9 Oct 2007

Truth Be Told

Original Title: Zhen Xiang

Director: Teo Eng Tiong

Language: Mandarin with English subtitles

Starring: Yvonne Lim, Bernard Tan, Liang Tian, Steven Woon

Release: 2007-10-09

This low-budget Singaporean film is a surprisingly impressive debut feature by Teo Eng Tiong. Though shot with little money, it has a strong script and direction, convincing acting and overall good technical package.

The engaging story tells of a TV reporter (Yvonne Lim) investigating a string of suicides at a one-room HDB flat. There she finds a woman who is so poor she has steal food from the offerings made to the dead. Instinct tells the reporter that this is the story to pursue and not the suicides

Showing for a limited period at GV cinemas, Truth Be Told should be seen by anyone who supports the Singapore film industry. Shot with a skeletal but talented crew, it tells its story simply, economically and effectively. It touches on a variety of Singapore issues like the neglected one-room HDB dwellers, the problem of loan sharks, and dreams and hopes of common Singaporeans.

Catch it if you can.