Singapore Dreaming 美滿人生 (2006 Film)

Singapore Dreaming (simplified Chinese: 美满人生; traditional Chinese: 美滿人生; pinyin: Měimǎn Rénshēng) is a 2006 film set in Singapore. The film follows the Loh family, a typical Singaporean working-class family, through their aspirations for a better life and the harsh reality that makes it difficult for them to fulfill these aspirations. The film is inspired by a 2000 essay, Paved with Good Intentions, that the writers of the film had written for the Singapore International Foundation.
A concatenation of e-mails Singaporeans sent to writers Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen on their life stories in relation to the Singaporean dream eventually led them to write, produce and direct Singapore Dreaming. The film stars Richard Low as Poh Huat, Alice Lim as Siew Luan, Serene Chen as Irene, Yeo Yann Yann as Mei, Lim Yu-Beng as CK and Dick Su as Seng.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[@xxxcool2565]

Can't believe I'm still watching this in 2023. After so many years this film still remains relevant and relatable to me

[@ryank3281]

I watched this movie many times over the years, it gave me different feelings as my age grew. Somehow when you get older you will get more connected to the story, especially if you're someone born before 1990s. Great movie.

[@wx89]

this movie really depicts the true life of Singaporean even till now. The constant cycle that people are stuck in throughout their life. Some manage to strike their first pot of gold and walked out of it while others are still struggling to find theirs and maybe perhaps will never get to find their first pot of gold. This cycle will then pass onto the next generations.

[@stephencfho]

Many things have changed in SIngapore but not this.15 years after this movie premiered, the stories in this movie still holds true. I watch it from time to time, as a reminder to myself, the good and the bad.

[@maho9139]

almost every character in this movie is a horrible person. a strikingly honest and real movie, the entire theme is so cold and depressing, not a second in this movie was anyone happy. great movie.

[@hijazzains]

Very singPrran.as many singaporran meet alsways seem unhappy as if their life is so bad

[@leekokhong3829]

Time and time again I find myself coming back to this movie after being shown by one of my secondary school teacher decades ago, a timeless relevance to what people still face in Singapore

[@vadali93]

beautiful piece of cinema that is still relevant in today's society - who are we? what are we chasing? it is time to think through our national identity and what it means to live the singapore dream.

[@guankeongong1458]

I love this movie. Clearly reflects the current society expectation

[@bsythdd4754]

the theme in the movie still holds true today in modern SG. life is tough for everyone who knows only one thing: getting ahead in life and climbing the social / corporate ladder in getting rich in general. It's sad.

[@derrickchan2853]

Astor Tran

[@alextan516]

I have no ideal 2006 had such a good movie..i cry when their mother sing tht touching hockien song..

[@MrFullfilldestiny]

Better than a lot Hollywood movie. Never thought of Singapore movie would be so good . And actually the ending is quite positive and not sad.

[@lightlysalted1940]

First watched this a while ago and i do comeback occasionally to remind myself how much SG has changed and how fortunate I am. A wonderful movie that reflects the day to day struggles of the ordinary Singaoreans thats a far cry from the stereotypical movies like crazy rich asians

[@cadenchen336]

URURRRYRRRYRYRYRURYRYRYRYRRYYRYRYRRYYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYYRRYRYYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYURYRURYRYRYRUURURUURYRYR

[@sgyoutuberfanpolice6086]

That one run away from NS to US one

[@hjon9119]

realized that I have watched this before but continued watching because it has a meaningful story

[@baldhippy7204]

i first watched this movie while on the singapore airlines it brought tears to my eyes so awesome

[@Chris1688]

very underrated movie. i am in my mid thirties still have it very nice to to watch even watching it every one year

[@viriconium1]

Still relevant today. Really accurate depiction of the state of chasing after material.

[@loochinleong9316]

I u

[@chinhooi8]

Sad but realistic portrayal of the Singapore Dream..5 C. I was there and experienced it. But life is more than 5 C, and the 6C is so true.

[@boon3736]

this bring back the old Singapore im used too ..not like now so many foreigners

[@kengtzewei1]

Amazingly good movie struck a resonance to Most Singaporeans heart.

[@chengduwestchinagotravelse1215]

这部电影放在今天 依然不过时 这就是真实人生 好电影

[@siak12345]

Tnz for this very classic story of how society can be driven by a single-minded pursuit of materialistic 5Cs and losing sight of the very purpose and values of family. The 6th C nailed it!

[@fernlow1786]

Good film, what a family. So much drama in this family. I was glad the spoiled and shameless son didn't get away without a lesson.

[@7thheavenmotovlog599]

great movie la. 好看！

[@leia4621]

thank you for sharing, lovely movie

[@lagrinadomingo828]

Good movie.true to life

[@temasek65]

Wow the 6th C makes sense. Time can end anytime!

