Eric Khoo’s new movie, ‘In the Room’ gives us a glimpse of the changes through the decades via the occupants through Room No 27 of the fictional Singapura Hotel.
Love, lust, regrets, desire, wants and societal norms are all conveyed through the siz stories narrated through the decades from 1940’s to the 1990’s.
In each of these stories, the rules are broken and what is unacceptable outside the four walls is embraced with passion within the room, which becomes their world of escape, if only for that brief moment.
From a gay couple, to a transgender to the girl seeking for sexual fulfillment, they each tell a different story through the decades. The clothes may change, the hotel may change but the issues and emotions faced then and now are no different, perhaps just in slightly different degree.
Gist
Rubber- 1940’s
With the fall of Singapore, a Chinese businessman, Kong and his British expat lover faced separation. He urged Kong to leave with him to go England but Kong is unable to leave his family and duties behind. His expat lover had found Singapore a paradise when he first arrived but now he must leave the paradise to go home whereas Kong must stay behind in the ‘paradise’ that is his home. They share their last tender meeting in the room that they, knowing that they will probably never meet again. It was all very bittersweet and gentlemanly.
Pussy- 1950’s to 1060’s
It is the roaring 60’s and feminism is in. Though Orchid is a woman, the lead cabaret dancer is no pushover. She tells her girls that women hold the power of control through the one thing men want the most- sex. ‘The man may think they have the key to open the door but woman holds the right to open that door.’ She proceeded to teach them the tools of the trade which includes lots of stretching exercises. But also a goldfish! And a banana! Though I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised as I have heard of them. The battle of endurance in the field of bedroom skills between Orchid and the gangster boss later proved that those exercises were really powerful. This story stands out not only in terms of the story, the acting but also the vibrant colours used.
Listen- 1970’s
It is the 70’s and drugs is the name. Damien, a musician had just performed at the hotel with his band with the hit song that he wrote. Escaping from the tiny room filled with of drugs, booze and sex craze orgy, Damien met Imrah, a housekeeper that had just started work that day at the hotel. There was a mutual attraction and interest. But this never developed further as Damien was found dead from drug overdose. This is where the story sort of start. Damien’s ghost lingers in the room, observing the occupants and looking over and after Imrah. It would seemed they have a connection as she can sense his presence in the room. Though seriously, if the toilet flushed on it’s own, I would have ran screaming out the room in half a second.
And this is also where the movie has similarities with of Eric Khoo’s earlier movie, ’12 Storeys’. With the same concept of a lingering ghost observing in the background.
Change- 1980’s
A transgender is about to become a woman the next day. His lover is reluctant and worried about the risks involved, preferring to remain status quo. But Noi prefers to take the risk, saying it will be easier for them to be together, to fit in with the society. She chose to operate in Singapore, because Dr Benjamin Sheares had developed a technique to create an artificial vagina. I guess this might be seen as a poke for those who are against this group that the respected authorities (in this case, our ex president, Dr Benjamin Sheares) has actually helped.
It ended with the lover tearfully asking to see ‘it/him’ one last time to bid farewell to it.
1980’s- Search
Mariko, a bored Japanese wife of a high powered businessman seeks solace in the company of a young man. Within the confines of the four walls, she is free from the social and suffocating norms of a dutiful wife and mother. However, her lover is genuinely in love with her and wishes for more commitment. But she cannot commit beyond the four walls, not even accepting a bracelet as a gift. They break up. Both heart broken.
Mariko would come back again and again, through the years to the same hotel, same room, with different lovers, hoping to seek to find what she had lost with the one man she had loved.
1990’s- First Time
A Korean girl, Seo Yun is heart broken after a break up. Her best friend, Min Jun, who secretly harbours feelings for her, accompanies her for a short getaway to Singapore.
In her drunken state one night, she explains to Min Jun why she is constantly changing partners. She is unhappy that then men is able to reach organism and frustrated that she can’t. She feels incomplete, a failure.
She got wanted she wanted and Min Jun had his heart’s desire as well. Though not exactly how you think it happened. This is not a fairy tale love story.
Overview
I watched Eric Khoo’s critically acclaimed ’12 Stories’ many years ago and was blown away by it. The lingering ghost as a silent observer to the stories unfolding in that block where he jumped. ‘In the Room’ has that same concept. The ghost of Damien, where he died of drug overdose lingered on in the room, frequently watching out for Imrah. The movie is a homage to Damien Sin, who was best known for the immensely popular book series, Singapore Classic Horror Stories. Based on one of the story, Eric Khoo’s hit, ‘Mee Pok Man’ was born.
What goes on in a hotel room I wonder? Are all the people who checked into a hotel room that unhappy? Do they all only indulge in forbidden fruits? The only ‘normal’ scene was an elderly couple who has been happily married for many years. But they checked into the room next door and not No 27.
The movie also reflects the passage of time. The hotels starts off as a luxury, glitzy hotel, slowly changing into a moderate one and finally crumbling into a cockroach infested motel. Outside, the skyline slowly changes. There were also frequent referrals to newspapers headlines, but they were all in reference to deviant stories- the Operation Coldstore, the release of one of the long time ISA detainee (I didn’t catch the name but it might have been Chia Thye Poh).
Show Nishino as Mariko acted brilliantly as a heart broken woman who could not follow her heart and to obey her duties. In the end, all she could get through the ensuing years was the physical aspect- sex and not the emotional part- love. The scenes were beautifully shot and there was nothing raunchy about it. I just find them a little to long and too many though Eric Khoo did mentioned that they were essential, so this is just my opinion
And neither did I empathize with Seo Yun in ‘First Time’. When Damien helped her to achieve what she desired, it gave me the giggles instead.
The best stories for me? ‘Rubber’, where everything was so understated and yet so much was conveyed in every move, every look. In ‘Listen’, with Damien as an awkward brilliant musician who was probably more comfortable having a quiet conversation than in a roomful of half dazed, sex craze people.
I have to say that I totally love Josie Ho as Orchid. She is by the way, the daughter of the Macau casino magnate, Stanley Ho.
Although Eric Khoo kept emphasizing that it was not a erotic movie, I find it hard not to think so when sex is the underlying theme in all the stories.
Whilst I can’t say I find all the stories totally convincing or fascinating, they do present an interesting look into a different facet of the our society and the changes through the years. The stories are varied and interesting enough and Eric Khoo is one great Singaporean director.
However, it is uncut. Which is rare in Singapore, where Obama’s segment on the ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ was cut.
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