Get a Perspective this November.

If you haven't been in Amsterdam with me, fret not.

There's plenty of sexuality happening in Singapore (as if we don't already, what with Cecilia Sue and Alex Tan) this November 8-11 at the National Museum. Last i watched a movie at the National Museum was Sex Dolls (my entertaining review), part of a Japanese film fest.


This year’s Perspectives Film Festival's lineup explores sexuality’s impact and influence on love, fear, death, psychology, gender relations and what is termed deviant in society. While the topic is commonly regulated, Perspectives 2012 has curated films that explore the complexities of human nature in relation to sexuality.

Inspired by true stories, Zenne Dancer tells the tragic story of three close friends, Yildiz, Daniel

and Can. Born to a conservative Muslim family, Yildiz forms a strong friendship with Daniel, a

German photographer, and Can, an exuberant male belly dancer. This film was made in tribute

to Yildiz, whose confession of his sexual preference has led to his murder by his father.

Zenne Dancer is the first film in Turkey to showcase honour killings related to homosexuality.

The practice of honour killings commonly focuses on women who are deemed to have

disgraced the family. Zenne Dancer questions prevalent gender hierarchies, demonstrating that

men can be as vulnerable to the impositions of society as women when it comes to sexuality.

The film broke new grounds in Turkey for its bold and honest depiction of the torment and

shame that the homosexual community is put through. In particular, the film uncovers the

degrading screening process that gays undergo for exemption from the Turkish military.

Belle de Jour is about Severine, a married woman who is unable to bring herself to be physically

intimate with her husband. A combination of frustration, curiosity and a disturbed childhood

results in Severine visiting a brothel where she eventually offers her services as a prostitute.

Severine starts to lead a dual life, working in the brothel in the afternoons, and being a chaste

wife to her husband outside of her improbable profession.

The film's breakthrough quality comes from its brazen exploration into eroticism, sexual

deviance and sexuality, which challenged the audiences of its time. In line with social

conventions, such bold cinematic forays are usually led by male characters. However, in Belle

de Jour, a sadomasochistic housewife serves as the strong and unforgettable lead character.

What makes Belle de Jour truly an exploratory journey into eroticism and deviance is the feeling

of intrigue and bewilderment shared by both Severine and the audience, as they journey

together into the world of eroticism.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The

Rocky Horror Show. First screened in 1978, it tells the story of a newly-engaged couple, Brad

Major and Janet Weiss, who become stranded after suffering a flat tire. They approach a nearby

mansion and are introduced to a group of people very different from themselves.

The longest-running release in film history, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still a midnight

staple in cinemas around the world. It was traditionally known for its fan participation and

midnight screenings. At the time of its release, the film provided a refreshing and quirky take on

sexuality due to its interesting mash-up of the horror, science fiction and musical genre.

Also, fan participation, such as shouting at the screens, was considered to be a novelty which

provided an interesting twist to the film experience.

Fire examines the lives of two married women, Radha and Sita, thrown together by the absence

of their husbands’ care and attention. From what initially appears to be shared solace, Radha

and Sita’s friendship evolves into a romantic and sexual relationship that both struggle to come

to terms with.

Fire was the first movie in the Indian film industry to portray a lesbian relationship. The portrayal

of lesbianism drew much public attention, as the film contains a social commentary on how

obsolete traditions are hindering a seemingly modern nation.

The film set off a flurry of riots and criticisms, including attacks by Hindu fundamentalists in

some movie theatres, causing screenings to come to a halt. After a brief period of hostility,

campaigning efforts by free speech activists and film personalities allowed theatre screenings to

resume. These conflicting reactions to the film are testament to how strongly it challenged

India's deep-seated cultural norms.

Set in patriarchal Korea in the 1960s, this highly acclaimed film is a domestic horror-thriller that

charts the destruction of a family when a dominant female character is introduced amongst

them. Dong-shik, a piano teacher, hires a housemaid to ease the burden on his pregnant wife at

home. But he soon falls prey to the feminine charms of his housemaid, who terrorises the whole

family and makes their lives a living nightmare.  

The film explores a reversal of power in gender relations, subverting the traditional dominance

of the male gender in society as the male character succumbs to his baser instincts, upsetting

the harmony in his family. The weakness of the male sex as portrayed in this film raises

fundamental questions about male dominance at a time when men commanded almost every

aspect of social and political life in Korea.

In the film, the characters represent their respective social roles more than as individuals. By

making the audience relate to the characters in such a way, Kim makes the point that events in

the film can occur to any one. The Housemaid represents a stylistic break from realism and is

perhaps the finest film in the "Golden Age” of Korean cinema. Still thematically relevant today, it

stands out as one of Korean’s best films in the horror-thriller genre.

Note: I believe i may have watched the remake of House Maid 2 years ago in Golden Village, don't remember it being impressive.

Set in the final years of communist Romania, this bleak and suspenseful tale is about the fear

that two female Romanian students, Otilia and Gabriela, experience while trying to procure an

illegal abortion. The film follows the drama that ensues as the female characters negotiate the

bureaucratic and societal layers of the repressive Ceauşescu regime to attain their goal.

This pitiless and violent story becomes a haunting intellectual and aesthetic achievement in its

telling. It perfects the realist and minimalist approach characterised by the Romanian New Wave.

Using meticulous camerawork, Mungiu conveys to the audience what it is like to live in a

repressive regime. He accomplishes this through the intentional fidgeting of the camera

combined with long sustained shots, leaving viewers with the impression that the two leads are

constantly being watched. In particular, the film highlights how simple every day tasks seem

especially difficult to accomplish in Communist Romania.

I think i would park myself at the museum and look studious next week! Check out the website for film timings and how to get tickets.

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