[@estherbaettig]

Thank you lah 😊

[@encorebebe609]

stressful life~ asian life~ so realistic

[@TeoJunHao]

Such a simple story yet so true, it fact that butterfly snack cost 50cents, now about 90 cents to a dollar plus

[@eateatseesee5793]

Very heavy movie ... I can feel the weight of life. lifting your arms and leg take strength, no short cuts.

[@inlander311]

very good movie teaching me a lot lessons

[@shenbavv7796]

Nice movie... youngsters nowadays should watch this.....

[@sandwichtuna1332]

Great

[@wilsonkoh616]

Anyone has a full HD version of this movie ??? Much thanks.🙏🤝

[@royhood1930]

i watched this movie while on singapore plane on my way to see my lady in the phillipines i had tears in my eyes such a awesome movie

[@mymother25]

付出只希望受著能自立 下賭注的一方 真的好有勇氣

[@Guanyu664]

More sg movie please

[@yangchuyou2356]

It's too realistic ~ we all choose to follow society's standards of a common route in living and value and decide not to 'live' in order to 'survive'

[@bolehland123]

very good movie.

[@kennethli8]

+dvid mak - I agree. Really good movie. I was born in China and lived in the USA for over 30 years and still do not understand why people want face so much.

[@kennethli8]

+dvid mak - I agree. Really good movie. I was born in China and lived in the USA for over 30 years and still do not understand why people want face so much.

[@michaelwei4827]

+Reningan hey, that's damn asian culture, you have to face the judgemental views of people around you. As an asian, I also don't like that much, just ignore these people, do what you dream.

[@terryfic100]

10 years ago alr wah

[@rkrieg18]

Very hard lifestyle

[@NikiWonoto26]

very realistic

[@yuvinnaching857]

Thank you

[@wltaloof3747]

1:36:20 Anybody know who is Woo Meng Chow that they are referring to at the end?

[@happy010111]

Somewhat blurred, not with sharp and good quality.

[@asrafmuhamedin9678]

Just watch at netflix. Come here to read comments 😅

[@gohjun471]

They cut 1:34:11 away on netflix

[@louislim1151]

39:40 Strange. Shows Fullerton Hotel, then Long Beach Restaurant.

[@PolkaTea]

Twist for effect. Hype up thinking the family is going to Fullerton Hotel to celebrate but Poh Huat is wise enough to go to a more reasonable place.

[@jko7654]

As sad as it sounds there are real life bosses like Mr Loh if not worse

[@user-ph1qq7zn2u]

This movie really so funny

[@abdullahfrzna5227]

Like all asn movi frm pakistn

[@UltraVioletMilk]

Vote out the PAP in 2025 and bring back SG to the good old 90s golden age!!!!!

[@karytan5286]

any 1080p resolution

[@constanciaangeles7367]

I love this Movie, Such a lot of Lessons in life👍😢😊😍 Thanksomuch!! Subscribe Done

[@user-xk2zy3ng1o]

What's the name of Hokkien song in the beginning?

[@leefunchan8140]

+Jiaminization hl ualala

[@darthvader2452]

望春風

[@Newcondolaunchonline]

One of this My favorite movies

[@DonYang73]

Singaporean life, damn sad , man…. “Loser Loser Loser ! “ Holds true till today unfortunately for the majority. Forever ratracing forever comparing, never contented.

[@yhwe100]

Been to this small city country. I somehow never got to want to stay for long.

[@courtneyhorny261]

singaporean life so stress sia haiz

[@adellim2145]

This is why locals don’t want a local gf. Too demanding and proud of themselves.

[@florenceteo563]

请问啊发的老婆是不是黄明志妈妈饰演的？

[@a0934066682a]

什麼時候 自私的人 才會拋棄自私 never never never

[@Shazwan.Charlton]

2020

[@ambrose7196]

I'm just impressed a Singapore film can be so good. I would compare this to American Beauty with the multiple character arcs and so on. Edit: In retrospect, two years since watching this movie. This is still my favourite SG movie. As a Singaporean, I'm frankly quite ashamed with the local film industry because of how appalling it is, especially when compared to......let's see.... literally everywhere else. The standard here is really that low. Aside from the rare gems, SG films are usually slap-stick terrible comedy or a generic, passable movie that is reflective of the 'singapore identity'- whatever that means. SG film industry- from how I see it- are movies catered only for Singaporeans, created by Singaporeans and absolutely worthless anywhere else. And yet, despite all these complaints and looking at how SG TV shows has long become obsolete in favour of Netflix, HBO, etc... Singapore Dreaming is nevertheless, quite legitimately one of the best movies I've seen, and it so happens to be a Singaporean film. It has single-handedly raised the bar of film-making in Singapore because it does something no one else here has done- treat itself seriously.

