Home Song Stories is the latest MIS ("Made-In-Singapore") production to hit the theatres recently. This is director Tony Ayre's heartfelt biography of his own mother, a Shanghainese singer 洪玫瑰 ("Rose"), acted by the resplendent international actress Joan Chen. While working at the bar as a cabaret singer, she fell in love with an Australian sailor Bill, and uprooted herself and her two children from Hong Kong to Melbourne, in search of her perfect marriage and family.
The migration proved to be difficult for Rose and her kids - May (played by attractive newcomer Irene Chen) and Tom (played by a very charming newcomer Joel Lok). She soon felt lonely when Bill left for his sailing assignments for long periods, and began mingling with the local Chinese community. That's when she got to know a chef from a local Chinese restaurant, Joe, played by local actor Qi Yi Wu ("715"). She became deeply attracted to Joe, who is very much a decade younger, and dumped her husband Bill, as in her own words, "Bill... not Chinese... not as good (as Joe)". * Oh well, women.. just admit, 715 is a yummier piece of meat than that chao ang moh!* It is also then, when her troubled life began.
The movie slowly revealed Rose's insecurities, dating back to her first unhappy arranged marriage with a Mr Sun. The abusive husband and two unfortunate miscarriages drove her to find solitude in Mr Sun's youngest brother. The shamless couple later eloped and led a difficult life, before the younger Sun became very ill and eventually took his own life. A heartbroken Rose would have done the same, if she was not pregnant with their child, May.
After younger Sun died, she single-handedly brought up May and Tom, working as a cabaret singer. The numerous men in her life - Bill, Joe and those ah peks she met while working in Hong Kong and AussieLand, never did gave her the happiness she yearned. A depressed Rose even attempted to take her own life on a few occassions due to depression, and her psychological well-bring went downturn when she suspected her boyfriend Joe of sleeping with her daughter. Out of jealousy and betrayal, she hit and ostracised May, till one day May actually attempted suicide, just like the way her mom did.
By then, Tom, the little boy, had grown to hate his mother for the dsyfunctional family life, and the humiliation he suffered at school. After all, no 3rd grader liked to be different from the rest of his class. He hated the fact she drove May to suicide, and scowled at his Mom when she suggested returning to Hong Kong one night. A once-again depressed Rose took her own life one last time, and succeeded. The helpless children tried in vain to take her down from the rope.
The migration proved to be difficult for Rose and her kids - May (played by attractive newcomer Irene Chen) and Tom (played by a very charming newcomer Joel Lok). She soon felt lonely when Bill left for his sailing assignments for long periods, and began mingling with the local Chinese community. That's when she got to know a chef from a local Chinese restaurant, Joe, played by local actor Qi Yi Wu ("715"). She became deeply attracted to Joe, who is very much a decade younger, and dumped her husband Bill, as in her own words, "Bill... not Chinese... not as good (as Joe)". * Oh well, women.. just admit, 715 is a yummier piece of meat than that chao ang moh!* It is also then, when her troubled life began.
The movie slowly revealed Rose's insecurities, dating back to her first unhappy arranged marriage with a Mr Sun. The abusive husband and two unfortunate miscarriages drove her to find solitude in Mr Sun's youngest brother. The shamless couple later eloped and led a difficult life, before the younger Sun became very ill and eventually took his own life. A heartbroken Rose would have done the same, if she was not pregnant with their child, May.
After younger Sun died, she single-handedly brought up May and Tom, working as a cabaret singer. The numerous men in her life - Bill, Joe and those ah peks she met while working in Hong Kong and AussieLand, never did gave her the happiness she yearned. A depressed Rose even attempted to take her own life on a few occassions due to depression, and her psychological well-bring went downturn when she suspected her boyfriend Joe of sleeping with her daughter. Out of jealousy and betrayal, she hit and ostracised May, till one day May actually attempted suicide, just like the way her mom did.
By then, Tom, the little boy, had grown to hate his mother for the dsyfunctional family life, and the humiliation he suffered at school. After all, no 3rd grader liked to be different from the rest of his class. He hated the fact she drove May to suicide, and scowled at his Mom when she suggested returning to Hong Kong one night. A once-again depressed Rose took her own life one last time, and succeeded. The helpless children tried in vain to take her down from the rope.
Tom, who grew up to became a writer, had never gotten over the episode. While other people loved to talk about their mother, Tom chose to write about Rose - To remember her, to love her, and to punish her. He finally understood how his mom felt at that time, and tried to forgive her for the trauma she inflicted on May and himself. After all this years, he is still the little Tom that yearned for his mummy...
This is a very well produced movie with a fine original score, professional cinematography and excellent performances. PLEASE PLEASE.. watch this movie for its earnest potrayal of the characters and the fine acting chops!
This is a very well produced movie with a fine original score, professional cinematography and excellent performances. PLEASE PLEASE.. watch this movie for its earnest potrayal of the characters and the fine acting chops!
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