1st Stage Performance

Went to perform for HSS week after my lessons today. Was extremely nervous before the actual performance and i was really afraid of forgetting the lyrics. Luckily, it turned out fine besides the slight problems in the sound system. Thanks a lot to Fuli, Edwin and Clarence who turned up to support me!

A picture that Edwin helped to take

Went for my aerospace meeting for the aerospace launch program tomorrow and left promptly as i was going to watch The Constant Gardener with Liyuan and Daryl in the evening.

The Constant Gardener is not about gardening, it is about unravelling the dark secrets of the pharmaceutical companies in Africa and a romance story between a vocal activist and a diplomat. Are the citizens in Africa being treated as guinea pigs for their testing of medicine? Why have some people disappeared after suffering from consumption of their medication? What does pharmaceutical companies gain from free testing of HIV and tuberculosis in Africa? These are some questions raised during the movie as we gradually discover the cause and effect of Tessa's death.

Fernando Meirelles is an incredible force to be reckoned with. His visuals are vivid, the shots in Africa sweltering with heat, the film editing unique yet professional, the cinematography stunning in the African landscape and slums, as well as the London modern architecture with grey-hue. The acting by Rachel Weisz is without a doubt great, especially paired with Ralph Fiennes who compliments her with his mild-mannerism and dedication to solve the mystery. The story is quite detailed and it demands quite some attention from the audience. Not only does it deals with the problems Africa is facing, it also deals with betrayals, infidelities, violence, human rights, death, and ultimately, love.

It is a film that i admired more than i liked as the pacing was rather slow in first half of the show. Most people, including me, would have to watch a second time to fully appreciate and understand the meaning behind it. Complex and socially conscious, this film is high-quality film-making for the serious moviegoer.