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'''''Singapore Dreaming'''''{{efn|name=b}} ({{zh|s=美满人生|t=美滿人生|p={{Audio|zh-Mei Man Ren Sheng.ogg|Měimǎn Rénshēng}}}}) is a 2006 film set in [[Singapore]]. The film follows the Loh family, a typical Singaporean working-class family, through their aspirations for a better life and the harsh reality that makes it difficult for them to fulfill these aspirations. The film is inspired by a 2000 essay, ''Paved with Good Intentions'', that the writers of the film had written for the [[Singapore International Foundation]]. A concatenation of e-mails Singaporeans sent to writers [[Colin Goh]] and [[Woo Yen Yen]] on their life stories in relation to the Singaporean dream eventually led them to write, produce and direct ''Singapore Dreaming''.<ref name="mb" /><ref name="npintro">Ho Lian-Yi, "Are they heartlanders?", The New Paper, 2006-08-30.</ref><ref name="stpremiere">Ong Su Bin, "Singapore Dreaming is reality", The Straits Times, 2006-04-14.</ref> The film stars [[Richard Low]] as Poh Huat, [[Alice Lim]] as Siew Luan, [[Serene Chen]] as Irene, [[Yeo Yann Yann]] as Mei, [[Lim Yu-Beng]] as CK and [[Dick Su]] as Seng.<ref name="fc"/>
 
The film was theatrically released on 7 September 2006,<ref name="mb" /> and at one time ranked fifth on the Singapore [[box office]].<ref name="top10-20060913">"top 10 movies", The Straits Times, 2006-09-13.</ref> It won the [[Montblanc New Screenwriters Award]] at the 54th [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]], and was the first Singaporean film to receive an IFFPA-recognised international feature film award.<ref name="dus" /> Owing to its nature as a Singapore-produced film, ''Singapore Dreaming'' received much attention from local viewers, film critics and public figures alike. It has received great praise from some local critics and public figures, most notably fromincluding [[S. R. Nathan]], the [[President of Singapore]].<ref name="blog95:0">Colin{{Cite Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185702/|url=http://singaporedreamingwww.criticine.com/blog/review_article.php?qid=node%2F95 Please21|title=Review: Support SINGAPORE DREAMING!]"Singapore Dreaming blog, |last=Ramani|first=Vinita|date=2006-0910-05. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q23|website=node/95 the original] {{webarchiveCriticine|archive-url=https://web.|archive.org/web/20070927185702/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q-date=node%2F95 |dead-url=|access-date=20072019-0901-27 05}} on 2007-08-06.</ref><ref name="Criticine">ColinIt Gohhas andbeen Woopraised Yenby Yen,local "[http://www.criticine.com/review_article.php?id=21critics Singaporeas Dreaming]"Criticine,a Octoberrelatable 23,portrayal 2006.of Retrievedlife 2012-12-17in Singapore.</ref name=":0" />
 
==Plot==
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Sneak previews began on 1 September 2006 while the film was commercially released on 7 September 2006.<ref name="mb"/><ref name="blog72">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185233/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F72 Singapore Dreaming &mdash; In Cinemas 7 September 2006!]", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-07-03. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/72 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185233/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F72 |date=2007-09-27 }} on 2007-09-27.</ref> The film opened on a total of eighteen screens islandwide, which encompasses all GV and [[Cathay Organisation|Cathay]] screens and selected [[Shaw Organisation|Shaw]] and [[Eng Wah Organization|Eng Wah]] screens.<ref name="blog88"/>
 
The producers were initially concerned about the small independent film lasting in the cinemas with the influx of [[Cinema of the United States|American blockbusters]]. Thus, the producers continually urged on the film's blog for those interested to watch the film as early as possible, in case of a short theatrical run.<ref name="blog95">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185702/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F95 Please Support SINGAPORE DREAMING!]"Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-09-05. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/95 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185702/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F95|date=2007-09-27}} on 2007-08-06.</ref><ref name="blog100">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185301/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F100 Opening Weekend &mdash; Please Keep up the Support!]", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-09-11. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/100 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185301/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F100 |date=2007-09-27 }} on 2007-09-27.</ref><ref name="blog109">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190030/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F109 Singapore Dreaming: The Last Weekend?]", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-09-22. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/109 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190030/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F109 |date=2007-09-27 }} on 2007-09-27.</ref> However, the film's theatrical run was to continue for eight weeks; it outlasted all other films that opened in the same week.<ref name="blog125">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185619/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F125 Thank You: One Dream Ends, Another Begins]", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-10-26. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/125 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185619/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F125 |date=2007-09-27 }} on 2007-09-27.</ref> After a hiatus of a few weeks, the film reopened transiently at GV VivoCity.<ref name="blog126">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070918232519/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F126 Return of the Dream?!]", Singapore Dreaming blog, 2006-11-09. Archived from [http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node/126 the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918232519/http://singaporedreaming.com/blog/?q=node%2F126 |date=2007-09-18 }} on 2007-09-18.</ref>
 
