What a lullaby
SINGAPORE : Having watched plenty of CG extravaganzas from the likes of
Disney and DreamWorks, and being a loyal local, I had high hopes for the
first local animated film, "Sing to the Dawn".
Unfortunately, the adaptation of the award-winning novel by Minfong Ho
did not quite match up although there is definite market appeal in the
story, since it is neither the Hollywood usual nor a Western take on
Asia, as seen in the likes of Mulan or Sinbad with the usual stereotypes.
"Sing to the Dawn" revolves around Dawan, a brainy teenage girl who
lives in a small Southeast Asian village with her sagely grandmother,
inventive father and a younger brother who aspires to be a Kung-Fu master.
The peaceful lives of the villagers plunge into turmoil when a greedy
landlord, Pairote, appears on the scene and insists on collecting
exorbitant taxes with an ancient decree in hand, stating that he owns
the land the village stands on.
To protect his family, Dawan's father comes up with a bright idea that
Asians can understand -- to have Dawan marry Pairote's uncouth son.
But Dawan has her own dreams, and one is education - - unfortunately she
has to tutor her brother to win a scholarship which she in fact yearns
for. Again, both are issues which many can relate to and come without
any preconceptions.
The relatable storyline, which raises the pertinent issue of equal
opportunities, gets a slight lift from the ever-inspiring encouragement
adults give to children – you can achieve anything you want if you work
hard for it- and the sprinkling girl power.
That's when Dawan finds out the big secret about Pairote's decree and
must use her wits and courage, together with the help of some animal
friends, to stop Pairote from destroying the village.
That's as far as the movie goes in offering inspiration.
If anything at all, this is a movie for young people into art, animation
and media to serve as working inspiration.
Most may find that the animation, although rich in colour and detailing,
just a little lacking. It seems as if someone wanted to create works of
art in animation rather than just plain animation.
This results in characters that are lacklustre with awkward movements.
The only thing that saves the movie are the well-composed songs that had
the little girl beside me humming along.
And speaking of the young, this movie is really for them and they may be
entertained more easily with the effort by the local cast and producers.
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