#LookAtMe

In #LookAtMe Ken Kwek covers dark issues in Singapore revolving around religion, LGBTQ+, social media and family, and the film allows the viewers to feel what it is to live in a country where living authentically can not only make someone's life very difficult but also destroy their family. The story takes dark turns and makes the viewers sad and shocked, but it's tied in with humor, family love and hope, which makes it a compelling watch. Among the stellar cast Yao plays both the twin brothers brilliantly, while Pam Oei delivers the most poignant performance as their mother. A very important film for Singapore and the world.

How often do we get a Singaporean film that dares to take on religion, gay rights, privilege, prison conditions? No need to answer me. The censorship board already has. (Thanks, guys! Love you too.)

#LookAtMe is a necessary film for this age of crazy. I love how it tackles so many uncomfortable things about Singapore and Singaporeans, how it growls at all the rampant hypocrisy, how it weeps for it. Made me laugh and cry and hiss and want to throw rocks at people and people at rocks. Excellent cast wrung emotions from me I wasn't aware I still had.

I wish more people could see it! Yes, that deserved an exclamation point.

Recently saw this film and felt very much like Ken Kwek had taken me on an emotional roller coaster. The film, aside from being incredibly well shot and written, covers a broad range of issues ripped from the news in Singapore-but which have implications for communities around the world: the (very real) hypocrisy of evangelical leaders, the fear of speaking out in countries that punish free speech, and the ways in which families will sacrifice everything they have for one another.

The cast is superb. Yao is an actor to watch for sure. He carries almost every scene in the film as twins caught in the gears of the world around them, and through them we're allowed to see how destructive the world we've created can be for people who just want to live their authentic lives. He really is a truly talented young actor. Pam Oei, a Singaporean actress often associated with her comedic chops, also shines here as a mom who not only unconditionally supports her children but will do anything for them. Her performance is heartbreakingly sincere.

The film ends perfectly, which is such a hard landing to stick in any movie-perhaps more so when a final emotional catharsis is needed. Kwek nails it.

Being such a long while where I have been at a movie where the audience laugh as one, cheered and exclaim together.

A simple production that is at times raw, it hits you. It does showcase some underlying themes of the society that most people are afraid to know, thread or understand or challenge.

A lot of foreigners don't understand why Singaporeans got so much to complain about Singapore. Maybe this movie can help share such insights.

However, audience are to be careful with the opening statement. It's a fictional storyline, with inspiration from some real events. After all Amos is now locked up in US for his own crimes and is definitely not anyway close to be a hero in Singaporeans eyes.

A gripping story on a straight teenager's stance for LGBTQ+ rights, motivated to defend his own twin brother (excellent performance by Yao doing both roles). This is a film that delivers drama, humour, irony and most importantly hope. It's not a film just about the Community, but a film about the importance of justice, truth about hypocrisy and why humanity is critical in our crazy world to stay sane. May I just call out the outstanding performance by all the cast members and artistic vision by Ken, what an incredible achievement to have been produced with limited funding. Thought provoking and excellently produced, please go watch it!