Extra Credit-To Singapore, With Love

Going into the screening I was not sure what to expect, but "To Singapore, With Love" was an eye opener for sure. I was totally unaware of the political climate in Singapore. Especially with the popular idea that it is just a rich country. The theme of displacement or somehow being exiled is pretty prominent in both films. Neither the living or the dead were exempt from such practices-- even though the reasons may have been somewhat different and less hostile in the first case. But either way the idea of exhuming someones remains and then having them moved to a kind of condo for ashes was uncomfortable to watch in a sense. I cannot begin to imagine how that must have been for the families. In "To Singapore, With Love", there was obviously more of a hostile tone for those who were literally exiled from Singapore due to the politics of the country. To think that there are people waiting basically their entire lives to go home is saddening, some even died before ever being able to physically go back. Francis, i believe,  had his remains brought back by his wife, who is also in exile. The idea of being in exile was also very interesting to me as i watched the film. One person spoke of how although those who are exiled feel alone, they are not, all of them in some way or the other are connected due to the fact that they are refugee's and maybe there is some kind of comfort in that. But I am grateful that i was able to be exposed to the politics of Singapore even a little bit through the two films.