NSU hosts SG60 film screening, bridging Singapore and Bangladesh

On Saturday (August 23), the campus of North South University transformed into a cultural bridge between Singapore and Bangladesh. The Singapore High Commission hosted a special SG60 Movie Screening to mark the 60th anniversary of Singapore's independence. The event celebrated heritage, culture, and the power of stories to connect communities across borders.

Guests began arriving at 4:30 PM, greeted with cotton candy and popcorn. Diplomats from various embassies were in attendance, while the guest of honor was Mr. Mitchel Lee, Chargé d'Affaires of the High Commission of the Republic of Singapore. The program began at 5:00 PM with welcoming remarks from Vice-Chancellor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury.

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The lights dimmed for "Kopitiam Days", an anthology of six heartfelt short films with Eric Khoo as creative director and producer: "Dragon Gate Assembly" by Yeo Siew Hua, "Meet Me at the Pavilion" by Shoki Lin, "iZ-1" by M. Raihan Halim, "Red Plastic Chairs on Sticky Floors" by Tan Siyou, "One Last Song" by Don Aravind, and "The Morning Call" by Ong Kuo Sin. All of these films mostly centred around Singapore's iconic kopitiam, or coffee shop. 

Each story painted a picture of the mundane yet extraordinary life of Singapore and its people. Yet one did not need to be Singaporean to feel the nostalgia and belonging in these films. Whether it was the lonely grandma from "iZ-1" or the homesick filmmaker working abroad from "Red Plastic Chairs on Sticky Floors", you can see fragments of yourself in these figures. The films made the audience laugh, reflect and at times even tear up. By the end of the movie, when the words "You may appear normal, but your stories are special" appear on the screen— the audience had already experienced a whirlwind of emotions. 

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After an intermission and light dinner, the screening of  Khoo's "12 Storeys" (1997) began—the first Singaporean film ever selected for the Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a wandering spirit, once a tenant in an HDB high-rise, as he observes three narratives: a crumbling marriage, a woman battling isolation and fragile self-esteem, and a sibling relationship spiralling into conflict.

Nearly three decades after its release, "12 Storeys" remains strikingly relevant. The film explores important themes such as mental health, misogyny, patriarchal authority and the xenophobic views at that time. But mainly, it highlights how these buildings (such as the HDB block) are examples of urban alienation as each unit holds the quiet sufferings of common people. 

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The evening ended at around 9:30 PM with a lottery draw featuring traditional kopitiam-themed gifts.

As Lee talked about the film culture of both Bangladesh and Singapore, he remarked, "It is our hope that this screening sparks a deeper curiosity about Singaporean culture—its people, their struggles, and their aspirations," North South University was able to accomplish that by turning the evening into a great showcase of how films can tie countries together and inspire unity through art.