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I Dream of Singapore

Panorama Dokumente 2020
© Looi Wan Ping/Tiger Tiger Pictures
Singapore, Asia’s richest country, is a dream destination for the people of Bangladesh. Not only can they find work there but also, supposedly, greater legal security. But the reality for migrant workers is very different, and many companies are quick to shirk their responsibilities as soon as problems arise. Until his serious accident at work, Feroz had a bed in modest workers’ quarters on the outskirts of the city. Now he is dependent on the help of local human rights organisation Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) to avoid ending up on the streets. Feroz’s days are long and bleak until he can return to his family in Bangladesh. There is no future for him in Singapore; the construction industry has chewed him up and spat him out. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, the next generation is already waiting for a job in Singapore. The futuristic-looking luxury hotel Marina Bay Sands, with its three towers spanned by an enormous rooftop swimming pool, is a dazzling symbol of Singapore’s almost boundless boom. Lei Yuan Bin accompanies Feroz and TWC2 manager Ethan with his camera from Singapore to Bangladesh, revealing in striking images two extremes of wealth and poverty.
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by Lei Yuan Bin Singapore 2019 Bengali, English, Hokkien 78’ Colour Documentary form

Crew

Director Lei Yuan Bin
Cinematography Looi Wan Ping
Editing Looi Wan Ping
Music Paul Searles
Sound Design Paul Searles
Sound Looi Wan Ping
Producer Dan Koh
Executive Producer Glen Goei

World Sales

Tiger Tiger Pictures

Produced by

Tiger Tiger Pictures

Photos

Berlinale Meets | Interview

Lei Yuan Bin

© Berlinale Talents

Born in Singapore in 1977, he is a Berlinale Talents alumnus and co-founder of the 13 Little Pictures film collective. In 2012, he won the Young Artist Award presented by the Singapore National Arts Council. His debut feature film, White Days, screened in competition at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. His documentary 03-FLATS screened in competition at the Busan International Film Festival as well as in the international architecture biennale in Venice. Fundamentally Happy, co-directed by Tan Bee Thiam, premiered in competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

Filmography

2009 White Days 2014 03-FLATS; documentary 2015 Fundamentally Happy; co-director: Tan Bee Thiam 2018 A Dance for Ren Hang; short film 2019 I Dream of Singapore; documentary, Panorama

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020