1965

1965 Information

1965 is a 2015 Singaporean historical thriller film directed by Randy Ang and co-directed by Daniel Yun. The film was released to commemorate Singapore's fifty years of independence. Released in cinemas on July 30, 2015. It stars Qi Yuwu, Deanna Yusoff, Joanne Peh, James Seah, Sezairi Sezali, Mike Kasem, and Lim Kay Tong as Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Plot

1965 is a dramatic thriller inspired on a part of Singapore's history. The film tells stories of immigrants and natives; how a group of people, divided by race, language and religion, saw their lives transformed by a moment in history. Their paths will cross and clash in race riots during the months leading to the separation from Malaysia, and to the independence of Singapore.

Cast

Qi Yuwu as Inspector Cheng
Deanna Yusoff as Khatijah
Joanne Peh as Zhou Jun
James Seah as Seng
Sezairi Sezali as Adi
Mike Kasem as Raj
Lim Kay Tong as Lee Kuan Yew
Nicole Seah as Mei
Sun Yi En as Xiao Yun
Andi Hazriel as Rafi

Production

The film was conceptualised in five years. The film shooting started in November 2014, with the biggest percentage shot in Batam, at various locations, and at Infinite Studios"? soundstages there.

Initially Tony Leung Chiu-Wai would play the role of Lee Kuan Yew. However, many Singaporeans were against this, as there was the preference of having a Singaporean actor for this role. The role was given to Lim Kay Tong. David Lee of Singapore Film Society said that Lim "has the gravitas required of the role, and he's English-speaking as well". Lim Kay Tong prepared for the role for several months and visited, at least five times a week, the National Archives of Singapore, to study Lee's audio and film clips.

Music

The two songs that were written for the film were Sezairi Sezali's "Selamat Pagi" and Gentle Bones' "Sixty Five". The latter has been on the top of the iTunes Singapore song chart for at least four weeks.

Reception

John Lui of The Straits Times gave 1965 a 1.5 out of 5 stars. He said "it wants to be Important, with a capital I", and "it feels only slightly more relevant to the national birthday than a chicken bun with an SG50 sticker slapped on it."