Silent Walls

Silent Walls
Promotional poster
密宅
Genre
Screenplay byKate Feng Yi-en
Story byNurel Anwar
Directed byRowena Loh,
Wong Kuang Yong
Starring1938:
Tasha Low
Ayden Sng
Mindee Ong
Tay Ying
Charlie Goh
1963:
Foo Fang Rong
Shane Pow
Ferlyn Wong
1988:
Macy Chen
Alfred Sng
Desmond Shen
Desmond Ng
2023:
Jojo Goh [zh]
Andie Chen
Bernard Tan
Chen Shucheng
Country of originSingapore
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
  • Jean Yeo
  • Pedro Tan
  • Rowena Loh
Production companyOchre Pictures
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release15 March (2023-03-15) –
11 April 2023 (2023-04-11)

Silent Walls (Chinese: 密宅) is a 2023 Singaporean thriller television series telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8 and produced by Ochre Pictures. It stars Tasha Low, Ayden Sng, Mindee Ong, Tay Ying, Charlie Goh, Foo Fang Rong, Shane Pow, Ferlyn Wong, Macy Chen, Alfred Sng, Desmond Shen, Desmond Ng, Jojo Goh [zh], Andie Chen, Bernard Tan and Chen Shucheng.[1][2][3] The series centres around a mansion and the lives of its occupants in 1938, 1963, 1988 and 2023.[4][5]

Cast

1938

1963

1988

2023

Controversy

The 1988 storyline features a gay relationship between Kai De (played by Alfred Sun) and his much older dance instructor boyfriend Nigel (played by Adam Chen). Nigel eventually dies from an unspecified sexually transmitted disease, which is heavily implied to be AIDs.

Silent Walls was criticised by the LGBT community in Singapore for perpetuating harmful gay stereotypes. Most notable, LGBT media platform Dear Straight People condemned the storyline for perpetuating the notion that gay men are predators and have sexually transmitted diseases.[6]

In response to the criticism, Mediacorp Channel 8 issued a statement insisting that 'they didn't set out to perpetuate any stereotypes'.[7]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Nominees Result Ref
2023 Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Promo or Trailer
(national winner - Singapore)		 Silent Walls trailer Won [8]
Best Single Drama / Telemovie / Anthology Episode Silent Walls – 2023 Won
ContentAsia Awards Best Asian Feature Film/Telemovie Silent Walls – 2023 Telemovie Nominated [9]
Silent Walls – 1938 Telemovie Nominated

Star Awards 2024

Accolades Category Nominees Result
Star Awards 2024 Best Director Rowena Loh Nominated
Best Screenplay Kate Feng and Rowena Loh Nominated
Best Actor Andie Chen Nominated

References

  1. ^ Chia, Jolynn (20 March 2023). "Minor characters in local TV dramas lack flavour, says Mindee Ong". AsiaOne. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ Chia, Jolynn (15 March 2023). "Desmond Shen 'doesn't really want to act anymore', shares why he returned anyway". AsiaOne. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. ^ 李妙楠 (3 February 2023). "一年只拍一部戏 黄晶玲：重质不重量". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ Lee, Jan (5 March 2023). "Ghosts of TV's past: Long-time-no-see S'pore actors return for eerie drama Silent Walls". The Straits Times. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. ^ 蔡欣盈 (21 March 2023). "窥探豪宅里的性爱、血腥 本地剧揭暗黑人性". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Singapore Drama 'Silent Walls' Pushes Harmful Stereotype: Gay Character Is A Groomer with AIDS: Mediacorp". Dear Straight People. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Mediacorp explains LGBTQ+ character portrayal in drama 'Silent Walls', says they didn't set out to perpetuate any stereotypes: Mediacorp". Mothership. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Full List of National Winners 2023" (PDF). Asian Academy Creative Awards. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 Nominees – ContentAsia Awards". 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 22 July 2023.