#LookAtMe

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.

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.

Gripping account on how it feels to be at odds with some of your community whilst supported by others. Loyalties are tested in this story where the power of a viral video can have major consequences.

Really meaningful work from Ken Kwek and supporting team. It really brings to light how just being yourself, and speaking up is immeasurably harder when you or your sibling is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The poignancy of parts combined with the dark humour of others made for a compelling watch.

Some notable performances. Yao plays two brothers with great effect. Touching and guenuine performance. My best actor goes to Pam Oei for a caring, devoted, loyal yet pragmatic Mother figure. If you were in this situation you'd want Pam's character rooting for you too. Highly recommended watch.

This film is far more important than a piece of entertainment.

Set in and coming out of Singapore, a place where as of the time of this review, the LGBTQIA+ community still does not enjoy anywhere close to the same amount of rights as "straight/cis" people, this film joins the ranks of pieces of art that is brave enough to do the important work of amplifying stories and issues that DO exist in clean & green Singapore, but are always shoved under the rug.

The film is thoroughly engaging from start to end, and as a great and important note, lots of the cast members are part of SG's LGBTQIA+ community of members and allies and thus an integral part of this piece of work.

My only criticism is that, for a film marketed towards that community, it still places the "straight/cis" character front and center as the hero of the story.

That being said, I am grateful to every person involved for being some of the many daring artists willing to put their careers and names on the line to produce content like this that is still largely unwelcome in Singapore and has a very real potential to affect their working options in some way.

I hope one day we will all look back on this and other similar works of art as signs of an outdated era, rather than a continuing situation in Singapore.