‘Sementara', the winner of the SGIFF Audience Choice Award in 2020, is having its theatrical release in Singapore this April, which is nearly sold out already. Interested audiences should make haste and book their tickets for the screenings at the earliest.
Synopsis
Sementara (“transient”) delves into the philosophies, daydreams, and crucial moments of strangers—all from different backgrounds, morals, and perspectives—throughout Singapore during its 50th anniversary.
Using the themes captured through intimate interviews, the film follows threads that lead back to certain universal truths—whether that's trying to make ends meet, having or lacking an identity, believing or not believing in gods, gender and sexuality, love, sadness, and death.
HIGHLIGHTS:
–WORLD PREMIERE at the 31st Singapore International Film Festival. Included in the Singapore Panorama program which presents “a crossection of the state of independent filmmaking in Singapore. Through their varied portayals, they capture a slice of eclectic Singapore that we hope will spark discussion and reflection.”
–WINNER of the Audience Choice Award at SGIFF.
-Listed as one of NME's 10 best Asian films of 2020.
–Sold out in 15 minutes for the physical screening. One of the fastest to sell in the festival.
-Labeled a ‘festival favourite' at SGIFF – Screen International
-Mentioned by SGIFF's Artistic Director, Ming-Jung Kuo, as her must-watch recommendations.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:
Sementara (“transient”) started off as a small project inspired by Chris Marker's Le Joli Mai (The Lovely Month of May). It was supposed to be something around 20 minutes that would just immortalize itself online somewhere. But thanks to the guidance of a professor, and the unexpected lengthy conversations that we chanced upon in the making, this quickly morphed into something much more intimate.
One of the more surprising parts of the filmmaking process was the ease with which we were able to get the subjects to speak on camera. We'd approach them in their neighborhoods as they went about their daily routine, or while at work or at play, and frequently spent more than an hour talking to them. Sometimes, the camera wouldn't even be set up yet––but we just rolled the conversation. Them knowing that their time is more important than us finding the perfect frame and lighting, was crucial in us finding their conversational truth.
Which led to them generously share the raw parts of their lives, the messy parts of their thoughts, and then even thank us for the experience, when clearly we were the ones in the position to thank them. What we heard sometimes made us wonder, often made us laugh, and almost always moved us.
Our goal in making this documentary was to practice seeing, not scrutinizing or interrogating, but observing and understanding. Perhaps most people want to be accepted as whole people, scars and stories and all. This film attempts to put all these stories, goals, fears, and difficulties in one, hopefully, introspective journey––that happens all at once.
