Although Perth had already premiered at the Singapore
International Film Festival a few years ago, it is only getting
a full run in our cinemas now. One can only guess why.

Perth is not an easy sell to movie-goers. It is a gritty
and unflinching Singapore remake of Martin Scorsese's 1976 classic
Taxi Driver that starred Robert de Niro. Rated M18, Perth
also has some brutally violent scenes, which may upset some of you
folks?oh-so-delicately gay sensibilities.

Still, Perth is a must-watch for those of you who care
about where the nascent Singapore film industry is heading. It boasts
a solid performance by the ever-reliable Lim Kay Tong as taxi driver
Harry Lee (hmm?perhaps, the censors or distributors were uncomfortable
with the name too) who is old, lonely and close to retirement.

Harry constantly complains about life in Singapore to his passengers,
and tells them he dreams of retiring in Perth. Little does anyone
realise that Harry is a walking time-bomb of frustrations, and that
these pent-up emotions will finally explode in violence and bloodshed.

Directed by homeboy Djinn, Perth is a remarkably assured
film. It showcases not just all-round strong acting (Sunny Pang,
in particular, shines as a foul-mouthed lout) but also impressive
camerawork by one of Singapore's best cinematographers, Goh Meng
Hing. If you're serious about local films, watch this before you
watch The Maid.