The Diam Diam Era Two
The Diam Diam Era Two is a 2021 Singaporean comedy film directed by Jack Neo. Continuing the story of the Lim family, set in 1988 general election, it tells the story as Lim Ah Kun, Osman Bin Yusuf and Shamugam S/O Vellasami form a seemingly funny but serious opposition party C.M.I., and compete in the fierce election showdown. It is the sequel to Long Long Time Ago, Long Long Time Ago 2 and The Diam Diam Era.
The film stars veteran local comedy actors Mark Lee, Henry Thia and Wang Lei. It is released on 11 February 2021 in Singaporean cinemas. Other ensemble cast includes Suhaimi Yusof, Silvarajoo Prakasam, Richie Koh,, Mei Xin, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Regina Lim, Yap Hui Xin, Charmaine Sei, Ryan Lian, Tasha Low, Nurijah Binte Sahat, Bharathi D/O Rani and Joshua Ang. The film is the only local Singaporean film releasing during the 2021 Chinese New Year period. It also marks the fifth 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 The Diam Diam Era, this film is set in 1988 general election, as Lim Ah Kun become more dissatisfied with the government policies, he decides to form a new opposition party after being rejected to join Liu Shun Zhong's 's party in the previous film. To compete for seats in the Toa Payoh GRC where he lives at a Toa Payoh HDB Flat located at Blk 128 Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Ah Kun teams up with nasi lemak seller named Osman Bin Yusuf and his younger brother Lim Ah Hee's 's father-in-law and former hawker inspector and People's Association officer named Shamugam S/O Vellasami to form a new opposition party named C.M.I. and contest in the general election.As their campaign gets more intense, both Ah Kun and Lim Zhao Di's 's families get dragged in. Will Shun Fa and Yong Xin resolve their differences? The fervent of campaigning has swept up both Ah Kun's and Zhao Di's family. As Ah Kun thinks of many ways to garner support, will both families be dragged in as well? Can Ah Kun, Osman and Shamugam really win the election?
Production
The film continues the series in showcasing Singapore's multicultural society, and its history from its founding to becoming an advanced country.This film and the previous film are set in the 1980s, and touch on politically sensitive topics, such as several major policy changes implemented in the era, opposition parties, and the details of 1980s general election and campaigning.
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."