7 Letters Explained
| 7 Letters |
| Director: | |
| Producer: | Karen Khoo-Toohey |
| Music: | Ricky Ho
Ting Si Hao and Joe Ng (segment "GPS (Grandma Positioning System)")
Matt Kelly (segment "Parting")
Dick Lee (segment "Bunga Sayang") |
| Cinematography: | Michael Zaw (segment "GPS (Grandma Positioning System)")
Hideoho Urata (segment "Parting" and "The Flame")
Brian McDairmant (segment "Pineapple Town")
Alan Yap (segment "Bunga Sayang")
Harris Hue (segment "That Girl") |
| Editing: | Yim Mun Chong (segment "GPS (Grandma Positioning System)")
Christopher Datugan (segment "GPS (Grandma Positioning System)")
Tammy Quah (segment "Bunga Sayang")
Fran Borgia (segment "The Flame")
Brian Gothong Tan (segment "Cinema") |
| Studio: | Chuan Pictures |
| Distributor: | Golden Village Pictures |
| Runtime: | 116 minutes |
| Country: | Singapore |
| Language: | Malay
Hokkien
Mandarin
Tamil
English |
| Gross: | US$$232,027 (Singapore)[1] |
7 Letters is a 2015 Singaporean anthology drama film directed by seven different directors. It comprises seven short stories celebrating Singapore's 50th anniversary.[2] The film was selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.[3]
Cast
"Cinema"
- Nadiah M.Din as The Actress
- David Chua as Fan Fan Law
- Aric Hidir Amin as Slim Villager
- Faizal Abdullah as Round Villager
- Hamidah Jalil as Older Actress
- Lim Poh Huat as Pontianak
- Juliette Binoche as Lady at Cavenagh Bridge (special appearance)
"That Girl"
- Yan Li Xuan as Caiyun
- Josmen Lum as Ah Shun
- Brien Lee as Ah Fa
- Sebastian Ng as Ah Cai
"The Flame"
- T. Sasitharan as Father
- Nithiyia Rao as Leela
- N. Vighnesh as Mani
- Fatin Amira as Helper
"Bunga Sayang"
- Ray Tan Liang Yu as Little Boy
- J. Rosmini as Makcik
- Faith Denning as Teacher
"Pineapple Town"
- Lydia Look as Ning
- Nickson Cheng as Kang
- Rexy Tong as Michelle (Baby)
- Rianne Lee as Michelle (6 Years Old)
- Anne James as Sumathi
- Yoo Ah Min as Ah Gek
- Karen Lim as Kim Leng
- Rachel Tay as Birth Mum
"Parting"
- J.A. Halim as Ismail
- Cheryl Tan as Swee Choo
- Khalid Omar as Train Conductor
- Jonathan Sim as Immigration Officer
- Nickson Cheng as Duty Officer
- Desmond Tay Thong Nam as Taxi Driver
- Angel Yeung as Woman on Bus
- Ashmi Roslan as Young Ismail
- Daryl Toh as Flag-day Boy
- Vivian Lim as Shop Assistant
"GPS (Grandma Positioning System)"
- Zhang Jin Hua as Grandma
- Zheng Geping as Son
- Hong Huifang as Daughter-in-law
- Hazelle Teo as Granddaughter
- Rey Phua as Grandson
- Mok Tye Par as Grandpa
Reception
Maggie Lee of Variety called the film "uneven but mostly poignant". Joanne Soh of The New Paper rated it 4/5 stars and wrote that it "truly is a passion project that will strike a chord with the older generation".[4] John Lui of My Paper rated it 4.5/5 stars and wrote that the film's quality is good enough to call for a reassessment of assumptions about government-funded art.[5]
Time Out Singapore selected it as the best Singaporean film of 2015.[6]
Controversy
In January 2016, the film was flagged by Malaysian censors before it was due to screen at the Titian Budaya Festival. A successful appeal was made by the organiser, CultureLink, against the cuts for the vulgar phrase in Cantonese, "curse your whole family", in Jack Neo’s segment of the omnibus.[7]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: 7 Letters. Box Office Mojo. 2 April 2016.
- Web site: One film for Singapore's 50th year from seven top local directors, including Eric Khoo and Jack Neo . Chan . Boon . Straits Times . 8 October 2015 . 8 October 2015.
- Web site: 7 Letters is Singapore's entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category . Chan . Boon . Straits Times . 8 October 2015 . 8 October 2015.
- News: 7 Letters (PG). Soh. Joanne. The New Paper. 5 August 2015. 2 April 2016.
- News: 7 beautiful stories, 1 little red dot. Lui. John. My Paper. 23 July 2015. 2 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150804075715/http://mypaper.sg/lifestyle/7-beautiful-stories-1-little-red-dot-20150723. 4 August 2015. dead.
- Web site: Best of the arts 2015. Lee. Benita. Pew. Gwen. Time Out. 25 November 2015. 2 April 2016.
- News: Chua. Genevieve. Malaysian censors take issue with Singapore films. 6 January 2016. TODAY. MediaCorp. 4 January 2016.
