SPECIAL PROGRAMME – UP/DOWN SINGAPORE HILL: UN-MAPPING OUR PERSPECTIVES OF THE REGION ON SCREEN | 24 AUG 2024, 4.30PM to 6.30PM

Singapore has long been viewed as a dynamic nexus in the context of our larger region and especially Southeast Asia (SEA), often perceived as both a central hub and an observer of its neighbouring peripheries. This short-film programme, ‘Up/Down Singapore Hill: Un-mapping Our Perspectives of the Region on Screen’ invites audiences to transcend conventional narratives and explore viewpoints that challenge how Singapore and SEA are interconnected yet distinct, delineated by our national narratives.

The metaphorical reference to “Singapore Hill” in the title evokes the historical and colonial legacy of Fort Canning, a strategic military site during the colonial era, and aims to challenge and reframe traditional, often colonial-influenced worldviews outward to and of SEA. By invoking a site associated with war and conquest, the programme highlights the need to critically examine and transcend these imposed perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s diverse and interconnected identities, serving a powerful reminder of the historical contexts that have shaped current viewpoints, inviting audiences to explore new, more inclusive narratives that honour the plurality of voices within SEA.

The films in this programme explore the localised vantage points with which we view the region and the world, mediated and governed through the perspectives of Land, State, and Body. The focus on Singaporean works is an opportune lens with which we can consider our standpoints and biases. Each film is a narrative thread, woven from the fabric of lived experiences and oral literacies, demonstrating the complexities and richness that make up our region, challenging any monolithic or colonial perspectives on ‘Southeast Asia’.

Theme 1: Re-Mapping the Land

• This theme explores the relationship between geography and identity, and how landscapes are intertwined with personal and collective histories. The films also consider the politics and imperialism associated with land and land use, and how these govern the ways we extend into the world.

• Second Chance (dir. Robert Zhao, 2022, 8 mins)

• Blueprints for Volition City (dir. Toh Hun Ping, 2006, 8 mins)

• Wormhole (dir. Yeo Siew Hua & Nelson Yeo, 2012, 4 mins)

Theme 2: Re-Mapping the State

• Films under this theme investigate the interactions between individuals and state mechanisms, highlighting how political landscapes influence personal lives and community dynamics.

• Dahdi (dir. Kirsten Tan, 2014, 18 mins)

• Wallflowers in the Parade (dir. Tan Jit Jenn, 2021, 18 mins)

Theme 3: Re-Mapping the Body

• This theme focuses on the human body as a site of political, social, and cultural contestation. It explores how bodies are mapped, controlled, and liberated within the larger societal context. Singapore’s socio-political models influence the physical and psychological experiences of individuals within the region, highlighting issues of autonomy and resistance.

• Visions From My Scalp (dir. Mark Chua and Lam Li Shuen, 2023, 5 mins)

• Hampshire Road (dir. Ting Min-Wei, 2019, 8 mins)

• Jiran Sekampung (dir. Toh Hun Ping, 2020, 6 mins)