The Tree (2001 film)

The Tree is a 2001 Singaporean supernatural-mystery drama film directed by Daisy Chan, starring Zoe Tay, Francis Ng, Phyllis Quek, Tse Kwan Ho and Deng Mao Hui. Produced by Mediacorp Raintree Pictures,[1] the film was shot entirely in Singapore over 28 days[2] with a production budget of S$1.1 million.[3] It was released in Singapore cinemas on 26 April 2001.[2]

The Tree
Film poster
Traditional Chinese孩子·樹
Simplified Chinese孩子·树
Literal meaningKid, Tree
Hanyu PinyinHáizǐ Shù
Directed byDaisy Chan
Screenplay by
  • Victor Lau
  • Ho Hee-ann
  • Liew Kwee-lan
Produced byVictor Lau
Starring
CinematographyTung Sei-kwong
Edited byKoh Kah-yen
Music by
  • Jim Lim
  • Kevin Quah
Production
company
Release date
  • April 26, 2001 (2001-04-26)
Running time
98 minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguageMandarin

Plot

Lin Zixiong (Zheng Geping) dies after being hit by a car, and the only witness seems to be his stepson "Popiah" (Deng Mao Hui), a quiet young boy with no friends besides a gigantic tree. Police investigator Jiang Liangxing (Phyllis Quek) becomes convinced the driver was Lin's wife Guo Meifeng (Zoe Tay), whose first husband Xie Wenguang (Tse Kwan-ho) disappeared 5 years ago. Meanwhile, Jiang's boyfriend and pathologist Wu Chongzhe (Francis Ng) discovers a mysterious fungus in Lin's heart. He also befriends Popiah and learns that Lin had sexually abused him. Perhaps the answer to everything lies in the gigantic tree...

Cast
  • Deng Maohui as Xie Qingyu, a child nicknamed "Popiah"
  • Zoe Tay as Guo Meifeng, Popiah's mother
  • Francis Ng as Wu Chongzhe, a forensic pathologist
  • Phyllis Quek as Jiang Liangxing, Wu Chongzhe's girlfriend and a police superintendent
  • Lau Siu-ming as Wu Mingwei, Wu Chongzhe's father
  • Tse Kwan-ho as Xie Wenguang, Popiah's father
  • Zheng Geping as Lin Zixiong, Popiah's stepfather
  • Dasmond Koh as Chen Guoqiang, a police officer

Reception

Soh Yun-Huei gave the film 1/2 out of 4 stars, writing the film meant to blend "suspense, melodrama and romance together, but the end results are lumpy and unsatisfying".[4]

References
  1. "Raintree Pictures". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. Khoo, Evelyn (12 March 2001). "Zoe's movie debut". The Straits Times. p. 4. Retrieved 27 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG. ...Raintree Pictures' The Tree, scheduled to be released on April 26...The movie, which was shot entirely in Singapore over 28 days, hopes to make an impact at the box office.
  3. Chan, Fiona (14 April 2001). "Boy steals show". The Straits Times. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2016 – via NewspaperSG. With a production budget of $1.1 million, The Tree carries with it the hopes of the Singapore movie industry, said Mr Yun, who is also Raintree Pictures' chief executive officer.
  4. Soh Yun-Huei. "The Tree review". FilmsAsia.
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