Singapore | 130min | English, Mandarin & Hokkien | English Subtitles | HDV
- In Competition for the Golden Kinnaree Award, Bangkok International Film Festival 2009 (World Premiere)
- Official Selection, Singapore International Film Festival 2010
“A Singapore New Wave that actually warrants the term because of the innovations made and not just referring to the “next generation.””
– Mayo Martin, TODAY. Read his wonderful article here.
“A brave, complex, crazy, funny, weird, uncompromising coming-of-age film for the facebook generation.”
– Graiwoot Chulphongsathorn, NETPAC Juror and writer for Bioscope
“Chris Yeo is a remarkably talented filmmaker…who wants to bring about a change by moving away from the melodramatic to a more self-reflective cinema. He seems to be saying that we have the freedom to intervene in the national cinematic discourse, and more importantly, we do not have the freedom not to intervene.” Professor Wimal Dissanayake, University of Hawaii (author of Asian Cinema: An Anthology – Wong Kar Wai’s Ashes of Time, and Cinema and Cultural Identity).
Synopsis
Over the summer break, Zhi Wen decides to move out of his parents’ house to live with two friends. After discovering that Ah Pin and Mark are professional bicycle thieves, Zhi Wen slowly finds himself entrapped in a strange world of vice and deception. A magical personality game they play will finally cause them to switch identities with one another. The film is the tale of the three little pigs set in the modern landscape of urbanized Singapore. Will the three little pigs live happily ever after?
Director’s statement
When I was younger, a bicycle was stolen. Owing to the fantastical imaginations of my youth, I was at once broken and intrigued. I wondered who the thieves were and how they lived their lives. It became real to me that they were friends whom, after spending so much time together, started to speak and behave like one another. I was interested in actors switching the parts they play which created an interesting identity situation. The film takes the form of a surreal absurdist piece that is seen darkly through the futility of our young hero’s attempt of escaping his crumbling reality to seek refuge in the comfort of friends.
Director’s Biography
Yeo Siew Hua directed and wrote IN THE HOUSE OF STRAW (Bangkok), AIK KHOON (Singapore) and WAKING MONKEY (Best of First Takes 2007). Winner of the Kodak Cinematography Prize and the Cathay Organisation Gold Medal, he was the cinematographer for THE BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Oberhausen) and THE LUCKY 7 (Vancouver). He is currently reading Philosophy in NUS.
Technical Specifications
Country of production: Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal
Production Companies: 13 Little Pictures, Anima Pictures
Partners: Batch:ten, EQ Ward, Edit Lounge
Running length: 130 minutes / COLOR
Year of production: 2009
Language: English, Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Original Format: HDV
Screening Format: HDCAM
Aspect Ratio: 1.1:85
Sound: Stereo
Website: http://inthehouseofstraw.com
Cast
Daniel Hui
Eustace Ng
Felix Huang
Lynn Chong
Tian Low
Robert Yeo
Crew
Director/Writer: Yeo Siew Hua
Producers: Aaron Ng, Kent Chan, Tan Bee Thiam, Yeo Siew Hua
Cinematographer: Aaron Ng
Location Sound: Lester Koh, Wayne Xu
Art Director: Cain Chui
Assistant Directors: Leon Cheo, Vel Ng
Production Manager: JD Chua
Camera Assistant: Looi Wan Ping
Line Producer: Norainah Abu Bakar
Editors: Aaron Ng, Chris Yeo, Kent Chan
Visual Effects: Yeo Kwan Hua
Supervising Sound Mixer/Foley Artist: Lim Ting Li
Sound Designer/ADR Recordist: Felix Huang
Post-production Sound: Takuya Katsu
Music Co-ordinator: Kent Chan
Composers: Benjamin Lim, Chen Chien Chi, Debbie Ding, Felix Huang, Giuseppe Giunta, Mark Wong Wenwei, Teo Wei Yong, Ying
Press and International Distribution / Sales Contact
13littlepictures@gmail.com