations of a dysfunctional Catholic family. After the father discovers his son watching his older sister’s Hentai pornographic DVD collection, he consults his wife on whether they should provide sex education for their children. The sister makes a pact with her brother by giving him a pornographic DVD in exchange for him to keep mum about her nightly sexual escapades. The mother throws a fit when she discovers her son watching the offensive DVD in the living room. The mother unexpectedly becomes pregnant and after her delivery, a little girl’s innocent question of where do babies come from receives an embarrassed silence from all present. A priest then replies that babies come from Jesus Christ.

Overhead Clouds by Yeo Lee Nah, 5mins (PG)

Unable to find employment after college, a man finds himself in an unusual situation when a dark cloud begins to hang over his head feeding off his energy.

Shout by Lillian Wang, 18mins (PG)

Sadie lives an idyllic suburban life. Everything changes when her dying grandfather comes to live with her, and her best friend Henry announces he is leaving for college. Faced with loss, Sadie embarks on her own act of independence.

Still Life by Lillian Wang, 9mins (TBA)

The heart of this film lies with its exploration of grief.

Smell of Rain by Gloria Chee, 93mins (PG)

Haunted by childhood memories of being abandoned, Xiao Qi has a haven where the rest of the world is kept at bay. He shares this static world with his only friend, Kong Long, only to have it rudely interrupted with the arrival of Li Er. Xiao Qi learns to live by learning to love as he is forced to confront reality and to break free from the shackles of his past.

6th August 7-10pm

She Shapes a Nation by Dana Lam, 21mins (PG)

Inspired by the 80th birthday of Mrs Hedwig Anuar in November 2008, this documentary sets out to capture the nuances of women’s lives and women’s choices in five decades of nation making. A voice-over at the end of the film highlights some milestones in women’s contributions. Viewers should also take note of the credit roll in the film.

Bullet Proof Vest by May Lin Au Yong, 5:34mins (TBA)

Nine-year old Jyeshria wants a bullet proof vest- and she’s dead serious. Welcome to Richmond California where children neither walk to school, nor go to the park; not if they wish to live past the age of 18.

Under the Storybook Sky by May Lin Au Yong, 14mins (PG)

An exploration of the space between reality and make-believe, the film peers into the curious charm of America’s oldest storybook theme park- Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland, through the eyes of its best volunteer, 9-year-old Melyssa.

Durai & Saro by Prema Menon, 30mins (PG)

Durai is an Indian construction worker working in Singapore. Trying his best to make ends meet and provide for his family back home, he doubles up as a car washer at night. While washing at his usual neighbourhood carpark one night, he meets a foreign domestic worker. Saro, and he welcomes this new found friendship.

Pink Paddlers by Jasmine Ng & Suzette Cody, 63mins (PG)

They come in all shapes and sizes. They could be your mother, your daughter, your sister, your girlfriend, your wife… even you.anging from a 65 year-old school principal to a biker chick, half the ladies couldn’t even swim, but still picked up the paddles to form Singapore’s FIRST BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS DRAGONBOAT team : They’ve found strength in being in the same boat, racing against the same disease. In September 2006, these ladies came together to compete against other fellow survivors from all over the world, in the first-ever Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat World Championship – right here in Singapore.