Cathay-Keris Films closely follows the developments of the Singapore filmmaking industry and looks out for new opportunities to promote the film industry and bringing it to new heights. Film production is one avenue which Cathay ventures into.
This film was the first film production project undertaken by Cathay Organisation Pte Ltd in 1996. The film grossed S$1.6 million at the box office and is one of the most successful local films to date.
The film is based on Michael Chiang's book and stage play about the misadventures of the 5 young men going through their Basic Military Training. The 5 characters are Malcolm Png, the middle-class mummy's boy; Ah Beng, the street-wise HDB boy; Krishna, who is always pinning for girlfriend Lathi; the limp-wristed Kenny and Johari, the happy-go-lucky "Rambo". The 5 recruits have to adjust to army life and their new haircuts with comic results. In between their training sessions, the boys get a glimpse into each other's lives and come to terms with growing pains and the real world.
Bolstered by the success of Army Daze, Cathay Organisation Pte Ltd went on to co-produce an animated feature, A Ghost Story with Hong Kong companies, Film Workshop Ltd (established by Tsui Hark), Win's Entertainment Ltd and Polygram.
The film is an adaptation of a Chinese myth and is a story of sacrifice and love. A little man named Ning and a female ghost named Shine decided to take a chance to be reborn. In the best of all possible worlds, the outcome would be that Shine and Ning would be reborn again and live happily ever after. They only have to watch for the Void Hammers who would wipe out all their memories before rebirth. In front of the Reincarnation Gate, the 2 lovers from different worlds make a pact that would allow them to be together in their future lives.
This film was released on 13 May 1999 and grossed more than S$1.2 million. The film was also released in Malaysia and Taiwan, making it one of the first local films to achieve multi-territory releases.
The film stars popular MediaCorp artistes Jack Neo, Mark Lee, Henry Thia, Patricia Mok and John Cheng, who were also in the runaway hit Money No Enough.
The movie is a true-to-life but wacky comedy drama about how 3 men deal with their love, relationships and marriage. It is a funny ride through love, lies, sex and fidelity while testing our traditional views of wedded bliss by questioning the notion of monogamy. The film is an enlightened portrayal of the funnier side of Singapore's wedded 'bliss'. |
