A Land Imagined is a 2018 mystery drama film directed by Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua. The movie premiered at the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival and won the Golden Leopard award at the 71st Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The story takes place mostly in the island city-state of Singapore and revolves around a Chinese construction worker named Wang (played by Peter Yu) who is having trouble sleeping at night, as he keeps having recurring dreams or visions of drowning in a vast, murky sea. One night, when he disappears from his worksite, his boss starts to worry about him and hires a private investigator named Lok (played by Xiaoyi Liu) to look for him.
As Lok starts to dig deeper and talk to the people who knew Wang, he realizes that Wang was not an easy person to get along with and had a tendency to keep to himself. Moreover, the more he investigates, the more he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that involve both the workers and the managers of the construction site. In particular, he discovers that Wang had been talking to a mysterious woman online (played by Yue Guo) who goes by the name of Mindy, and who was also involved in shady activities.
As the story develops, the movie shifts its tone and style, alternating between a realistic portrayal of the harsh working conditions and the exploitation of foreign workers in Singapore, and a surreal exploration of dreams, memory, and identity. At times, the film fragments and distorts reality, blurring the boundaries between the physical world and the digital realm, and raising questions about the nature of reality and the power dynamics of contemporary society.
One of the most striking aspects of A Land Imagined is its visual style, which is characterized by a subdued and almost monochromatic color palette, punctuated by occasional bursts of neon lights and digital glitches. The cinematography, by Hideho Urata, is cleverly composed, using reflections, mirrors, and screens to create layers of meaning and ambiguity. The soundtrack, by Teo Wei Yong, is also notable, blending electronic beats and ambient drones with traditional Chinese instruments, creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, A Land Imagined is a thought-provoking and visually arresting film that explores the themes of alienation, technology, and globalization with a distinctive voice and vision. The cast delivers nuanced and poignant performances, especially Peter Yu as the enigmatic and troubled Wang, and Xiaoyi Liu as the determined and empathetic Lok. The film deserves to be seen and discussed, not only for its artistic merits but also for its social and political relevance.
A Land Imagined is a 2019 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 59.
