The Diam Diam Era
2020 Singaporean drama film
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The Diam Diam Era (Chinese: 我们的故事之沉默的年代) is a 2020 Singaporean comedy film directed by Jack Neo. Set in 1980s, it tells the story of the Lim family moving from kampong to HDB Flats. Through major policy changes and political climate in the era, they experience great changes in their lives and environment. It is the sequel to Long Long Time Ago and Long Long Time Ago 2.
- Jack Neo
- Ivan Ho
- Mark Lee
- Richie Koh
- Danny Lee
- Mei Xin
- Henry Thia
- Wang Lei
- Benjamin Josiah Tan
- Regina Lim
- Yap Hui Xin
- Charmaine Sei
- Tasha Low
- Silvarajoo Prakasam
- Suhaimi Yusof
| The Diam Diam Era | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Jack Neo |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Boi Kwong |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Malek Hue |
| Edited by | Yim Mun Chong Loo Chean Hoong |
| Music by | Matthew Teng |
Production companies | J Team Productions MM2 Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Golden Village Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Singapore |
| Languages | Mandarin Hokkien English |
| Box office | S$1,515,868[1] |
It was released on 26 November 2020 in Singaporean cinemas.[2] The film stars an ensemble cast, which includes Mark Lee, Richie Koh, Danny Lee, Mei Xin, Henry Thia, Wang Lei, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Regina Lim, Yap Hui Xin, Charmaine Sei, Tasha Low, Silvarajoo Prakasam and Suhaimi Yusof. It also marks the fourth on-screen reunion of Mark Lee and Suhaimi Yusof after they starred alongside together in the popular Singaporean sitcom named Police & Thief.
Plot
Continuing from Long Long Time Ago 2, this film is set from the year 1979 until the late 1980s. It follows the story of the Lim family's second generation moving from kampong to HDB Flats, as they experience great changes in Singapore's environment, policies and livelihood.
After the death of his father Si Shu (Wang Lei), his mother Si Shen (Ng Suan Loi) and his older sister Lim Zhao Di (Aileen Tan), Lim Ah Kun (Mark Lee) has turned over a new leaf and continued his old profession as a taxi driver. He often argued with his son, Lim Yong Xin (Danny Lee) whom he had with a songstress outside of his marriage and nephew, Phua Shun Fa (Richie Koh) due to differences in their views because of generation gap. During the time, Singapore was going through a number of reform policies, such as the forced closure of Chinese schools and the introduction of Singaporean elite system.
The film also focused on the troubled relationship between Yong Xin and Shun Fa as the former is an egoistic jerk, as he is an overachiever, especially in English and Mathematics and for this reason, looks down on the latter who is exactly the opposite due to the latter being Chinese Educated and having difficulties solving Mathematics questions as they have all been varied from Chinese to English to keep up with the times. Yong Xin even resorts to using Shun Fa as a scapegoat just to get out of trouble and save his reputation as the former wanted to achieve a scholarship in the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Army and held the rank of Second Lieutenant (2LT) and got promoted to Lieutenant (LTA) after a while.
Ah Kun became dissatisfied with many of the government policies. He decided to speak out by setting a new opposition party known as C.M.I. (the abbreviation of Chinese, Malay and Indian) to contest in the 1988 general election by teaming up with his younger brother Lim Ah Hee's (Benjamin Josiah Tan)'s father-in-law and former hawker inspector and People's Association officer named Shamugam (Silvarajoo Prakasam) and nasi lemak seller named Osman (Suhaimi Yusof). How will the story of their lives go?[3]
Cast
| Cast | Character's name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Lee | Lim Ah Kun | Taxi Driver; often dissatisfied with the new policies |
| Richie Koh | Phua Shun Fa | Ah Kun's Nephew |
| Danny Lee | Lim Yong Xin | Ah Kun's Son and Lovechild |
| Mei Xin | Phua Su Ting | Shun Fa's Eldest Sister |
| Henry Thia | Ah Hui | Ah Kun's Best Friend |
| Wang Lei | Liu Shun Zhong | Leader of another Opposition Party known as Challenge Party |
| Benjamin Josiah Tan | Lim Ah Hee | Ah Kun's Younger Brother |
| Regina Lim | Phua Su Xin | Shun Fa's Second Elder Sister |
| Yap Hui Xin | Phua Su Qing | Shun Fa's Third Elder Sister |
| Charmaine Sei | Ah Feng | Ah Kun's Wife and Yong Xin's Stepmother |
| Tasha Low | Mei Ping | Xinyao Singer and Shun Fa's Girlfriend |
| Silvarajoo Prakasam | Shamugam | Ah Hee's father-in-law; Former Hawker Inspector and People's Association Officer, now retired |
| Suhaimi Yusof | Osman | Nasi Lemak Seller |
Production
The film was originally titled as Not So Long Time Ago. The film budget is $2.5 million, filming lasted from April to May 2019.[4] The film continues to showcase Singapore's multicultural society, and its history from the founding to becoming an advanced country.[5]
This film and the next film are set in the 1980s, and touched on politically sensitive topics, in particular several major policy changes implemented during the era, including the forced closure of Chinese schools and Nanyang University, the frustration among Chinese school students, the Singapore elite system, and opposition parties.[6][7][8] It also explores the life views and differences between the younger and older generation, their different reactions towards the policies implemented during the era.[9]
Regarding the subject matter, Neo states that: “Although the subject is sensitive, it is part of history. It should be viewed with a correct attitude. Singaporeans should understand the history of their own country. We are not trying to deliberately touch on sensitive subjects, instead we just do not want to hide what happened in history."[10]
Release
The film held sneak peaks on 22 November 2020, was released on 26 November 2020 theatrically in Singapore.[11][12]
Its sequel and the overall fourth film, The Diam Diam Era Two, was released on 10 February 2021 during the Chinese New Year holiday.[13]