=== Advertising ===
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The feature film is the first Singaporean film to be in competition for the two awards at the IFFPA-recognized{{efn|name=d}} San Sebastian International Film Festival. Moreover, while other Singaporean films (like those directed by [[Eric Khoo]] and [[Royston Tan]]) have won awards at other international [[film festival]]s before, those are either not recognized by IFFPA, or are categorized by them as "specialized". The "specialized" tag means that, as ''The Straits Times'' explains, "they focus on a particular aspect of film or film-making". The film thus has the added honour of being the first Singaporean film to receive an award at an IFFPA-recognised international feature film festival.<ref name="dus" />
 
On Sunday, 28 October 2007, ''Singapore Dreaming'' snagged the Best Asian/Middle-Eastern Film Award at the 20th [[Tokyo International Film Festival]], beating competing films such as Exodus by Hong Kong director Pang Ho Cheung and starring Simon Yam; Breath by South Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk; Mad Detective by Hong Kong's Johnny To; and A Few Days Later by Iranian superstar Niki Karimi. The Tokyo International Film Festival is one of the world's most important film festivals, and Singapore Dreaming is the first Singapore feature to win this award.<ref>"Sweet Dream", TODAY, 30 October 2007.</ref>
 
===Box office and rankings===
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===Critical reception===
On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an audience approval rating of 76% based on 1,152 reviews, with a rating average of 3.6/5.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/singapore_dreaming|title=Singapore Dreaming (2006)|last=|first=|date=|website=Rotten Tomatoes|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews from film critics, who praised its technical aspects and relatability, but had reservations regarding its originality. Lin Wenqi, reviewing the film for a [[Taiwan Film Institute]] periodical, found the film to be a captivating and relatable portrayal of Singapore society. According to Lin, unlike the excessively preachy Singaporean film ''[[I Not Stupid]]'', ''Singapore Dreaming'' was impressive in its ability to weave life lessons into the plot and cinematography.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.funscreen.com.tw/review.asp?RV_id=312|title=Review: Singapore Dreaming|last=Lin|first=Wenqi|date=2007-11-09|website=Taiwan Film Institute|language=zh-tw|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> Singaporean critic Vinita Ramani praised the acting, and noted that many Singaporeans found the film relatable. However, Ramani wrote that the film "falls short of expectations" because it featured platitudes regarding the unsuccessful pursuit of material wealth by unfulfilled HDB heartlanders, a theme already "milked to death" in Singaporean films such as [[12 Storeys|''12 Storeys'']] (1997).<ref name=":0" /> The Spanish critic Jonathan Holland, writing for [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']], called the first half of the film "over-stretched, noisy comedy", preferring the portrayal of the funeral proceedings in the second half for its "pleasing lightness of touch" and lyrical music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/singapore-dreaming-1200512889/|title=Reviews: Singapore Dreaming|last=Holland|first=Jonathan|last2=|first2=|date=2006-10-04|website=Variety|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>
 
==Soundtrack==
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The ''Singapore Dreaming'' [[Film score|soundtrack]] was released by BooBao Records in June 2006.<ref name="mxsoundtrack">John Li, "[http://www.moviexclusive.com/soundtrack/singaporedreaming.htm Singapore Dreaming &mdash; Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2006)]", movieXclusive.com. Retrieved 2006-12-01.</ref> It comprises various songs and tunes that were featured in the movie, most of which were composed by the music director for the film, Sydney Tan.<ref name="sydney">Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, "[http://singaporedreaming.com/sydney.htm Cast and Filmmakers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207155138/http://www.singaporedreaming.com/sydney.htm |date=2007-02-07 }}", Singapore Dreaming website, 2006-12-01.</ref> [[Stephen Hough]] is also listed as one of the soundtrack's composers. The soundtrack album, containing both emotive and entertaining pieces, shows a variation in the mood of the songs.<ref name="mxsoundtrack" />
 
Of particular prominence in the soundtrack is the 1933 [[Taiwan]]ese song "[[Bāng Chhun-hong|''Bāng Chhun-hong'']]. Lin Wenqi points out that the song's last phrase, "I was fooled, for it was just the wind", paralleled the characters Poh Huat and Seng's fruitless pursuit of material wealth.<ref name=":1" /> As the producers were writing the script in New York, Woo Yen Yen called her mother in Singapore to ask her about the most popular song of her time. Her mother's first suggestion was "Bong''Bāng Chun Hong"Chhun-hong'', a song which the producers came to like.<ref name="mb:1" /> The song was later adopted as the opening theme, and the character Siew Luan would hum it again as the film concludes, this time more wistfully as she would recount the days when she was young. Four major and three minor variations of "Bongthe Chun Hong"song were included in the soundtrack. As Moviexclusive describes Sydney Tan's score, "the […] use of pianos and [[String instrument|strings]] is complemented by the occasional wistful accompaniments of the traditional [[erhu]], adding the essential 'Asian touch' to the music."<ref name="mxsoundtrack" /> According to Woo, during auditions for the film, several young actors teared upon hearing the song, which reminded them of their youth and parents.<ref name=":1" />
 
The film's soundtrack also includes two songs by the local [[Musical ensemble|band]] [[Ronin (band)|Ronin]], "Black Maria" and "Memories". It also includes "Mei Man Ren Sheng", a song that shares its title with the film. The tune was rearranged by Sydney Tan and performed by [[Nicole Lai]], with lyrics in Chinese by Ng King Kang. The film's producer, Woffles Wu, did the [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] for the recording.<ref name="mxsoundtrack" />
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