Ken Kwek film '#LookAtMe' banned in Singapore over potential to cause social division

SINGAPORE — Singapore has banned the screening of "#LookAtMe", a film directed by Ken Kwek and starring local actors Adrian Pang, Pam Oei and Ching Shu Yi.

A joint statement on Monday (17 October) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said that the film "denigrates a religious community and has the potential to cause enmity and social division in Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society".

Kwek's second feature film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival in July. Set in Singapore, the film indicates in the opening frame that it is "inspired by true events".

"The film revolves around the protagonist who is offended by a pastor’s stance on homosexuality. The protagonist uploads an incendiary social media post about the male pastor, which goes viral," IMDA said in the joint statement.

"This leads to a series of events that adversely affects the lives of the protagonist and his family. As the film progresses, the protagonist considers plotting a revenge attack on the pastor."

Descriptions suggestive of real pastor

The media statement added that various descriptions of the pastor are suggestive of a real pastor in Singapore, and persons in the city-state may be able to draw that connection.

"The context may be seen to be suggesting or encouraging violence against the pastor. The pastor is also portrayed engaging in an act prohibited by his professed religious faith," the statement said.

"The allegations may be perceived to offensive, defamatory and contrary to the MRHA (Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act), in that it may be seen as unfairly attacking a religious figure, as well as cause offence to religious beliefs."

IMDA said that the film also has the potential to cause enmity and social division in Singapore. It listed three plot-lines that have such potential:

• The Singapore pastor preaches against homosexuality but engages in behaviour that goes against his religious teachings.

• The reference to “true events” implies that leaders of the local religious community, including the pastor, have engaged in such behaviour.

• The protagonist declares his intention and makes preparations to violently attack a religious figure.

Consultations with ministries, advisory committees

IMDA said that, in coming to the decision to disallow the screening of "#LookAtMe", it had consulted both MHA and MCCY. It also sought the views of its advisory committees and was guided by the Film Classification Guidelines.

MHA and MCCY agree that the film should be refused classification.

Singapore's Film Classification Guidelines state that “classification should be sensitive to the concerns of different racial or religious groups and the need to safeguard racial and religious harmony”. It further states that “films that are likely to denigrate any racial or religious group will be refused classification”.

Kwek is an author, filmmaker and playwright as well as the writer and director of Connections, a film that was interwoven with a live performance at this year's National Day Parade. His first feature film, released in 2014, was Unlucky Plaza.

He and the producers of "#LookAtMe" said in a statement that they are disappointed by the decision and will be submitting an appeal to ask IMDA to reconsider its classification.

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