Eric Khoo's "Be With Me" may be shown in Singapore By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE: Eric Khoo's latest film "Be With Me" opened to a full house at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival last month.
The response to the film was so overwhelming organisers even had to turn away those with tickets.
But those who got in gave the film a six-minute standing ovation, which touched the director and cast.
Actor Chiew Sung Ching said: "Really, we felt this sense of pride. Because we're Singaporeans, I'm sure they perceive us as Singaporeans representing Singapore. That made me really proud.....it was an achievement for us."
"Be With Me" is a tapestry of three love stories, including one between two girls.
"She is experiencing love for the first time, so it's quite confusing for her, like she is actually finding out what love really is," actress Samantha Tan said of the character in the show.
Another story is about a lonely security guard stalking a beautiful girl.
"There are a lot of people who live like this in Singapore - people who work and come home, don't have many friends. They actually enjoy food, they eat to escape certain realities," actor Seet Keng Yew said, referring to the lonely security in the show.
But the overall message of the film is love.
Director Eric Khoo said: "What we wanted to do was to make a subtle film, not an obvious film. We wanted to have the audience participate, experience it on their own levels."
"Be With Me" is slated for general release overseas by a French distributor in October.
It may be shown in Singapore later this year, after it has been reviewed by the Board of Film Censors.
The Media Development Authority says it is pleased with the response to the film in Cannes. - CNA/ir
