Film: Destined (注定) (Singapore)

An advertisement it is! Or Public Service Announcement (PSA). Basically, people should care about the senior citizen where they have vast knowledge than a younger generation which I do agree as I respect most of the senior citizens. They know so much from the past, but as time pass, memories are well hidden until it is consider forgotten except those precious gems. That's what the short film about.

Anyway, back to criticism (truth), it is a very simple approach and plot between an elderly woman named Grandma Chew, reminiscing about her dance experience with a guy when she was younger after looking through her album. Definitely the cliche part of a helper or volunteer would be surprised over a younger version of Grandma Chew in the photo. Then another cliche part when he decides to tell her that he wants to ask a girl for a prom night, but he doesn't know how to dance so she decide to be a super woman with her fragile leg to teach him how to ballroom dance. She struggled but she really did teach him how to dance which eventually make her legs stronger without those crutches.

You hear me, senior citizen! Dance more to get a healthy life like this elderly lady dance salsa and latin with her teacher in Britain Got Talent.

At the end of the video, the guy mention about Esther, whom is the one he wish to ask for prom which coincidentally appear as a helper/volunteer in the small apartment. Of course, he decides to make the first move by creating a conversation which in the end, she asks for a dance lesson 101 to him. Of course, it blooms into a good bonding with each other, I do hope they can get together (lies).

Overall, simple story deserves a simple answer which is PSA-ish. I'm not criticizing or anything (maybe) but PSA film are sometimes too simple which lead to very simple understanding. I guess that's usually the motive out of it so I don't blame them for it. Then again, I do like about their art direction making it cluster like a horded person would do. It determined another personality of Grandma Chew.

Nothing much I could say... Oh yes, the acting style of the actor... not very convincing la, could get a better person or get it to be in Chinese dialect? It might make it more convincing as you already have an English subtitle. Even Esther... also not convincing, but even with the really Chinese accent, she could still do slightly better with her action or her face expression even for a short while.

Adding, I do like the grandma converse in English and her acting maybe? She's somehow convincible maybe because of her action or just the looks. Then again, best if in Chinese dialect. And lastly, the colour of overall film has the nostalgic feeling, but I can't seem to feel unfortunately.

A rating of 2 out of 5 because of PSA-ish, simple, messaging is there, but overuse of the word, 'Grandma Chew'.

Guys, respect and helped out a senior citizen okay?

Random: Background.

Hey guys, as you can see the background is a minimalist of a stag which I find it really cool and suits for my blog. Stay Wild.

Not only I'm a foodie but I do enjoy going for art gallery or just going through online art shop which is the hype now. I have an obsession of silhouette of animals and minimalist stuff as you can see but who doesn't? Simple yet communicative.

Do check out their shop at the link down below. Their artsy stuff are simple but modernly beautiful ( if there's such thing as a word).

They are designers from Spain passionate about art, modern architecture and interiorism which it's really obvious. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShopTempsModernes?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar

https://www.pinterest.com/shoptempsmodern/

Wild Stag.

Geometrical Stag.

Constellation of an Ursa.

Map of City of Love.

Film: Tony (Philippine)

Tony, a boy that had very minimal dialogue but was the link to the conflict between his mother and father which he's been secretly and sexually involved with Aunt Iris. When Aunt Iris came back, he looks more intimidated by her but when she and his father, decided to have 'fun' with her in the kitchen with the doors open (Why?). He gets more agitated and drew even detailed drawing consisting between his father and the aunt. The montages showed the son drawing of sexual behavior between those two until the father snatched away the paper away; telling him not to tell the mother. He was really intimidated by his father even from me, I felt a slight intimidation. As soon as the mother came back which was greeted by both of them as friends only. 

Eventually, Grace (mother) founds a piece of drawing of hugging and sexually kissing in the sons room then showed the crumpled artwork of two faces whispering to each other which  linked to her husband and her sister (Pretty Cliche). So she decided to talked it out the to the quiet son. Definitely, he couldn't say much but the face expression gave an idea to the mother that he couldn't stand watching this and keeping things as quiet possible. With few drawings of both their sexual behavior, which already sparked an idea for the mother to solve it. Of course, it needs a way to end which happens at the dinner table, knowing that father done it before with Iris which it could be few times even before she went to Singapore. In the end, she told him to leave and he agrees (quite fast eh?) without any divorce paper. Overall, the mother and the son live happily ever after in that great looking house. And yeah, that really how it ends.


Most of the time, you can see he's quite timid but mainly focus on his artwork. Using only black and white, there are meaning behind it not only just for art purpose but in color psychology, black means power and control, hanging on to information and things rather than giving out to others which the son is facing while white can cause feelings of isolation and emptiness but also pristine, making you feel as though you can't make a move for fear of upsetting it or creating a mess which causing the conflict between the father and the mother. 



I really like some of shots of the interior of the house because it looks like a picture from a photography gallery I been to especially the top angle shot of the overall attic which is the son's room. I felt there's a contrast between two walls where on the left side is full of drawings of people while the other side where the table is but it's organized and clean from the drawings on the wall. Somehow I believe he's really messed up but then again, he has to keep it quiet and organized (in a way of keeping clean by being secrecy) to avoid certain abuse from father? I don't know... I think it's just me.

I like the boys expression as if he's constipated and intimidated by the whole situation he's facing through. Even during his idling moment, there's a sense of tension whenever a character comes to him. He's pretty a disturbed child until he smiles at the end, reassuring everything is over. I also do like the father intimidation towards the son; it was soft yet it sounds like a knife pierced through the boys heart and mind. On the other hand, nothing much about the acting style of the mother and aunt Iris, it's just normal.

Lastly, the editing style is nothing much but to say but the color style of it seems yellowish to get a sense of warm, family drama throughout the film. Nothing much I could say but I would give this short film a 2 out of 5 stars as it has a simple plot and art direction.

Kudos to the cast and crew of this short film; DirektA Production 2014.

Appreciation.

I guess this is the cliche part of introducing myself. I shall just keep it short.

Hello guys,

You may call me Gary, Lee or Gary Lee. Depends on your preference. Anyway, this blog is seriously going to be freedom of expression and random reviews from short film to foodie experience. I love short film and food too so why not just say about it instead of going to one by one that this thing is good.

You have a foodie here, a traveler, photographer, videographer, model (maybe not) and many more coming soon.

I'm still young, wild and free.