PAINTING WITH LIGHT: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FILMS ON ART
Organised by the National Gallery Singapore, the festival has a slate of more than 30 films that includes the South Korean documentary Bamseom Pirates (NC16, 119 minutes, 2017), which charts the turbulent career of the grindcore band of the film's title. The band have a bent for political agitation that lands them in trouble with the government.
China's Van Goghs (PG, 80 minutes, 2016) is a China-Dutch documentary about a painter, Zhao, one of thousands employed to churn out highly accurate reproductions of Western masterworks. Zhao has a dream - to travel to Europe to see the originals for himself.
WHERE: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew's Road MRT: City Hall WHEN: Oct 7 to 29 ADMISSION: $10 from the Gallery and Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to www.sistic.com.sg) INFO: For schedule, go to www.nationalgallery.sg
9TH LOVE & PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL
In the Filipino comedy-drama Die Beautiful (R21, 120 minutes, 2016), friends of transgender woman Trisha steal her body after her sudden death because her family want to bury her as a man. In a secret wake, her friends vow to fulfil Trisha's last wish - to leave the world as a breathtaking beauty.
Winner of the audience award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, this film is part of the festival marking lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning themes.
WHERE: Various Golden Village cinemas MRT: Various WHEN: Wednesday to Oct 8, various times ADMISSION: $13 INFO: For bookings and schedule, go to gv.com.sg
667 (NC16)
75 minutes/4/5 stars
In the most accomplished collection of short films since the SG50 omnibus 7 Letters (2015), five film-makers - four seasoned on the festival circuit and one newcomer - boldly interpret the meaning of Chinese identity in this island nation, using dialect where needed.
But the novelty of the Hokkien, Teochew (in the short film Wu Song Sha Sao, left), Hakka, Hainanese and Cantonese wears off quickly. In storytelling styles that range from pop-art musical to high-concept meta, the film-makers touch on the food, language, gender politics and rituals that define a community.
WHERE: Auditorium, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard MRT: Tanjong Pagar WHEN: Tomorrow and Sunday, two screenings a day at 2.30 and 7.30pm ADMISSION: $15 from Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to www.sistic.com.sg)
