FILM REVIEW: The Red Packet

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A young boy born to an interracial family goes over to his relatives’ house to celebrate Chinese New Year. Unsure of the customs, he does what he knows best.

Director: Sufyan Sam’an
Year: 2017
Cast: Muhammad Syimir Bin Samsuri, Aric Hidir Amin
Language: Mandarin, Malay, English
Runtime: 3min
Rating:

Review by Jean Wong

Though a very short film, The Red Packet (2017) is a touching tale that delightfully frames the multiracial aspect of Singapore society. Do away with the belief that Chinese New Year are only celebrated by the Chinese — in a multicultural country like Singapore, cultures constantly meet in a beautiful harmony. The film was inspired by the director’s (Sufyan Sam’an) grandmother, who was Chinese but raised in a Malay family. When she finally met her Chinese family at the age of 70, her younger descendants were confused at the new festivities and culture they had to learn.

Sufyan Sam’an cleverly makes use of his younger cousins’ blunders and spins it into a heartwarming story of interracial families. Several instances throughout the film show how having awareness of the other culture contributes to the harmony between the two. From having Halal snacks to learning a different language, these compromises are what allows Singapore to function smoothly as a multiracial country. As a Singaporean, I realise that such compromises are a lot more common in our society than most others. Though we might not think much of it or pay attention to it, this merely shows how such actions have become normalised in Singapore.

Besides having the cute factor on his side, Muhammad Syimir Bin Samsuri, who plays the role of the protagonist, manages to convey various emotions well. From expressing joy with his mother to being jeered at by his Chinese peers, Muhammad plays the part of an adoring son to an alienated kid capably. The Red Packet also uses music to their advantage skilfully. Having a slow rendition of a Chinese New Year melody play in the background during pivotal points in the film makes that particular scene stand out much more.

Overall, The Red Packet is a heartening film that beautifully showcases how having different cultures and races has, in fact, become such an integral part and is a unique aspect of our country to be proud of. With Chinese New Year just around the corner, this sweet film is one for the family to watch as we remember to appreciate the family we have for the new year.

Click here to watch The Red Packet (2017).