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TRENDING
Nov. 7, 2024
A Film About Censorship Being Censored
The film was refused classification by the Infocom Media Development Authority of Singapore.
Singapore - Daniel Hui’s
film, Small Hours of the Night, has been pulled from the Singapore
International Film Festival (SGIFF) after the Infocom Media Development
Authority of Singapore (IMDA) refused to classify the film. The film was
scheduled to premiere in the festival’s Undercurrents section, but without a
classification, it cannot be publicly screened in Singapore.
Small Hours of the Night is set in
late-1960s Singapore and revolves around a woman being interrogated in a dark
room, drawing from a real 1980s court case involving Tan Chay Wa’s tombstone.
The IMDA stated that the film contains content potentially contrary to the law
and prejudicial to national interests. This decision has sparked discussions
about censorship, as the film itself addresses themes of censorship and
judicial impact on personal lives.
Director Daniel Hui expressed his disappointment,
noting the irony of a film about censorship being
censored. He remains hopeful for a future where diverse voices and
viewpoints can be included in Singapore’s discursive space. The film had
previously premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was
screened at the BFI London Film Festival.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in the
Singaporean film industry regarding freedom of expression and the role of
regulatory bodies.
