“Dreaming & Dying (Hao Jiu Bu Jian)”, Interview with Singapore’s director Nelson Yeo

Nelson Yeo’s cinematic creation “Dreaming & Dying” stands as a mesmerizing tapestry woven with multiple layers of transgressions and surprises, as we discussed during our enlightening interview. The film’s title itself is a portal into a world where identities shift between humans, fish, and frogs, creating a mesmerizing dance of transformation. Dreams and nightmares converge, revealing a captivating blend of harmony and tension.

Set against the evocative backdrop of Singapore’s landscape, a canvas teeming with repressed desires and complex fantasies, “Dreaming & Dying” encapsulates Yeo’s 77-minute debut, a labor of love that resonates deeply with audiences. Premiered in Locarno’s Cineasti del Presente section, the film’s narrative orbits around three friends, portrayed by Peter Yu, Kelvin Ho, and Doreen Toh, who reunite after years apart, igniting a love triangle. As they wrestle with emotions and confront their choices, supernatural events unfold around them. The boundary between dreams and reality blurs, reflecting the characters’ psychic states, while the sea’s undulating waves symbolize suppressed yearnings.

During our insightful interview, Nelson Yeo highlighted his background in animation, a foundation that imbues the film with fluidity and dynamism, particularly evident in sequences filmed at the iconic Haw Par Villa. Here, Chinese and Western mythologies converge, painting an intricate tapestry that guides the narrative.

As I explored in our conversation, “Dreaming & Dying” bridges cultures and genres. Yeo’s short films, including “Mary, Mary, So Contrary” (2019), reimagine classics such as Fei Mu’s “Springtime in a Small Town“. This amalgamation of influences culminates in an uncanny yet familiar contemporary Singaporean rendition, a testament to Yeo’s passion for classic Chinese cinema.

Our dialogue also delved into the remarkable performances, such as Yu’s transformation into a merman and the partnership with Toh and Ko, theatre-trained actors. As we discussed, the film’s essence is anchored in the actors’ charisma, enriching the exploration of mature sexuality and unmet desires in later stages of life.

“Dreaming & Dying”, a testament to your artistry and vision, surprises and metamorphoses, evolving from a love triangle into poignant narratives of death and apocalypse. Your insights, shared during our interview, intricately shape this captivating masterpiece that truly caught me unawares.

 

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