Quote:
In an impoverished Singapore slum, a shy noodle vendor (Joe Ng) becomes infatuated with Bunny (Michelle Goh), a prostitute he often sees working near his noodle cart. Bunny doesn’t respond to his advances, however, and instead becomes involved with Jonathan (David Brazil), a sleazy pornographer. Things shift when a car hits Bunny on the street, and the noodle vendor takes her to his apartment to nurse her back to health, opening up to his new friend along the way.Read More »
IMDb Description: A painfully shy noodle-shop owner and a prostitute have a chance encounter when destiny arrives in the form of a car accident.
Variety Review:
In terms of raw power, the new Singaporean film “Mee Pok Man” can be described as “Taxi Driver” without the latter’s cathartic violence and Scorsese’s visual pizzazz. Eric Khoo makes an impressive directorial debut in a rather depressing tale of two alienated youths whose lives fatefully intertwine. Though damaged by a last reel that is unnecessarily long and a bit indulgent, pic deserves berths in festivals and perhaps even limited theatrical release if only for its novelty, being a rare export from Singapore.
The lead performers, Joe Ng as the slow-witted man and Goh as the world-weary prostitute, are decently credible if not totally engrossing. Still, pic’s overall impact is disturbing, showcasing a new director who is seriously intent on documenting the malaise of contemporary life in Singapore.Read More »