Pondering what it means to put perfection on a plate. In the world of fine dining, André Chiang is probably best known for Restaurant André, his Singaporean dining establishment that lasted eight years, garnering critical acclaim, two Michelin stars and appearing on plenty of ‘best of’ lists before abruptly shutting down in 2018. While it may seem sad, Chef André instead was moving on to … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: André and His Olive Tree dir. Josiah Ng

Released worldwide on Netflix in December 2020, Singapore is the only country where food documentary André and His Olive Tree is unavailable to stream on the service. But good news – it’s coming to cinemas this week. And Singaporeans should be excited about this film, because the titular André refers to André Chiang, the Taiwanese chef behind Singapore’s very own Restaurant André, which garnered two Michelin Stars and … Continue reading Preview: Reel Talk – André and His Olive Tree at Golden Village Suntec

Beautiful scenery and strong performances can’t save the doomed romance between a paraplegic and university student. Pitched as a romance flick set to evoke tears, lush, gorgeous cinematography, a stirring soundtrack, and two incredibly charming stars in the leading roles, new Korean film Josée seems to have a recipe for success. A remake of Japanese flick Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003) (coincidentally, an anime … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Josée dir. Kim Jong-Kwan

The absurd idea of controlling happiness is lost in this manmade pastel utopia.   Touted as ‘Wes Anderson meets Black Mirror’, Tan Bee Thiam’s Tiong Bahru Social Club is a decidedly bolder film, both aesthetically and ideologically, compared to the usual Singaporean fare we’re used to seeing. Set in an alternate reality Singapore, the film’s title refers to a new initiative transforming the gentrified neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru into … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Tiong Bahru Social Club dir. Tan Bee Thiam

Love conquers all, but is that much more difficult when the odds are stacked against you.  Taiwan has often been hailed as one of the most progressive Asian countries when it comes to LGBTQ rights, ranging from having an annual Pride parade, being a mecca for gay culture in Asia, and of course, legalising same-sex marriage since 2019. But as Cheng Yu-Chieh explores in his … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Dear Tenant dir. Cheng Yu-Chieh