Local feature film, My Magic – directed by Eric Khoo, has been chosen by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) as Singapore’s submission to the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Best Foreign Language Film Award.
Premiered at the Cannes Festival in May 2008, the film tells of a complex father-son relationship that evolves around themes of love, family ties, redemption and magic. Eric Khoo describes it as “his most personal piece of work to date.” This is Eric’s first Tamil film, with 80% of the dialogue in Tamil in a story inspired by Singaporean fire-eater Francis Bosco. It was shot in a marathon 9-day schedule last December. The film revolves around an alcoholic magician who tries to reconnect with his 14-year-old son.
“My Magic’s touching storyline made it the SFC Board members’ unanimous choice this year. It is a testament to our burgeoning film industry’s capabilities and a fitting submission to the Academy,” said Mr Kenneth Tan, Director, SFC and the Media Development Authority of Singapore’s Chief Operating Officer.
The nominees for the 81st Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be announced on 22 January 2009, with the awards ceremony to be held on 22 February 2009 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
My Magic, produced by Zhao Wei Films, will be opening in Singapore on Sept 26.
Trivia from sinema.sg
Bosco Francis, the lead actor of the movie, is one of a handful of professional magicians in Singapore. A former labourer, his interest in this mysterious craft was piqued when he was picked to be the stage assistant for a touring American magician in the 1960s.
Eric Khoo also co-wrote My Magic with Wong Kim Hoh, a senior journalist with The Straits Times. Long-time friends, the duo have also collaborated on Be With Me, as well as No Day Off, a short film about the life of an Indonesian maid in Singapore.
Film Details
Running Time: 75mins
Tamil and Chinese (with English subtitles)
Francis Bosco as Francis
Jathisweran as Francis’ son
Grace Kalaiselvi as Francis’ wife
Sneak Peek!
Take a look at the trailer of My Magic.
ArtZine Singapore 
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