[@elteryeoh1795]

is too real already this movie

[@nicoletaiuliana2171]

e.t

[@nicoletaiuliana2171]

e.t

[@nicoletaiuliana2171]

- dan

[@hassanho5514]

民国时代出生的人,矛盾固执,重男轻女的观念根深蒂固,难以改变思维心态!

[@llgla]

This family doesn't have friends or relatives care abt them man. No one help them out even at funeral.

[@RoxanaTwan]

don't take thing for granted, u should work hard to achieve ur goal.

[@Chingaez]

It is a very good lesson about this one movie, not only about Singaporean's dream to be big, but also anywhere or everywhere in the world where people are obsessed to have everything. I mean, yeah materialism is a theme of the movie, but overrated obsession without steadfast route is also a lethal dose of venom to anyone's consciousnesses especially for those want to get rich and famous faster. And the moral of the story itself is try to live a life to the fullest disregarding your condition. Lets see how I review things here, 23:40-23:47 For a would-be mother like Mei, this is a terrible attitude to even your family member, especially your parents. I know it is because of their unfair favoritism towards your younger brother, but under no circumstances to talk this boldly to an elderly. Sounds like a hypocrite if you ask me, because when the future kid grow up and becoming even ruder in the future, you know something gone dysfunctional is going on here. Also, I don't think the maid will going to teach your future child some English because, well considering herself from the Philippines, the level of English would be as mediocre as best. Why? because that itself also a broken English too. I don't care if you able to speak fluent as some British or American or other English speaking person, as long the conversation has a proper in comprehension and grammar, its matters the most. You don't have to go entirely poetic as Shakespeare in order to show off how "best" you are. I learned that during my college days in the United States alone, you see! Also, what's wrong in learning Hokkien from their grandparents? The last thing we are going to see is some of the Chinese dialect are going extinct because nobody use the language alone. 24:47 Oh come on, man. Even if you wanna go small business, do it at the bushes or the trees, not the freakin' elevator! This is disgusting! 36:18 Idaho? IDAHO? Why the heck you even study at Idaho which is btw the most remote states in the USA? Can't you went somewhere that is more diverse? Seriously! Never heard of New York? California? Iowa? Ohio? Florida? Louisiana? Texas? Nevada? Not even Maine, Massachusetts or Pennsylvania? I'd hope you are not thinking this because of dollars. 37:42 Just in case that in order to refresh the audience with the scenery of Singapore itself from the family drama from the few minutes ago. 44:44 Who is stupid enough to get jealous over some collections of credit card from various banks? These ain't Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon monster cards, yo! 45:25 47:32-47:33 Nobody want to see a someone's successful life that revealed to be a fluke, smartass. 50:08-50:15 Boss, this is your wife you are talking about here, how'bout you take care of her by yourself?! You're his husband here, surely you of all people who even trying to at least talk to her than someone else? To say that divorce rate is getting higher due to lack of communication skills is a massive understatement. 51:11-51:40 Woman, you should've considered yourself to be lucky to have someone whom your husband know to have your side at all time 54:44 Its rather tragic to see one man's dream shattered instantly even before he could even fulfilling it. Also, does enter a Royal Clubhouse as a membership even a "requirement" in order to ensure the pension more worthy than you have? 1:10:14 So you care more about your so-called multi-million dollar project than a welfare of your secretary? Especially during his/her family relative's funeral? Really? I'm sorry but calling your guys back to work during his/her relative's funeral is really a bad idea, considering any working at any funeral is considered to be a bad luck", at least according to Feng Shui. Also, there is no freakin' way for one project to finish merely under a month. It need time and adjustment just to make sure the proper preparations are in place, that including a demolition, rebuilding the building and more complicated stuff ahead. 1:12:12 Hang on a minute, so you chose to trust your boss, who have been you back to work over such trivia stuff in the the middle of your late father's funeral, instead of your maid who worked with you tirelessly for a quite a long time for your family? Poor character judgement will cost your relationship dearly! 1:12:28 See? This is what you get for your character judgement! 1:12:48 How is the husband is even to be blamed for all the faults you have now? 1:15:38 As much as I understand that you need money for your babies future , here is a catch: Even if you have a chance of million dollars, there is no such thing as guarantee for a coincidental bright future.The most important thing is one man's core moral is being diligent, humble and caring to his/her partner especially towards the loves ones. So as long you don't have these core values, even if you have more trillion dollars in the bank or having a higher-paid job, you'll never be happy while feel empty inside. 1:17:04 WHY THE HECK YOU DON"T TELL THIS TRUTH BEFOREHAND?! It is very important to tell no lies to your family even when you are in a steep troubles cause even so, they at least try to sort things out. The last thing ever family member is the act of betrayal and lying is just one of them. Now this is truly sorry no cure for you, Seng! 1:19:32-1:19:33 I share your pain because it happened too many times to the modern society nowadays: those who studied art are viewed as butt-monkeys because apparently, money is everything for some society all to ensure the "survival". You think being a musician in Singapore is that bad? Try to be an artist in Malaysia where everyone make a fun of you because you draw something they considered as, "amoral". 2004-2010 are the Golden Age to the Malaysian Comic Industry because we have some talented people who were able to make good stories disregarding the practice of local society's practice. But everything went downhill since the mid 2015 because not only Malaysian ever increasing stricter censorship (take Namawee's rap-version of Negaraku for instance), banning everything that unfit to its' "social moral standards", of which personally I think restricting the artists' creativity freedom, but the artists themselves worrying their unstable future because of its ever shifting economy (at least BETTER than Syria, Venezuela and especially North Korea) and racism (Remember May 13th everyone?). No offense to Malaysian artists who work diligently for either living or passion, but I had to say that censorship doesn't not equal to "divine-social-moral-protection" and as long that problem persist, we may be never ever see the first Malaysian fictional characters outside the local lore for life. 1:31:59 Gee, abuden?! 1:32:05 Until even now, you still blame someone for your downfall and even wanting the money to solve your problem that gone to far. If you are a man Seng, have some spine and do some responsibility! Also, you make a baby cry.

