881

881 is the title of the local movie that is making wavs across Singapore; apparently, it is tipped to overtake another local production by the incumbent Jack Neo (a comedien turned director well known for churning out movies with touch of lacal-ness) this year.

881 is also the movie moi went to the theatre with mi madre yesterday to watch. Luckily this is the school break for the primary and secondary kids, if not, Lauren (who watched the movie with her family weeks ago) warned me that I am highly possible to be the youngest person in the theatre.

Well, moi actualy thinks that the success of 881 lies in the fact that it is a story that is very close to ever Singaporean. One of the highlights if the lunar 7th month is the staging of a production in our various paerts across Singapore called the Getai - stage show with singers performances. Apparently, getai is a uniquely local act which even our neighbour Malaysia pales in comparison. In fact, a famous or well received performer often has to run from a stage to another in one single nights and what he/she erns in this one month alone can make up to be a staggering amount of mooh-lahs that is equivilent to another person's yearly pay! Of course, to be able to command such a high price, you must be very very popular! Another interesting fact is that singers (agian, referring to those popular ones, dah-lings) can actually be booked up to 1 year in advanced!

Now, of course, people like you and I who are trendy and shop in nice air conditioned sterile enviorments are so not the target audience of the getais. In fact the reason for such performence is to entertain the spirits roaming around earth (cos the gates oh hell are opened for the month on July in the lunar calendar and spirits are free to roam the earth - kind of like, i guess, a 1 month retreat) But nonetheless, older generations uncles and aunties with nothing better to do also love to visit such shows to rid their boredom. Which exmplains why most folks in the cinema are erm...the greying population.

Well, the movie is actually nice you know...The story of the 2 leads who developed a friendship over time only to realise that one is going to die is tear wrenching, and coupled with songs that are oh-so-tear-inducing... I personally still cannot get over some parts which are rather lame (fighting with laser beams as part of their special powers ??) but oveall, i love the songs (i know, i am so auntie and un-posh) the fancy costumes and of course, the heart wrenching ending.