Eating Air

Eating Air
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese吃風
Simplified Chinese吃风
Literal meaning“Having a good time” in Hokkien slang
Hanyu PinyinChī fēng
Hokkien POJJiak hong
Directed by
Written by
  • Kelvin Tong
  • Jasmine Ng
Produced by
  • Loraine Frugniet
  • Mabelyn Ow
Starring
Cinematography
  • Lucas Jodogne
  • Mary Van Kets
Edited byJasmine Ng
Music by
  • Joe Ng
  • Seens
  • Jason Tan
  • Nigel Woodford
Production
companies
  • YTC Pictures
  • Multi-Story Complex
Distributed byUnited International Pictures
Release date
  • 9 December 1999 (1999-12-09)
Running time
107 minutes
CountrySingapore
Languages
  • Mandarin
  • Hokkien
  • English
  • Malay
BudgetS$800,000[1]

Eating Air (Chinese: 吃風) is a 1999 Singaporean action romantic drama film directed by Kelvin Tong and Jasmine Ng, starring Benjamin Heng and Alvina Toh as two disaffected teenagers who are in love and about their days of being wild and crazy.[2][3][4] Billed as "a motorcycle kung-fu love story", the directorial feature debut of Tong and Ng has since been considered a cult classic among the local film community.[5][6]

Synopsis

A young man loves spending his time cruising the streets on his motorcycle and imagines himself as a martial arts hero. He falls in love with a quiet, withdrawn student who works in a photocopy shop by day and sells newspapers with her mother at night. The young man's carefree life changes when his best friend gets into trouble with the underworld triads and he feels obligated to shoulder the responsibilities with him.

Cast

  • Benjamin Heng as Ah Boy
  • Alvina Toh as Ah Girl
  • Joseph Cheong as Ah Gu
  • Ferris Yeo as Chao Helang
  • Andy Chng as Aw Tau
  • Mark Lee as Lao Beng
  • Michelle Chong as Posche
  • Deborah Png as Ah Girl's mother
  • Kit Chan as Mysterious girl

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
2000 Singapore International Film Festival Young Cinema Award Kelvin Tong and Jasmine Ng Won [7]

References

  1. ^ "Eating Air goes to Holland & HK". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. No. Page 2. The Straits Times. 31 December 1999. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ Elley, Derek (14 February 2000). "Eating Air". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Kelvin Tong Looks Back At 20 Years Of Directing Movies: From 'Eating Air' to 'The Maid' To 'Republic Of Food'". TODAY. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Eating Air". Time Out Worldwide. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ Lui, John (19 January 2022). "S'pore cult classic film Eating Air makes Netflix debut on Jan 28". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. ^ "How local stars celebrated Chinese New Year 2022". Her World Singapore. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Ah Boy roars into France". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. No. Page 3. The Straits Times. 26 February 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2023.


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