881

Papaya. 881 literally means Papaya. Try pronouncing in Mandarin with "1" as "yao". So that's how it comes about.

I have read so many good reviews about the film. Yet I haven't got the urge to step into the cinema for this local production (by Royston Tan)... until dear Syndy is set on watching it and we went. I didn't expect a "Hokkien" dominated film, and in fact minimal Chinese is spoken. That's fine and very good for refreshing my dialect knowledge as I rarely use it now.

881 is about "Getai". Performances meant for the dead and public, glamorous costumes, oldies songs, singing and dance performances, auctions. They are only here during the 7th lunar month, the Hungry Ghost festival where the Chinese pay respects to the dead. In the show, the Papaya sisters and the Durian sisters (played by the MTV VJ twins, their Mandarin really sucks and it made it so funny) are rivals on the stage.

There are a lot of comical moments and in fact, very localized. I think the humor too, is meant for the Singaporean audience. I am surprised I'm awed by this film. It is good, beyond my expectation. However, poor Qi Yu Wu's role isn't very exciting and there isn't much I feel he could have done given the role. The ending is really sad, Little Papaya sister died... and it does touch most of us (in the cinema) as well.

Very impressive sound tracks, very original and very touching.

Rating: 4/5 (only if Qi Yu Wu has more chances to reveal his potential, might worth .5 more)