This film is wonderful. Any honest self-confession is precious as life itself. Coming from Thailand, I can say that Singapore is always an odd man out in ASEAN or Southeast Asia. Have always been and will be. From Lee Kuan Yew's early viewpoints, our region is never good enough for Singapore. Singapore is thus created to be a political and economic maze. A multi-layered onion. Being Asian but not so Asian-like. Trading with asians but placing themselves superior. Worshiping money and worldly successes while disregarding regional cultures and traditions. This film is about an inner soul wanting to connect with a higher spirit, no matter how humble the outer. A ten-year-old Singaporean boy must deal with his deep bond with a Filipino maid, as well as his parents' aloof love, just to lose her at the end. He grabbed a portion of hair he cut off from her, while looking down at the floor, not daring enough to face the Singaporean truth. The director is an honest man, telling an honest story. But, at the very end, only a portion of hair remains in the hand, just like Singapore getting only glimpses of being an ASEAN. I just wish them good luck.
