The Tree (2001 film)
2001 film by Daisy Chan
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The Tree is a 2001 Singaporean supernatural-mystery drama film directed by Daisy Chan, starring Zoe Tay, Francis Ng, Phyllis Quek, Tse Kwan Ho and Deng Mao Hui. Produced by Mediacorp Raintree Pictures,[1] the film was shot entirely in Singapore over 28 days[2] with a production budget of S$1.1 million.[3] It was released in Singapore cinemas on 26 April 2001.[2]
| The Tree | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 孩子·樹 |
| Simplified Chinese | 孩子·树 |
| Literal meaning | Kid, Tree |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Háizǐ Shù |
| Directed by | Daisy Chan |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by | Victor Lau |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Tung Sei-kwong |
| Edited by | Koh Kah-yen |
| Music by |
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Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | Mandarin |
Plot
Lin Zixiong dies after being hit by a car, and the only witness seems to be his stepson "Popiah", a quiet young boy with no friends besides a gigantic tree. Police investigator Jiang Liangxing becomes convinced the driver was Lin's wife Guo Meifen, whose first husband Xie Wenguang disappeared 5 years ago. Meanwhile, Jiang's boyfriend and pathologist Wu Chongzhe discovers a mysterious fungus in Lin's heart. He also befriends Popiah and learns that Lin had sexually abused him. Perhaps the answer to everything lies in the gigantic tree...
Cast
- Deng Maohui as Xie Qingyu, a child nicknamed "Popiah"
- Zoe Tay as Guo Meifeng, Popiah's mother
- Francis Ng as Wu Chongzhe, a forensic pathologist
- Phyllis Quek as Jiang Liangxing, Wu Chongzhe's girlfriend and a police superintendent
- Lau Siu-ming as Wu Mingwei, Wu Chongzhe's father
- Tse Kwan-ho as Xie Wenguang, Popiah's father
- Zheng Geping as Lin Zixiong, Popiah's stepfather
- Dasmond Koh as Chen Guoqiang, a police officer
Reception
Soh Yun-Huei gave the film 1/2 out of 4 stars, writing the film meant to blend "suspense, melodrama and romance together, but the end results are lumpy and unsatisfying".[4]