1965 is a 2015 Singaporean historical thriller film directed by Randy Ang and Daniel Yun. The film was released in cinemas on 30 July 2015 to commemorate fifty years of Singapore's independence. It stars Qi Yuwu, Deanna Yusoff, Joanne Peh, James Seah, Sezairi Sezali, Mike Kasem, and Lim Kay Tong as Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Contents
Cast
Qi Yuwu as Inspector Cheng
Deanna Yusoff as Khatijah
Joanne Peh as Zhou Jun
James Seah as Seng
Sezairi Sezali as Trainee Constable Adi
Mike Kasem as Raj
Lim Kay Tong as Lee Kuan Yew
Nicole Seah as Mei
Yi En as Xiao Yun
Andi Hazriel as Rafi
Benny Soh as Sergeant Goh
Douglas Lam as Corporal Ah Chan
Jonnie Swarbrick as Assistant Commissioner Charles P. Watson
Calvin Tan as Ah Kai
James Wang as Ah Gu
Ellen Li as Madam Cheng
Liang Than as old Zhou
Chloe Wesbter as Sue
Qi Zhihua as old Inspector Cheng
Sezairi Sezali as old Adi
Den Sabari as Rahman
Rafidah Yusoff as Fatimah
Haslinnah Jaaman as Aisah
Production
The film was conceptualised in five years. The film shooting started in November 2014, with the biggest percentage shot in Batam, at various locations, and at Infinite Frameworks Studios’ sound stages there.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai was initially supposed to play the role of Lee Kuan Yew. However, many Singaporeans were against this, as there was the preference of having a Singaporean actor for this role. The role was given to Lim Kay Tong. David Lee of the Singapore Film Society said that Lim "has the gravitas required of the role, and he's English-speaking as well". Lim prepared for the role for several months and visited the National Archives of Singapore at least five times a week to study Lee's audio and film clips.
Music
The two songs written for the film were Sezairi Sezali's "Selamat Pagi" and Gentle Bones' "Sixty Five". The latter was on the top of the iTunes Singapore song chart for four weeks.
Reception
John Lui of The Straits Times gave 1965 a 1.5 out of 5 stars. He said "it wants to be Important, with a capital I", and "it feels only slightly more relevant to the national birthday than a chicken bun with an SG50 sticker slapped on it."