12 Lotus

12 Lotus
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese十二蓮花
Simplified Chinese十二莲花
Hanyu PinyinShí'èr liánhuā
Directed by
Written by
  • Royston Tan
  • Liam Yeo
Produced by
  • Seah Saw Yam
  • Mabelyn Ow
  • Lim Teck
  • Freddie Yeo
Starring
CinematographyAlan Yap
Edited by
  • Low Hwee Ling
Music byRicky Ho
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • 14 August 2008 (2008-08-14) (Singapore)
Running time
121 minutes
Country
  • Singapore
Languages
  • Mandarin
  • Hokkien
BudgetS$$1.5 million[1]
Box officeS$983,000[2]

12 Lotus (Chinese: 十二莲花) is a 2008 Singaporean musical drama film written and directed by Royston Tan, starring Qi Yuwu, Liu Lingling and Mindee Ong.[3] The film was released in theatres on 14 August 2008 and was screened at the 13th Busan International Film Festival in October 2008.[4] The film performed poorly at the local box office, grossing S$983,000 against a budget of S$$1.5 million.

Plot

Spanning over the 1980s, 1990s till the present day, 12 Lotus tells the story of a singer who is constantly used and abused by the men in her life, against the backdrop of a string of melancholic Hokkien songs.

Cast

Main and supporting

  • Qi Yuwu as Ah Long / Long 2
  • Liu Lingling as Older Liu Lianhua
  • Mindee Ong as Liu Lianhua
  • Huang Yiliang as Lianhua's father
  • Hao Hao as Adult Xiao Feixia
  • Li Bao En as Liu Lianhua (kid)
  • Damus Lim as Xiao Feixia (kid)
  • Aaron Tan as Young gambler / Ah Long's accomplice
  • Yeo Yann Yann as Long 2's girlfriend
  • Guo Min as Xiao Feixia's mother
  • Auntie Fen as Opera actress
  • Sam Loo as Getai host
  • Amy Yang as Getai host
  • Baobei Sisters as themselves
  • Samantha Tan as Xiao Feixia's girlfriend
  • Wang Yan Bin as Brother Tiger

The film also features the Sin Sai Feng opera troupe and the band Funkie Monkies Amps.

Special appearances

  • Stefanie Sun as Guan Yin Goddess (opera)
  • David Gan as himself

Production

The film was shot in 23 days.[5]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
2008 45th Golden Horse Awards Best Original Film Score Ricky Ho Nominated [6]
2009 22nd Singapore International Film Festival Awards Best Director Royston Tan Won [7]

References

  1. ^ "12 Lotus (2008) || movieXclusive.com". www.moviexclusive.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "12 Lotus loss out". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. No. Page 107. The Straits Times. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Getai life takes centre stage again". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. No. Page 33. The Business Times. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ "12 Lotus". Busan International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Well done, Royston". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. No. Page 99. The Straits Times. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ^ "台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival". www.goldenhorse.org.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ "22nd SIFF Silver Screen Awards - Results". Sinema.SG. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.