I enjoyed your review immensely heng. Thanks for that. Hopefully more international exposure follows. Here's mine for those that might not have read it yet:

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Royston Tans 4:30 is much more than just a character study of a 11-year-old boy whos left in the care of a reclusive Korean tenant who spends more time in a drunken stupor than he does outside his room. Its an intricate and personal look at isolation and loneliness in a bustling and fast-paced society where there are those who impose it upon themselves while there are also others who find it beyond their control. Much like Albert Camuss book, The Stranger, it follows a singular character through a journey of desperate solitude that touches on death, observation and estrangement.

As expected, time plays a significant part of the films motif. Its almost palpable, serving as a boundary for the boy, Xiao Wu (Xiao Li Yuan) to cross the lines that he would not dare pass when there is light. The other and possibly the most essential element of the film that is easily conveyed would be detachment and the general sense of alienation felt by the youth in Singapore. The film is by no means an exposition of this subject but an observation. In the case of Xiao Wu, he yearns for the attention and care of the adults around him, to no avail. Unlike the tenant, Jung (Kim Young Jun) who voluntarily shuts himself from everyone, to a life lacking meaning and affection............

Continues at www.moviexclusive.com/review/430/430.htm

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You know, I've always been cynical about local fimmakers. Eric Khoo, Jack Neo etc. have all been overhyped by the locals just so they can get prop up someone and hail them as the next savior for Singaporean cinema. Even Royston's 15 was overrated.

But after this showing I feel that he might actually be the real deal...artistically viable, it's insight and complexity is miles ahead of Kelvin Tong's Love Story. Although one has to give kudos to Tong for trying out something different and daring and yet not fall completely flat on his face.

Fantastic year.