Things To Do In Singapore: Hayao Miyazaki's Last Film Is Here
Our weekly edit of things to check out.
By Keng Yang Shuen,
Film buffs have a treat this week: the highly anticipated The Boy and the Heron, billed as Studio Ghibli's legendary co-founder Hayao Miyazaki's final film, opens in Singapore today. While the 82-year-old auteur has made similar announcements before, the film is undoubtedly a must-watch for any Studio Ghibli enthusiast. Additionally, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is serving up over 100 critically acclaimed gems from Singapore and around the world – check out our recommendations below.
Yes, it's finally here: The Boy and the Heron, touted as animation grand maestro Hayao Miyazaki's swansong (though fans may never know – after all, the auteur's 2013 film The Wind Rises was billed as his last work). The film is described as a surreal tale of a young boy (Mahito) growing up amidst the great fear and uncertainties of World War II, grappling with the untimely death of his mother, a hospital worker who was on shift when the building gets bombed.
Of course, anyone familiar with Studio Ghibli and the 82-year-old Miyazaki's oeuvre should expect his trademark motifs – the lonely child protagonist, anthropomorphic critters, the tiny grandmas. However, what sets "The Boy and the Heron" apart from previous works is a sense of maturity and a meditative pondering of how people lead their lives – small wonder, given the film is based on the classic Japanese book, How Do You Live?
Opens Nov 30
CATCH THE BEST ARTHOUSE FILMS FROM SINGAPORE AND AROUND THE WORLD
The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is the biggest and longest-running event of its kind on the local arts calendar, and this year, over 100 films from 50 countries will be screened. It's a bumper crop this year, with a noticeable emphasis on local works, as a group of Singapore films (including two co-productions and three features) takes the spotlight.
A big highlight is emerging Singapore filmmaker Nelson Yeo's Dreaming and Dying, a surreal work that explores repressed desires and entangled memories among three middle-aged friends who have reconnected for the first time in years. Dreaming and Dying picked up several prizes, including the Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the Present and Swatch First Feature Award, at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival.
Then, there's also the highly anticipated black gothic comedy Poor Things (pictured) headlined by Emma Stone. Directed by feted Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, it's been described as a feminist take of sorts on Frankenstein, in which Stone plays a young woman brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe) and starts to hunger for life experiences she's never had. The film is seen as a major contender for the Oscars next year, so make a beeline for it.
Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing will also be in town to attend the SGIFF; she'll be receiving the festival's Cinema Icon Award 2023, and several of her films — Green Night (2023), Double Xposure (2012), and Buddha Mountain (2011) — will be screened.
Check out the full line-up here.
Nov 30-Dec 10, various times and locations
The Christmas markets are in full swing, and a good one to hit up for an assortment of gifts is vintage homeware purveyor Aeae Furniture. They've put together everything you could want for your own home/domestic space, including delectable baked goods from Dirty Cookies, design books, and magazines from Basheer Graphics, cute greens from plant specialist The 3 Keys, and specialty coffee from Morning. Of course, there's also Aeae's own tasteful curation of homeware and furniture (pictured, their custom incense), with most pieces on discount now.
Dec 1, 5pm-12am, Dec 2 and Dec 3, 12pm-7pm, at Aeae Furniture, 10C Jalan Ampas, #07-01 Ho Seng Lee Flatted warehouse
Buzzy digital art collective ToNewEntities is putting on a party as part of the fringe programming of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). Titled sysnesthe(a)sia (a play on the condition synesthesia, in which someone experiences things through their senses in an unusual way, for example, tasting food in colour), the party is intended to celebrate regional art, music and culture and their relationship to films at large. Taking place at The Projector's newly opened space at Cineleisure, the party presents various sets by emerging DJs from Singapore (look out for Strange Weather's Petyet), Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, as well as a digital art showcase by Thai art collective Joint Artistic Amateurs Group.
Get your tickets here.
Dec 2, from 10 pm, at Projector X No Spoilers Bar, Cineleisure, Level 5, 8 Grange Road
Latin America is certainly having a moment – there's the ongoing mega-exhibition over at National Gallery Singapore (Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America) that examines the commonalities between the artistic practices of both regions. For fashion folks, there's obviously Dior's Cruise 2024 collection, which was inspired by Mexico's rich history and art.
The Asian Civilisations Museum is throwing its hat into the ring too with its new blockbuster show – Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas – which looks at the historical trade of goods that linked Asia to the Americas and Europe. The exhibition features some 140 artefacts that span the 16th to the 20th century, many of which are presented in Singapore for the first time. Goods that are commonly found in Southeast Asia today – for example, silver – were traded from the Americas and became the first global currency. And in return, porcelain, silk, spices, and other goods from around Asia were introduced to the Americas.
The exhibition will also complemented with curator tours, weekend festivals, dance, food and crafts workshops for a more comprehensive understanding of Mexican and Filipino culture – more here.
On now till Mar 17, 2024, 10am-7pm daily, at Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place