showbiz
Finding love at any age
Gavin Yap's ‘The Incredibly Strange Tale Of The Man Who Lost His Love But Bought It Back With A Packet Of Duck Rice’ gains recognition in the 10th Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF), winning best short film. – Pic courtesy of Doghouse73 Pictures, December 31, 2015.“The Incredibly Strange Tale Of The Man Who Lost His Love But Bought It Back With A Packet Of Duck Rice” is the remarkably long name for Gavin Yap's latest short film.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” the actor, director and writer said at the screening of the film in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“It was a funny title for a funny film.”
But the 15-minute short, which was filmed in just two days, is more than just a comedy. Instead, it deals with issues of love, death and loneliness in a beautifully-crafted package that both entertains and touches the viewer.
Veteran theatre actor Thor Kah Hoong plays the lead role of an elderly man who had just lost his wife.
He finds solace in a female taxi driver, played by Louisa Chong, and her younger housemate, a role filled by comedian Phoon Chi Ho.
The short film starts with a doctor telling Thor's character that nothing more can be done to save his wife. Following her death, he sits at home in a daze, barely saying or doing anything until one day, he just ups and leaves.
He wanders the streets, where he is almost mugged by two young punks. In comes Chong's character, who also introduces the comedic elements in this film.
Thor's character's persistence in making friends and deadpan humour in the second half revealed an understated but wonderful dimension to the actor's on-stage personality.
Chong was an absolute star in the film, playing a disgruntled taxi driver perfectly.
Her exasperated yelling in Cantonese left the audience in stitches. But behind a scowl that never left her brow was a caring heart which touched the widower.
Phoon Chi Ho's roommate character supplied never-ending laughter. – Pic courtesy of Doghouse73 Pictures, December 31, 2015.Phoon's character served as friend, unknowing cupid and perfect comic relief. His drunken tirade against Singapore and attempts to sing Michael Bolton made the small theatre erupt in laughter.
Yap's decision to cast older characters in the film sets it apart from the usual romantic plots featuring young couples, sending the message that it's never too
late to find love.
Short and sweet, “Strange Tale” was laugh-out-loud funny and tugged at my heartstrings at the same time. The audience rooted for Thor's character, and his newfound love for Chong left everyone with feelings of hope.
The film had recently won the Blencong Award for best short film in the 10th Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF) in early December. It has been submitted to several more festivals but you can catch it when it is eventually made available to the public in May 2016.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, duck rice does make an appearance in “Strange Tale” but you'll have to catch it yourself to see when and how. – December 31, 2015.
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments