| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 | THE STRAITS TIMES | happenings life D11

John Lui Film Correspondent recommends

SO LONG, MY SON (PG)

Picks 185 minutes/opens tomorrow

Over its luxurious three-hour Film run-time, this story packs in threads about forced abortions, labour-camp stints for listening to decadent Western pop, attempted suicide and extramarital liaisons. If it all sounds like prime-time soap opera material, that is because it is. But celebrated Chinese film-maker , master of social realist dramas like the prize-winning (2001), (2005) and 11 Flowers (2011) never lapses into mawkishness. The son of Yaojun (Wang Jingchun) and Liyun (Yong Mei) is killed in an accident. The pain is felt all the more keenly because he is their only child, the result of China’s population control policy. Over the next three decades, the after-effects of that death linger on in the lives of the couple and their friends and relatives. Wang and Yong won the Silver Bear for Best Actor and Best Actress at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival. WHERE: Oldham Theatre, 1 Canning Rise MRT: Dhoby Ghaut / Fort Canning WHEN: Tomorrow to Oct 28, various times ADMISSION: $10 from solongmyson.peatix.com INFO: www.asianfilmarchive.org

FACES OF KOREAN WOMEN PHOTOS: CLOVER This programme of 24 films is curated by the Asian Film FILMS, ANTICIPATE IRISH FILM FESTIVAL Archive to mark a century of Korean cinema. The focus is on PICTURES, IRISH FILM Six films from Ireland will be showcased at this inaugural women in film, with the slate going back to the 1930s to FESTIVAL event, ranging from the less well-known to the famous, showcase works with strong female characters. such as romantic musical Once (2007), winner of an One critic called action flick The Villainess (M18, 129 Academy Award for Best Original Song. minutes, screens tomorrow at 8pm) “a hyperkinetic mix of Kill The opening film is Float Like A Butterfly (PG13, 101 Bill, La Femme Nikita and John Wick”. minutes, screens on Oct 20 at 1.30pm). Set mostly in the This violent tale of revenge features Kim Ok-bin (above) as 1970s, the story is seen through the eyes of Frances (Hazel Sook-hee, a woman raised by gangsters to be the perfect Doupe, left), a boxing enthusiast who idolises heavyweight killer, who then becomes an agent for the government until champion Muhammad Ali. Having grown up in a rural, her past catches up with her. nomadic community and with a father who seems to have WHERE: Oldham Theatre, 1 Canning Rise given up on life, she faces tremendous odds finding MRT: Dhoby Ghaut/Fort Canning happiness. WHEN: Till Nov 17 ADMISSION: $10 a ticket, $20 for three Film-maker Carmel Winters and production designer tickets and $30 for five tickets INFO: asianfilmarchive.org Toma McCullim will speak at the screening. WHERE: Filmgarde Bugis +, Level 5, 201 Victoria Street MRT: Bugis WHEN: Wednesday to Oct 31 ADMISSION: $15 INFO: www.irishfilmfestival.sg

FILMS first female champions of one of the and you have to carefully consider Scentsational Orchids Shi Fu Miz’s international roster of greatest dance competitions in the whether you have the energy, space, Orchids belong to one of the most selectors, multimedia art and design world, the Juste Debout, to an time and dedication it takes to diverse families in the plant kingdom. installations, and food and beverage Remedy For Rage (NC 16) untimely falling out. Part of Cineda:ns provide a safe and happy home While they are known and appreciated offerings. Six Singaporean artists are featured 2019. environment for the pet. for their variety of flowers, some have WHERE: Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir in the short film installation: Mysara WHERE: Redrum, The Projector, WHERE: JCube, 2 Jurong East also developed an assortment of Panjang Road MRT: Haw Par Villa Aljaru, Yanyun Chen & Sara Chong, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, Central 1 MRT: Jurong East smells and strategies to attract WHEN: Tomorrow, 3 - 10.30pm Kris Ong, Tania De Rozario, and 6001 Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Sun, 1 - 5pm ADMISSION: Free pollinators. Learn about the different ADMISSION: $25 Chantal Tan. Films will be played on WHEN: Tomorrow, 5.30pm INFO: sosd.org.sg smells that orchids produce and take INFO: www.facebook.com/ loop. Part of Women in Film & ADMISSION: $13.50 (standard); in the scents at the Fragrance Box in icecreamsundayssg Photography 2019, which seeks to concessions available KIDS Gardens by the Bay’s latest orchid explore how rage against INFO: theprojector.sg display in Cloud Forest. LAST CALL discrimination, repression and WHERE: Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Children’s Space injustice can be channelled into a Port Authority (R21) Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive GameStart 2019 Explore the new Children’s Space at force for awareness, action and On the steps outside New York City’s MRT: Bayfront WHEN: Sun, 9am The event is centred on the theme of the Malay Heritage Centre, specially change through art. dizzying central bus station, Port - 9pm ADMISSION: $12 for entry Asian mythology. Visitors can expect designed for children aged three to WHERE: Lower Gallery, Objectifs Authority, a girl named Wye vogues into Cloud Forest INFO: www.gardens showcases of the latest blockbuster six. Located within the Permanent Centre for Photography & Film, with her siblings. Paul, a young bythebay.com.sg games, e-sports tournaments, indie Gallery, the space is a collaboration 155 Middle Road MRT: Bras Basah drifter, watches her, transfixed by games, tabletop gaming, cosplay and between the centre and The WHEN: Today - Nov 17, Tue - Sat: 12 - her beauty. After he seeks her out, an YMCA Outdoor And Adventure more. Artground – A Curious Place To Be. 7pm, Sun: 12 - 4pm ADMISSION: Free intense love soon blossoms. Wye Monthly Saturday Walk WHERE: Halls 401 - 403, Suntec WHERE: Finale of Permanent Gallery, INFO: www.objectifs.com.sg introduces him to the ballroom This 12km walk starts from Singapore Convention and Exhibition Malay Heritage Centre, 85 Sultan Gate community, an underground LGBTQ MacRitchie, cuts across Rifle Range to Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard MRT: Bugis WHEN: From tomorrow Deriver/Arrivee | A Century Of subculture, and to her house, a the summit of Bukit Timah Hill before MRT: Promenade WHEN: Tomorrow & ADMISSION: Free Travel In French Cinema: self-selected chosen family. But heading back to the visitor centre. Sun, 11am - 9pm ADMISSION: $12 for INFO: www.malayheritage.org.sg/en Visages Villages when Paul realises Wye is trans, he is WHERE: Mushroom Cafe, MacRitchie one-day standard, $70 for VIP forced to confront his feelings for her Reservoir Nature Park, Lornie Road INFO: www.gamestart.asia This film series reflects on a past Ce La Vi Sky High Circus century of journeys as presented and the social forces that seek to MRT: Caldecott WHEN: Tomorrow, Sky High Circus is the perfect way to within the French consciousness, rupture their bond. Part of the 11th 7am ADMISSION: Free, register at Evening Chorus At Kranji where identity and itinerancy are twin Love & Pride Film Festival – Sparking spend a Sunday afternoon with loved www.ymca.org.sg Marshes notions that lay the tracks for such Change. ones as families can enjoy themed INFO: www.ymca.org.sg The two-hour walk, which covers sojourns across fictional lands and WHERE: GV Grand, Golden Village, performances and games, and soak in around 3km, will introduce foreign spaces. Part of Voilah! France Great World City, 1 Kim Seng breathtaking views of the Singapore OTHERS participants to this unique nature Singapore Festival. Promenade MRT: Somerset Strait and Bay over cuisine and drinks. area and the species living in its Children will be taken on an exciting marsh, woodland and grass habitats. WHERE: Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, WHEN: Today, 7.15pm superhero-themed journey led by a Kursed They will be guided through the Level 2 Education Resource Centre, ADMISSION: $15.00 (standard) This hybrid adventure combines the ecologically sensitive core University Town, 8 College Avenue INFO: www.gv.com.sg group from creative arts centre race-against-time thrill of an escape conservation area, which is not West MRT: Dover WHEN: Thu, 7pm Evolve Arts. room with the twisted thematic usually opened to the public. This ADMISSION: Free, register at Giant Little Ones (R21) WHERE: Ce La Vi, Level 57 Marina Bay scares of a haunted house tour. walk is not recommended for young Franky Winter (Josh Wiggins) and Sands Skypark, Hotel Tower 3, bit.ly/DeriverArrivee Players are plunged into a dark kids without supervision. Ballas Kohl (Darren Mann) have been 1 Bayfront Avenue MRT: Bayfront INFO: bit.ly/DeriverArrivee mission and have to perform WHERE: Meeting point is at Kranji best friends since childhood. They are WHEN: Sun 12 - 3pm spine-chilling tasks and confront Gate, 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2 MRT: Yew Tee high school royalty: handsome, stars ADMISSION: $98++ for adults, McQueen (M18) fearsome spirits to make it out. WHEN: Tomorrow, 4.30 - 6.30pm of the swim team and popular with $30++ for children The documentary tells the fearless, WHERE: Location will be revealed to ADMISSION: Free TEL: 6794-1401 girls. They live a perfect teenage life INFO: www.celavi.com/ rebellious and extraordinary life of participants at a later date. INFO: [email protected] the l’enfant terrible architect of the until the night of Franky’s epic 17th MRT: Harbourfront fashion craft – Alexander McQueen. birthday party, when Franky and NATURE WHEN: Every half hour starting from Part of Archifest 2019. Ballas are involved in an unexpected 8pm, Wed to Nov 10 ADMISSION: Wed • The listings on these Happenings WHERE: Green Room, The Projector, incident that changes their lives Of Seeds And Senses & Thu: $52, Fri - Sun: $58 forever. pages are free. Write to Life Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 In this one-hour guided walking tour, INFO: sg.megaadventure.com WHERE: GV Grand, Golden Village, Happenings, Life, The Straits Times, Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway discover fascinating plants around 1000 Toa Payoh North, Singapore WHEN: Today, 8.30pm Great World City, 1 Kim Seng the outdoor gardens. You will learn Haw Par Thrilla 2 Promenade MRT: Somerset 318994 or e-mail ADMISSION: $13.50 (standard); how our human senses work and how This event is a special collaboration WHEN: Tomorrow, 2pm [email protected] concessions available plants have similar senses, and why with Shi Fu Miz, one of Hong Kong’s ADMISSION: $15 (standard) at least two weeks ahead. Include the INFO: theprojector.sg those senses are vital for both plants leading independent dance music INFO: www.gv.com.sg name of the event, organiser, venue, and people. festivals. It will serve as both a date and time, ticket prices and Martha & Niki (TBA) WHERE: The Canopy, Gardens by the third-anniversary celebration for nearest MRT station, as well as your A gripping, coming-of-age PETS Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive home-grown party collective Ice name, address and contact number. documentary about Swedish hip-hop MRT: Bayfront Cream Sundays and a pre-party for We reserve the right to edit dance superstars Martha Nabwire Save Our Singapore Dogs (SoSD) WHEN: Tomorrow, 10am the upcoming Shi Fu Miz festival. or reject items. Go to and Niki Tsappos. Follow their journey Adoption Drive ADMISSION: $10 Highlights include DJ sets from the www.straitstimes.com (click on and dance battles to becoming the Adopting a dog is a big responsibility INFO: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg Ice Cream Sundays resident DJs and Lifestyle) for more listings.