Review: Long Long Time Ago by Jack Neo2 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn Jack Neo’s Long Long Time Ago, the progress of the central family closely follows the progress of Singapore starting from its independence in 1965. The beginning of Neo’s film in this momentous year naturally invites it being compared to the film 1965. In both film’s representation of national issues, the Singapore in Neo’s film feels more current in exemplifying the nation’s pragmatism in problem-solving. The second racial riot in the second half of the film is resolved by civil servants personally dispelling myths about racial conspiracies; a lesson learnt from the first racial riot that is explored by 1965. This is just one of the ways in which Neo portrays national politics differently, even at times exercising subtlety.
The film doesn’t rethread other national issues addressed in Neo’s previous films, most prominently the necessity and benefit of National Service that premised the Ah Boys To Men films. As the youngest brother of the central family is enlisted, Wang Weiliang and Tosh Zhang make brief appearances as soldiers sending the first batch of NS men to camp (Perhaps in this film, they’re Lobang and Sergeant Alex’s ancestors themselves). Neo even gets a bit controversial in portraying LKY’s reputation in the “˜60s. Unlike the reverence paid to him in 1965, the men of the central family have yet to become in awe of him, even going as far to doubt the sincerity of his tears in his iconic speech. There’s a bit of realism here with the ordinary locals feeling distant from the public figure and having no notion of his future legacy. The political figures they eventually connect to is the PAP minister seen repeatedly amidst their community and more significantly, the Indian Inspector Officer who develops from a threatening caricature to a friendly face.
via: SINdie
Image Credit: Golden Villiage
