The postcolonial age is not over. And the fact that it is a mixed-reality testimonial film that reminds us of this speaks volumes – about the power of the medium, about timing, and about the very aesthetics of XR. The solitary mode of viewing amplifies intimacy, while the possibility of interacting with physical objects, when thematized, offers a new narrative and expressive articulation, both in its premises and in its solutions. Add to this a touch of bittersweet retromania, and the result can be at once poetic and direct. We activate an old slide projector, physically present in the space, insert a slide, and the world around us changes. We suddenly find ourselves in a partially transformed environment, invited to sit at a holographic table, to look out through real windows that reveal entirely different landscapes: ecosystems, ancient villages, and looming concrete giants placed side by side.
What makes this experience particularly powerful is its ability to immerse the audience in a profound thematic conflict. Moving through an empty space, gradually enriched by projections and mixed-reality images, the spectator literally walks through an “in-between space” suspended between past and future. The presence of memory-laden objects and videos interacting with the surrounding environment creates an experience that is both thematically rich and deeply engaging. Through these interactions, the conflict between Singapore’s rapid development and the loss of its historical and personal places is rendered tangible, delivered directly to the viewer’s own experience. Director Chloé Lee succeeds not only in conveying the stories of Singaporeans across different generations, but also in making palpable the emotional weight of these transformations. From a still-open wound, a work of its own kind – almost miraculous – blooms.
REFLECTIONS OF LITTLE RED DOT
by Chloè Lee (Germany, USA, 40’)
IN COMPETITION
