STOP10 Mar 2017: 'Durian Picking' by Kray Chen

Photo credit: Still from Durian Picking by Kray Chen

In the wee hours of the morning, Kray Chen follows his durian obsessed father into the jungle, where they meet other equally passionate durian lovers looking for the fruit in the wild. This quirky short film captures the eccentric rituals of those willing to go the extra mile for their favorite fruit, providing a welcome alternative portrait of urban Singapore.

Written, directed and produced by Kray Chen a visual artist based in Singapore, Durian Picking was previously screen as part of the 27th Singapore International Film Festival in 2016 in the Singapore Panorama - Short Film category.

The short film clearly showcases Chen's visual style and finesse in taking a relatively simple storyline of hunting for wild durians into a nostalgic journey for many Singaporeans. Although many of us might not have personally hunted for wild durians, we are all keenly aware of an emotional childhood attachment to this King of Fruit as either a revered or hated fruit in our individual households. Chen is also able to weave into this short film, glimpses of the bond between father and son.

This film is part of Stories That Matter, a programme by Objectifs that looks at critical issues in our world through photography and film.

The film will be screened together with another film that also looks at food. Bugs, to be exact! Bugs, the film is a documentary that follows a team from Copenhagen-based Nordic Food Lab who travel the world to learn what some of the two billion people who already eat insects have to say. Watch them farm, cook and taste insects with communities in Europe, Australia, Mexico, Kenya, Japan and beyond. During their journey they encounter everything from revered termite queens and desert-delicacy honey ants to venemous giant hornets and long-horned grasshoppers trapped using powerful floodlights, that sometimes cause their catchers temporary blindness.

Screening details

22 March 2017, Wednesday at 7.30PM
Durian Picking + Bugs

Venue: Chapel Gallery, Objectifs
Entry by Donation

Image credit: Still of Safari by Ulrich Seidl part of Stories That Matter programme by Objectifs

This year's Stories That Matter features the theme ‘Conspicuous Consumption’ where ideas regarding patterns of consumption and their effects will be examined. From food sustainability to the ethics of trophy hunting, a selection of documentaries screened during the week will look at the ways in which our habits of consumption affect the world around us. Hailing from Myanmar to South Africa, these films are powerful statements that seek to inform and inspire.

The programme also features a collaboration between Objectifs and independent photographer Arati Kumar-Rao as well as the EverydayClimateChange Instagram initiative to highlight issues of consumption. 

Talks

- In Conversation: Arati Kumar-Rao on 16 March 2017, 7.30pm - 9.00pm 

- Documentaries in the Modern World: Creating Compelling Content on 25 March 2017, 3.00pm - 4.00pm

Specialty Workshop

Visual Storytelling & Social Advocacy by Arati Kumar-Rao on 18 March 2017, 9.00am - 5.00pm

Screenings

22 MARCH, WEDNESDAY / 7.30PM / REGISTER
Durian Picking by Kray Chen / Singapore / 17 min / 2016 / PG
Bugs by Andreas Johnsen / Denmark / 76 min / 2016 / Rating TBC

23 MARCH, THURSDAY / 7.30PM / REGISTER
Cameraperson by Kirsten Johnson / 103 min / 2016 / Rating PG13

24 MARCH, FRIDAY / 7.30PM / REGISTER
Safari by Ulrich Seidl / 91 min / 2016 / PG13

25 MARCH, SATURDAY / 7.30PM / REGISTER
City of Jade by Midi Z / Taiwan, Myanmar / 98 min / 2016 / M18

Written by Ivan Choong

For the full list of March 2017's 10 films under STOP10, click here.