Film Picks: International Festival Of Films On Art, Singlit Unearthed

John Lui Film Correspondent recommends

The Space In Between - Marina Abramovic And Brazi PHOTO: MARINA ABRAMOVIC IN BRAZIL (2017) BY MARCO DEL FIOL
The Song Of Plastic PHOTO: ALAIN RESNAIS
What Has To Be PHOTO: SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL
In Time To Come PHOTO: TAN PIN PIN

PAINTING WITH LIGHT: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FILMS ON ART

The revamped and expanded festival, which now compresses a year-long series into a month's worth of screenings, includes the Singapore premiere of the documentary, The Space In Between - Marina Abramovic And Brazil (M18, 86 minutes, 2016). The renowned Serbian performance artist becomes a seeker, crossing the country in search of mystical experiences.

The Song Of Plastic (G, 14 minutes, 1958) is one of four short films in the special focus works created to fulfil commissions that have become classics. Such is the case with this short film, made by Alain Resnais for the French plastics industry.

WHERE: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 Saint Andrew's Road WHEN: Oct 7 to 29 ADMISSION: Tickets at $10 are available from the Gallery and Sistic (go to www.sistic.com.sg or call 6348-5555) INFO: For schedule, go to www.nationalgallery.sg


UTTER 2017: SINGLIT UNEARTHED

Part of the Singapore Writers Festival, this once-a-year collection celebrates the work of Singapore writers, adapted into live-action and animation pieces.

Film-maker Jerrold Chong has given a short story by the late former deputy prime minister S. Rajaratnam, a hand-drawn look in What Has To Be. Voiced by actors Sivakumar Palakrishnan and Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai, the drama deals with the loss of a child in the past and the grief that colours the present.

Three other works, adapted from stories by writers J.M. Sali, Gregory Nalpon and Tan Swie Hian, make up this omnibus.

WHERE: GV Suntec WHEN: Tonight to Sun, various times. Includes post-screening dialogues with film-makers K. Rajagopal, Lee Thean-jeen, Henry and Harry Zhuang, Jerrold Chong. ADMISSION: $10 INFO: For schedule and tickets, go to utter2017s1.peatix.com


IN TIME TO COME (PG)

62 minutes, now showing, 4 stars

Singapore film-maker Tan Pin Pin makes creative documentaries - works of non-fiction that include stylistic ideas taken from fiction cinema. The result is undeniably artsy - the images of Singaporeans performing typically Singaporean daily rituals are shown devoid of narration or context-setting text - but as she intends, the mood is immersive and calming.

Tan's work, greatly enhanced by sound designer Lim Ting Li, is reality television designed to not grab the viewer by the collar, but to serve as an invitation to dream, to ask questions, to notice details happening at the edge of the frame.

WHERE: FilmGarde Cineplex, 05-01 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street WHEN: Ongoing, various times. Director Tan Pin Pin will be present for audience questions at both daily screenings from today to Sunday ADMISSION: $11 INFO: For bookings and schedule, go to fgcineplex.com.sg

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 29, 2017, with the headline Film Picks: International Festival Of Films On Art, Singlit Unearthed. Subscribe