Be with me, my beloved love, that my smile may not fade. -Theresa Chan
“Be With Me” is a Singapore Film by critically acclaimed director and producer Eric Khoo about love- the hope of love, the possibilities of love, the heartbreak of love. In an interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction, the story is, guided by a deaf and blind lady, Theresa Chan who types on her old typewriter about love and heartbreak. Theresa can speak audibly but very slowly and in funny pitches. She cannot see but she can find her way around. She can buy groceries and even cook her own meal. She teaches at the School for the Blind, and can write beautiful prose. She is a remarkably self-sufficient woman and is an inspiration to others. Through this incredible lady, we read of how she has overcame her odds and we see her living a normal life in the film, while at the same time we also hear, like a voice in our heads, her beautiful narration of life in those fluently crafted letters.
I could not discern beautiful sights or sounds, but I never saw or heard anything ugly either. -Theresa Chan
The key factor that made the film so engaging was the lack of dialogue and clever use of other mediums like messages and letters to fill the context. 10 minutes into the film and no one has uttered a single world. Without the use of dialogue that we are so used to, we can really appreciate the emotions running through each expression. We can almost feel the lonely battles each individual faces in love. The screams in the silence, that none of them utter. We can really feel the film, the character’s grief and heartache, hope and strength. Such beauty in the silence.
As Theresa tells her story, it gets more and more heart breaking with each sentence that appears on screen. How someone with her affliction survived through all that at such a young age really makes us cringe yet feel inspired by her story. Though the film was made as a series of different chapters with different stories, Theresa’s story far overpowered the story of the security guard and Jackie. I liked that Eric presented different forms and phases of love, but the other stories did seem rather out of place. Though it was tied together in the very end, it didn’t flow quite nicely in between in my opinion. The autobiography adaptation of Theresa’s story was touching and amazing, and I feel that that should be the entire basis of the film instead, or at least the characters should have a better connection to Theresa (though there is some beauty in the fact that they are strangers). I’m sure after watching this film, it will give anyone the strength to pull through whatever difficulties they may be facing in life.
The visuals of “Be With Me” are much like his other films, Mee Pok Man (1996) and Twelve Stories (1997) which was one of the first films I watched in my Singapore Film class that introduced me to film analysis and indie films (though I did quite badly). The unique framing and nicely paced frame rates made the film stylistic in a photographic way- every frame is captured the way an interesting photograph is captured. Tight framing and punchy imagery added a darkness to this film, as it did his earlier films, and further accentuating the emotions that were already so prominently featured.
This film is truly amazing and I don’t think I quite adequately explained the experience of watching it. Just watch if for yourself and you would be lost for words too.
9/10 (Amazing and inspiring story with great visuals and nostalgic locations but the “tapestry of stories” feels out of place)
This does remind me of our mini-workshop we conducted for the Singapore Association for the Deaf and the SAdeaf participants who have come down for our other Montage 2014 Photo Festival workshops. I feel really glad to have been able to bring photography to them. Even though they can’t hear they can still see. They can see the world for it’s beauty. They may not express themselves very well, but I do hope that they learn something from our classes to further pursue their passion in photography. I may have been a little apprehensive when interacting with them, but it was indeed an enriching experience.
Also, Bob Lee (one of our Montage instructors and judge) had even taught photography to the blind and gave an inspiring talk about his experience teaching them during our Photojournalism Workshop. He mentioned being involved in this social initiative called Dialogue In The Dark of which they aim to raising awareness towards the visually impaired to create a friendlier and more considerate environment for them in society. Be part of this movement and join in these unique activities to help spread the world for this worthy cause! Not only will it help you gain a better understanding and empathy towards the visually impaired, it will also let you cherish and appreciate what you have already been blessed!
Activities:
Workshops
Lunch in the Dark
Concert in the Dark
11th July 2014, Friday
8pm-10pm
Downtown East, D’Marquee
For more information: http://www.concert-in-the-dark.com/
We are all visual creatures 