Not My Mother's Baking

Having seen darker narratives that unearths the underbelly of Singapore from many local directors, now comes, Not My Mother's Baking, a new film by Remi M Sali as a breather. A lighted hearted film of two distinct worlds colliding and eventually embracing, for love is stronger than any differences. Compared to so many local films that are merely cropping up to preach propaganda, this film touches the right issues at the right pace. With a well balanced family drama, romance and dreams, I strongly encourage the local community to go watch this film. All characters are there for a reason and each and everyone of them have done their part well. Good comic sense and timing. A Singaporean film that actually depicts Singapore and Singaporeans the way they are. One thing I truly applaud this film for, is the way it was able to immediately connect with me - with its simple bare story. The filmmaker has managed to tell a story without trying to do so many other things. That's all as a viewer I am looking for. A clear story. Clear storyline, character goals and challenges captured in this local narrative. There are many moments in the film where the realities of different cultures and households collide and that too for a reason. Poignant and eyebrow-raising truths well depicted without resorting to deploy many unnecessary cliches. Both the lead characters have done justice to the roles they had played.Very bold depictions of realities at various parts of the film. Strongly encourage schools to show this movie to students for there is so much to learn and unpack from this new film. So many contemporary issues can be discussed by using this film as a starting point. Kudos to the film director film and his team for making such a nice film. Very nice seeing such a film of 'SEPET' feel. Good job to the entire team.

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.

Upon watching this during the world premiere which is also the 31st Singapore International Film Festival, I have had finally realised that the movie tells more of a Singaporean story or an Asian story as compared to the award-winning film, "Crazy Rich Asians". This film feels more real, more unfiltered and authentic, finally addressing some underlying issues in the society that is still lingering around up till today. Definitely a MUST WATCH and easily an award-winning film.

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.

It was such a light-hearted movie tackling important issues on interracial marriage/relationships in Singapore. One that many perhaps might deter from engaging a conversation with each other: the inner prejudicial and often, misunderstood classification that our society very much face in the community at large. The idealogy could perhaps passed on to generation and one might wonder, when will the stigma ends? Do we want our young Singaporeans to inherit a stigmatizing belief?

This movie higlighted it in a humourous manner with alot of reflection for their viewers. I believed Singapore is evolving and so does our local storytellers. We should be brave to lend a voice to issues that matters most. There is simply no room to whether it is a taboo topic to talk about. Singapore has changed and now, creating many platforms for several others to raise concerns regarding racial equality, interfaith, intrafaith and many other identity concerns for us as Singaporeans. Thus, the filmmakers would love you to reflect upon what is the meaning of racial equality and how do we practice it ?