In the Room (film)

In the Room
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEric Khoo
Written by
  • Eric Khoo
  • Jonathan Lim
Produced byNansun Shi
Starring
CinematographyBrian Gothong Tan
Edited byNatalie Soh
Music by
  • Christopher Khoo
  • Christine Shan
Production
company
Zhao Wei Films
Distributed byEncore Films
Release dates
  • 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) (TIFF)
  • 25 February 2016 (2016-02-25) (Singapore)
Running time
104 minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguagesEnglish
Mandarin Chinese
Cantonese
Thai
Japanese
Korean
Budget$800,000[1]
Box officeS$48,000[2]

In the Room is a 2015 Singaporean erotic drama film directed by Eric Khoo and written by Khoo and Jonathan Lim. The film stars Josie Ho, George Young, Daniel Jenkins, Koh Boon Pin, W Leon U, Show Nishino, Lawrence Wong, Nadia AR, and Ian Tan.

The film comprises six different stories of couples in a single-room at a hotel in Singapore, spread over several decades.[3] The film is marked as Singapore's first erotic film.[3] At the same time, Khoo downplays the film's erotic themes, calling its ode to the national cultural trends "a look at Singapore through the decades. It's a homage to the country". Khoo dedicated the film to the late writer Damien Sin, who wrote Khoo's career-launching Mee Pok Man (1995).[4]

Principal photography began on 3 September 2014 at the Infinite Studios in Singapore. The $800,000-budgeted film was produced by Nansun Shi and Zhao Wei Films, and distributed and financed by Distribution Workshop.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2015 and travelled to the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and Singapore International Film Festival before the director withdrew his submission for a rating for the film from the Media Development Authority (MDA) as the MDA had deemed that two scenes exceeded the film classification guidelines. Khoo did not want any cuts for a commercial release of the film in Singapore and so the film was denied a commercial release as unrated films are not allowed for public release in Singapore.[5] However, on 25 February 2016, the film was given a theatrical release in Singapore after an "international version" with subtle differences from the original was passed uncut with an R21 rating by the MDA.[6]

The story starts just after the surrender of the British to Japanese troops in Singapore in 1942. Six stories of six different Japanese, Thai, British, Chinese, and Korean couples are set in the same hotel room, spread over several decades.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference variety was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "In the Room". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hollywoodreporter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Lui, John (15 October 2014). "Upcoming Eric Khoo film dedicated to late horror writer Damien Sin". The Straits Times. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  5. ^ Lui, John (3 December 2015). "No show for Eric Khoo's erotic film in cinemas here". The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. ^ Lui, John (26 January 2016). "Eric Khoo's erotic drama In The Room resubmitted to MDA for classification". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 February 2016.