The Diam Diam Era
The Diam Diam Era is a 2020 Singaporean comedy film directed by Jack Neo. Set in 1980s, it tells the story of the Lim family moving from kampong to HDB Flats. Through major policy changes and political climate in the era, they experience great changes in their lives and environment. It is the sequel to Long Long Time Ago and Long Long Time Ago 2.
It was released on 26 November 2020 in Singaporean cinemas. The film stars an ensemble cast, which includes Mark Lee, Richie Koh,, Mei Xin, Henry Thia, Wang Lei, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Regina Lim, Yap Hui Xin, Charmaine Sei, Tasha Low, Silvarajoo Prakasam and Suhaimi Yusof. It also marks the fourth on-screen reunion of Mark Lee and Suhaimi Yusof after they starred alongside together in the popular Singaporean sitcom named Police & Thief.
Plot
Continuing from Long Long Time Ago 2, this film is set from the year 1979 until the late 1980s. It follows the story of the Lim family's second generation moving from kampong to HDB Flats, as they experience great changes in Singapore's environment, policies and livelihood.After the death of his father Si Shu, his mother Si Shen and his older sister Lim Zhao Di, Lim Ah Kun has turned over a new leaf and continued his old profession as a taxi driver. He often argued with his son, Lim Yong Xin whom he had with a songstress outside of his marriage and nephew, Phua Shun Fa due to differences in their views because of generation gap. During the time, Singapore was going through a number of reform policies, such as the forced closure of Chinese schools and the introduction of Singaporean elite system.
The film also focused on the troubled relationship between Yong Xin and Shun Fa as the former is an egoistic jerk, as he is an overachiever, especially in English and Mathematics and for this reason, looks down on the latter who is exactly the opposite due to the latter being Chinese Educated and having difficulties solving Mathematics questions as they have all been varied from Chinese to English to keep up with the times. Yong Xin even resorts to using Shun Fa as a scapegoat just to get out of trouble and save his reputation as the former wanted to achieve a scholarship in the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Army and held the rank of Second Lieutenant and got promoted to Lieutenant after a while.
Ah Kun became dissatisfied with many of the government policies. He decided to speak out by setting a new opposition party known as C.M.I. to contest in the 1988 general election by teaming up with his younger brother Lim Ah Hee's 's father-in-law and former hawker inspector and People's Association officer named Shamugam and nasi lemak seller named Osman. How will the story of their lives go?
Production
The film was originally titled as Not So Long Time Ago. The film budget is $2.5 million, filming lasted from April to May 2019. The film continues to showcase Singapore's multicultural society, and its history from the founding to becoming an advanced country.This film and the next film are set in the 1980s, and touched on politically sensitive topics, in particular several major policy changes implemented during the era, including the forced closure of Chinese schools and Nanyang University, the frustration among Chinese school students, the Singapore elite system, and opposition parties. It also explores the life views and differences between the younger and older generation, their different reactions towards the policies implemented during the era.
Regarding the subject matter, Neo states that: “Although the subject is sensitive, it is part of history. It should be viewed with a correct attitude. Singaporeans should understand the history of their own country. We are not trying to deliberately touch on sensitive subjects, instead we just do not want to hide what happened in history."
Release
The film held sneak peaks on 22 November 2020, was released on 26 November 2020 theatrically in Singapore.Its sequel and the overall fourth film, The Diam Diam Era Two, was released on 10 February 2021 during the Chinese New Year holiday.