British blown away by Jack Neo's movie.
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Today
April 2, 2005
A screening of Jack Neo's film I Not Stupid kicked off the Singapore Season Film Week at London's prestigious Barbican Centre on Thursday.
Said Graham Sheffield, artistic director of the Barbican Centre: "We ... always want to introduce new directors to British audiences. We actually don't know if there's an audience (for Singapore films) but we are willing to take the risk."
Judging from the response of British audiences, the much-talked-about local film about EM3 students and the pressures on Singaporean school children has struck a chord with the Britons.
British teacher Barbara Ngah, for example, asked in a post-screening discussion with Neo if the director had plans to release the film commercially in Britain. Speaking to Today later, she noted: "It was extremely thought-provoking and it ought to be seen by parents and students here, too.
"It's interesting how the issues we have here occur in Singapore too. People should be told that the cut-throat competition and pressure we have in schools isn't the be-all and end-all of life."
Banker trainee Tom Tilly said he came to the screening not knowing what to expect and went home "blown away".
During the discussion, someone asked Neo if he was aware that caning children is illegal in Britain and whether it was an acceptable practice in Singapore for parents to cane their kids, as depicted in the movie.
Neo said that while caning is a common disciplinary practice here, many parents cried after watching the caning scenes. "They told me: 'I didn't think I looked so ugly when I caned my child.' Many of them have since stopped."
He added that caning, however, is still a good deterrent for crime and that even hardened criminals shiver at the thought of being caned. And he should know — his next film focuses on prison life. -
Caning children in Britain is illegal. hur hur hur.
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Caning is acceptable as punishment for all infringements, but I draw the line at capital punishment. It has no place in a democracy.
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his films r so lame.
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frankly i think jack neo and his whole bunch is over-rated.
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money no enough was funny.
the next one can't remember what name, was also funny.
everything else i stopped watching coz he's just recycling the same old story. -
It's going to be 1 am soon, who is watching revenge of the sith?