Not My Mother's Baking

It's been a while since I last watched a good movie, and I must say that this movie is truly a good watch with a unique storyline that we do not see it often. It is very real and has also addressed issues that are not presented on the surface level and I found myself understand deeper in the society we live in. It is quite a mind opening piece of beautiful film with so many things that we can truly learn, unpack and appreciate from. Well done to Ho Pak Kin and Remi for writing this wonderful and well-balanced film and the casts for great acting skills. I am still "wow-ed" by this film even after I have left the cinema, and it is definitely a must watch.

Today we finally overcame our cinema COVID fears because we wanted to catch this little local production called Not My Mother's Baking. While the movie casts many fresh new faces, the strong storyline and script got me laughing and crying along for 2 hours! It centers around the love journey of the daughter of a Muslim celebrity baker and son of a Chinese roast pork seller. All the bias, fears and conversations of other that inter-racial couples need to navigate w each other, with their families and even within themselves... But yet the heart knows when it has met its mate, regardless of how wide and insurmountable the gap may be, or how impossible that love may seem. Kudos to Remi and Ho Pak Kin for writing such authentic dialogues into a beautifully accessible script that keeps you watching just because you want to watch the almost musical like finale of the wedding.

At first, I found the title a tad weird but I am glad I gave it a chance. Twice actually. Experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the whole course of the movie. Loved the comedy scenes and one particular sad scene stood out and hit me to my core. The movie bravely and successfully manages to tease out the mostly taboo and sensitive concepts of interracial & interreligious relationships. I really love how it portrays the multicultural, average Singaporean lives, rather than the one-dimensional, overly exaggerated and supposedly rich citizens. Kudos cast and crew! I hope this will arouse the local film industry to begin exploring and documenting the real Singapore.

The bravery treating such a sensitive topic and the honesty brought into the story, with a very palpable brainstorming when it comes to writing the script, will make you feel yourself identified with this or that character in one way or another, especially if you are Singaporean or you have lived long enough in Singapore to become Singaporean at heart. With a correct balance between comedic and dramatic moments this movie will make you laugh and the next moment will bring a few tears to your eyes. This comes with an accurate musical score that brings the audience to the right feeling, getting a lasting climax where the viewer laughs, sheds some tears then laughs again until the end of the movie. The story is strongly backed by a great work of the cast where the major supporting roles have not one but many intense scenes with a stellar portrayal especially regarding the scenes where the story brings up the conflicts on both sides from their own perspectives which makes this film unique; the co-lead roles, Mrs Tan (Christina Hon) and Chef Siti (Siti Mastura), carry a heavy critical roles representing the old vs the new, the conservative vs the change, the tradition vs evolution. We can also see the "cooling" characters reflected in the fathers and siblings and with a stronger presence of the friends Matin (Al Hafiz Sanusi) and Tini (Maya Jalil). As mentioned before the story meets a perfect balance but not just for the comedic and dramatic moments but also when it comes to the story of both families, with similar time on screen for the Chinese and Malay drama understanding a fair and unbiased impartiality from the Director's perspective. The choice of the title, Not My Mother's Baking, may seem odd at the beginning, especially after watching the movie, but let us pay attention to the deeper meaning where a Mother represents all that is traditional and unchangeable and here comes under the form of baking and where a mildly rebellious daughter needs a change to become herself... A lot more could be said but I will just add a personal note: I assure you that you will be thinking about this film long after you left the cinema and that only means one thing: is a absolutely worth to watch.

This film pulled me to watch it twice! I left the cinema with so much joy and laughter. It's been awhile I've not laughed so hard. And... maybe... I may had annoyed other patrons with my contagious laughter. Ok, poor choice of word. Oops! Sorry about that. But I wore mask throughout the movie. Ha! Anyhoo.. after watching this wonderful and beautiful film, I'm like a little kid excited about a new toy talking to my family about it with so much happiness and enthusiasm. Really enjoyed the beautiful storyline. Really appreciate the realness and facts (without prejudice and with open mind) about the typical every day life struggles, challenges, inconveniences, awkwardness, etc. in an interethnic community and relationships and somehow, make it work. Kudos to the genius team! I look forward to buy the film in DVD or digital if when it's available.