Be with Me

I watched this movie today on DVD. There are several touching stories, I felt I could relate to all the characters quite easily. I was happy to see that it was a "different kind" of teenage love story, the old man's face I could look at forever, so sympathetic it was, and the story of Theresa Chan was uplifting, how could it not be.

I admit there were a few moments where the movie seemed not so strong but by the end of it I found that I really did appreciate the unconventional way of telling a story that this movie provides. That most of the story is told through images or subtitles and without dialogue is refreshing and reminds us that there are several ways to make a good movie. The ending alone is beautiful and sums up the entire film for me. I specifically went into Videodrom not wanting to rent a Hollywood film and I happily did not get one. This is a special movie, forget being critical about the techniques, be carried away by the story.

A very inspiring Singapore film "Be with Me" poetically explores the human desire of longing for love. The pictures shows a elder shopkeeper moans his passing wife, a fat awkward guy secretly admires a girl, and two high school girls madly fall in love, then maybe not. Through these three groups of seemingly unrelated people from different walk of lives, the picture shows us how universal and powerful the longing for love really is. Then the film cuts into its "documentary" element about Theresa Chan, whose real life autobiography is the inspiration of this film. Theresa Chan became deaf and blind since the age of fourteen. In the film, Theresa Chan (who plays herself) makes her life joyful and makes an incredible impact of the lives of others, and eventually connected those three group people blended in the movie. The cinematography of this film is simply amazing. It's the quiet type of film, out of ninety-three minutes, the film only has a two and a half minute dialogue. But strangely, it's not a depressing film. When the movie is over, you feel inspired by Theresa Chan.

When the credits roll, the casts are listed under three categories: "Mean to be," "Looking for love," and "So in love." I can't help but fitting myself in one of those categories. I found out that I can't be put into any one single category exclusively. Is that the message this film is trying to let me to take home with? We are all in this game longing for love, no matter who you are.

"The cinematic spectacle has its rules, its reliable methods for producing satisfactory products. But the reality that must be taken as a point of departure is dissatisfaction. The function of the cinema, whether dramatic or documentary, is to present a false and isolated coherence as a substitute for a communication and activity that are absent." Guy Debord Critique de la séparation (1961)

Eric Khoo's "Be With Me" will divide its audiences. For some, weaned on slick Hollywood mega productions and blockbusters, the film's deliberate measured pacing is likely to exasperate, while others, plugged into the hype from the Cannes Festival, are likely to ignore its flaws and sing its praises.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Interwoven among its three vignettes on love/lost/yearning, "Finding Love", "Meant To Be" and "So In Love" is also the semi documentary – on Theresa Chan. Told largely through subtitles, the story on how she had managed to overcome life injustices after being deaf and blind will strike a chord with many viewers. The segment does however come across as being rather detached, causing some of the other segments to be less developed.

Ironically, the poignancy of the film is corroborated by its Singapore setting, where the denizens are constantly admonished to be productive and efficient, and its humanity for the most part, relegated to mega TV charity fund raising programs. That "Be With Me" was able to speak to the heart of the ordinary, the downtrodden, the destitute and the minorities there, may perhaps then be the best accolade one can accord the film.

This Singaporean movie consist of 3 different stories, but there's a moment when the stories be connected (4 example like Love Actually). The ultimate story is "Meant To Be", a--narrative biographical--story about Theresa Chan, a single almost old lady who is deaf and blind. She conditionally made relation with an old cooker-man who is miserable since the death of her wive. The second, "Finding Love" is about a fat security guard who adore an elegant woman and try to get her. "So in Love", the 3rd one is about love story between 2 girls (lesbian), Jackie and Sam. The idea of the stories are so realistic and touching.I'm an Asian too, and have to admit that this is one of the greatest modern Singapore movie. This movie is lack of luxurious miser en scene or montage, contrary, it's so smooth and soft with it's minimum dialog between the characters and melancholic original score, and sentimental cinematography, make this movie so sacred and live.

The film is special in that it takes away a very essential part of a film: the dialog. The director has to use another way to get across the messages, and this is by no means easy. The viewer also has to adjust to the lack of explicit dialog in order to appreciate the film. I sat through the movies uncomfortably. I nevertheless like the film since it gives me a chance to exercise my imagination.

Another unusual feature of the film is that the three parts of the film do not connect with each other. I see it as a way to express the core idea of individual solitude in a modern society. Everyone is confined to his or her own world. It's not easy to confront this unfortunate aspect of cosmopolitan life. To the extent that the viewer finds the whole film boring, it's already a success. Atomized life is indeed very boring.

I also saw through the deaf and blind character that we should not take our senses for granted. Try imagine how your world would be like if they are taken away from you. The character's will of accepting her physical deficiencies is very inspiring.

In contrast, the parts about the security guard and the short relationship between two young lesbian girls are not worth remembering. It's nothing new. You find these people all the time.