“Low crime doesn’t mean no crime.” This hackneyed slogan, plastered across public spaces, effectively captures the Singapore state’s attitude towards law enforcement. The dominant consensus, echoed across mainstream media and official narratives, views lawbreakers as threats to the greater good of society. Yet in 2016, two independent local films—”A Yellow Bird” and “Apprentice”—brought to the surface different views of society, crime and those who commit it.
Author Archives: Christie Cheng
Christie is based in London, and currently pursuing her PhD research in Southeast Asian migrant labour films at UCL. A recent Cultural Studies graduate from SOAS, she has also worked in the Arts and NGO sectors in Singapore. Christie is seeking out individuals with an interest in contemporary regional cultural productions.