[@sallehasrari8788]

Yi Ching L

[@jko7654]

Yi Ching Lau kudos

[@Gurashi]

37:45 is actually a "blink and you'll miss" trope to show that the Father already has an implied mistress and family outside..

[@williechua5602]

When you win the Toto don't spend all.

[@Yenyen-zm7xy]

So Singaporean

[@qishasun3285]

这个电影，太压抑了，不是我认识的新加坡

[@LongTJ]

QISHA SUN 这就是现实

[@yangchuyou2356]

这是新加坡的现实

[@thewoodmilladmin8789]

Idle Hole uni so lousy meh? Lol ...next time choose some uni in California

[@TheTurk56523]

Hold Up! Pa supported Seng all this time going to school in the USA and all Seng was doing was partying and having the time of his life?!

[@charlesalverson-pe5up]

48:25

[@louislim1151]

I assume most of the comments are from Singaporeans. Such bad English.

[@hongwuenlee4612]

Joker man

[@jko7654]

Shows you money can't buy class.

[@user-cv9oz4mz5e]

51:40 Does it mean that she kills her maid? 😱

[@joesr31]

Though there are certain true elements, this show does not depict most people, this seems to show the people who makes the wrong decisions in life which tbh is not that many at least imo, but what do I know, still in uni, have not experience the workforce yet

[@susbikram1]

The son deserved better , after all he picked all the numbers .

[@isisyanqi]

ROFL. What about all the school fees and expenses he owed....

[@beanhwak]

Just for the story, you know that too.

[@kierantan9800]

Sushil Bikram the Son is a loser

[@user-bc2gq8tv2z]

新加坡人讲的英文 腔也太重啦

[@meylinnasetiadi7721]

so true,.being chinese everywhere is so stressful.being a daughter is meaningless compare to a son,parent compare their son to other childrens,the scores,the school enterered,.etc.parents tend to give tension to children to be succesfull,so they can bluffing to their friends how much money their son can earned,to give face to the parents

[@megaredkentadate9834]

No $ no honey

[@Guanyu664]

真的孕婦嗎？

[@officialnyiyanmoehtet]

01:01:10 to 01:02:15, three people angry 😂.

[@bjaygurung562]

Its a fucked up world!

[@Guanyu664]

假怀孕装假肚子或者是塞枕头的电视剧电影有吗？

[@adellim2145]

Firstly guardsmen never die! Try us u know

[@user-alex8to7q]

台灣語？福建語？

[@user-pe4zo1pt1k]

喜欢一个人就去表白，万一，成备胎了呢？

[@Guanyu664]

真的孕妇吗？

[@Guanyu664]

真的孕妇？

[@rjhua4732]

这英语讲的我尴尬癌都犯了，讲国语多好

[@weldon29]

新加坡國語是馬來文

[@jtjune_]

新加坡的国语其实是英语。

[@Panji-en4lx]

Singapore.. lama lama daerahnya dikuasai orang china... semua dilmnya bahasa + orang china... beginilah. Kalau Ahok memimpin indonesia, indonesia bakalan seperti singapore, menjadi negara dengan orang china

[@ferdianchandra6066]

Wih jadi bagus dong keren keren 👍👍

[@aatamyjosephling3521]

Rakyat Singapura tak ada waterpark mcm kat Jakarta😂 Hujan turun ke bumi bukan ke laut wkwkwk bodoh amat.