An anthology of films under “A Singapore Dementia Story” were supported by Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore.

 

Local film director Gavin Lim has two mothers with dementia – his own mother as well as his mother-in-law. Though carrying a caregiver perspective while directing the short film Another Go which is part of “A Singapore Dementia Story”, he felt it important to bring awareness over a “pervasive condition” that he relates to but also “I didn’t tell what you should do [in the film] but mention there is a storm coming. How do you fight it? You keep on going.”

The story follows a devoted couple Leon and Georgia Lim who is navigating the challenges of early-onset dementia or when someone younger than 65 has dementia. Based on a real case study of a couple living with dementia, the film delves the importance of family, caregiver stress, deterioration from the condition, sacrifices being made by the Lim’s daughter and the strong love displayed by the couple. In the film, veteran actress 63-year-old Tan Kheng Hua and her daughter Lim Shi-An shared the screen for the first time, while actor 57-year-old Peter Yu played Kheng Hua’s devoted husband.

Sixty-year-old Gavin added that though he has no children like in the film and a helper was viewed as more accepting, in his own family initially, “my family was dead set against having a helper.” He revealed that it really is a full-time job taking care of someone with dementia and his family decided they had no choice but to have hire one.

He also shared once when both “mothers” were admitted to different hospitals, he told his wife not to be a hero and that he would take care of his mother, while she took care of her mother. “You cannot do everything.” He added: “[Our parents’] parents were not like that as they passed earlier so they didn’t have a model of looking after. Our moms depend on us. What we do now in this generation will impact the next generation.”

Kheng Hua shared, “I never really think about cancer, old age, wrinkles, dementia … about anything. I should think about something I can control. I have always been like this. You can bet I will do everything in my power, if I had it or someone I love has it. I will do the best way I can.”

There were also four other films that are also supported by Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore that delved into dementia including:

• Really? (智到吗?), directed by Jenny Ng, is a comedy drama about a filial son who gives up his job to take care of his mum with dementia. Or so it seems. The production crew’s personal experiences with caregiving lent to the emotional depth of the script.
• Two Ways to Forget, directed by Raymus Chang, is an animated comedic drama with AI generated graphics that depicts how a high-powered corporate lawyer hides his struggles with dementia, while a Math teacher with a can-do attitude faces his decline with bravado. It is the first AI short film of this length. A novel and colourful approach to film-making that is brought to life with the nuances of voice acting by Bernard Lim and Suhaimi Yusof to portray the subtleties that come with grappling with dementia.
• The Last Thread, directed by Vikneshwaran Silva, is a thriller that tells of a proud retired soldier’s struggle with dementia that unravels into a haunting confrontation with guilt, grief and a family event too painful to forget. Starring veteran award-winning actor A Panneeirchelvam who portrays Rajan, the film lends a deeper sense of empathy and compassion by inviting audiences into the disoriented mind of someone living with dementia.
• What Day Is It?, directed by local actor Andie Chen, tells the heartwarming story of John and Sophia, who are just like every Singaporean couple living their best life … except John is getting more forgetful every day. Even so, his ever-loving spouse Sophia guides him towards taking every day one step at a time, sometimes with love, and sometimes with pull-your-pants-down humour. The film explores love, acceptance, and joy in the simple moments in life amidst adversity. It also explores the fine line between what could be considered normal exhaustion and forgetfulness and when it could take a more ominous turn.

Curated and produced by Singapore’s veteran film producer Daniel Yun, the five films draw from real experiences, extensive research and meaningful conversations with caregivers and persons living with dementia – many of whom are clients of Dementia Singapore. Using diverse storytelling approaches, “A Singapore Dementia Story” explores dementia from the lens of different genres – comedy, romance, drama and even a thriller. It is hoped that the anthology will spark meaningful and introspective conversations among the audience and public about the condition and what it means to foster a dementia-inclusive society.

Daniel shared: “Coming up with ‘A Singapore Dementia Story’, working with the directors and with the real-life cases, I see, feel and learn aspects of dementia I never knew. I am also made aware of misinformation and myth on this mental condition. And I come face-to-face with personal courage and community support.”

Bryan Tan, CEO, Dementia Singapore, said: “Dementia affects everyone differently, depending on the type of dementia in question, the severity of the diagnosis, and by the person’s overall health. But we often forget that it also has a complex and wide-ranging effect on family members, caregivers, and friends, as well as our healthcare system, and society at large. Greater empathy is the cornerstone of a dementia-inclusive society because it fosters the understanding, respect and connection necessary to bridge divides. And we believe it can be realised through skilled storytelling.”

**The films will be available online from the end of February on Dementia Singapore and Lien Foundations’ YouTube platforms.