Filming in Singapore took place in areas where actual fighting took place. The Sungei Buloh Wetlands (featured at the start of the film) is where the Japanese Imperial Army first landed on the night on 8 February 1942. Bukit Brown (in the middle of the island) contains an old Chinese Cemetery. Gravestones can been seen in various shots throughout the film.
In the two months leading up to the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, RAAF pilots would have been flying Brewster Buffalos or Hawker Hurricanes in a variety of RAAF, RAF and NZRAF Squadrons. The Allied aircraft featured in the film is the Hawker Hurricane. This aircraft was chosen over the Brewster Buffalo since most Buffalos had stopped flying over Singapore by early February. The film is set on 9 February (one day after the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the island of Singapore), by which time the Hawker Hurricanes were the only Allied aircraft left to fly sorties over Singapore.
The Allied Forces' Hawker Hurricanes (like the Brewster Buffalos) were inferior aircraft to the Japanese Zeros that they engaged in the skies over Malaya during the Battle for Singapore (February 1942). By 10 February, just two days after the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the island, all remaining Allied aircraft had been transferred to nearby bases in the Dutch East Indies. No Allied aircraft were seen again over Singapore and the Japanese had complete air supremacy.
While on location filming at Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery, Singapore in 2010, the movie's crew burnt offerings of incense-sticks and candle-incense to the nearby traditional Chinese tombs as a mark of respect before the commencement of each day (or night) of filming.
The character Ah Seng is apparently a member of the Dalforce unit (also known as the Singapore Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army) formed on 25 December 1941 by Lieutenant Colonel John Dalley of the Federated Malay States Police Force (Special Branch). The Dalforce unit of some 2,000 ethnic Chinese fighters fought alongside the 22nd Australian Brigade against the invading Japanese army up till the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942.
The Dalforce volunteer fighters were not issued with an official uniform or even helmets. Instead, each fighter wore a blue shirt, a yellow headscarf, and an insignia consisting of a red inverted triangular cloth on the right sleeve.
The Dalforce volunteer fighters were not issued with an official uniform or even helmets. Instead, each fighter wore a blue shirt, a yellow headscarf, and an insignia consisting of a red inverted triangular cloth on the right sleeve.