05/09/2025
Overview and throwback to
Don't Go Home Tonight 今夜不回家(2023)
Title: Don’t Go Home Tonight (今夜不回家)
Director: Kelvin Sng
Release: Exclusive screenings at EagleWings Cinematics 28–29 July 2023
Runtime: Approximately 91 minutes
Languages: English, Mandarin and Korean (with subtitles)
Country: Singapore
Story & Style:
The film unfolds over a single evening in a restaurant, focusing on five tables populated by people of diverse nationalities. As their conversations reveal personal struggles, a sudden blackout plunges the setting into chaos.
Uniquely, the film was created without a traditional script—actors improvised their dialogues based on a basic premise and underwent weeks of rehearsal before filming.
Cast:
Gwen Tang as Lin Ching-hsia
Kim So-yun as Kim Hyun-joo
Justin Park as Professor Lee Yeong-hoon
Lee Sung-chan as Chen Xi
Bunz as Wang Kai
Sun Zhen Yu as Liu Jun
Priscelia Chan as Karen
Reuben Ho as Larry
Jack Hyde as Father Gerald
Robert Wallace as Lawrence
The ensemble features actors from Singapore, South Korea, China, the United States and the United Kingdom, showcasing a truly cross-cultural cast.
Reception & Screenings:
The film premiered at independent cinema EagleWings Cinematics with sold-out screenings in late July 2023. It was celebrated for its bold storytelling and experimental improvisational approach.
Additionally, clips and behind-the-scenes footage, including cast reflections on improvisation, can be found on YouTube, offering a glimpse into the creative process.
Why It Stands Out:
A bold departure from Kelvin Sng’s earlier comedies (Taxi! Taxi!, The Fortune Handbook), this film leans into drama and experimental ex*****on, emphasising on genuine character dynamics and raw emotion through improvisation rather than rigid scripting. The folm also showcases a fusion of cultures and languages, reflecting a modern, globalised Singaporean identity.
Themes & Storytelling Approach:
1. Improvised Humanity
Instead of a fixed script, actors built their characters through improvisation. This gave the film a raw, “real conversation” energy—audiences often felt like they were eavesdropping on actual people.
2. Cultural Intersections
With Singaporean, Korean, Chinese, American, and British actors at different tables in the same restaurant, the film mirrors how globalisation brings strangers together, yet also highlights how cultural backgrounds affect personal struggles.
3. The Blackout as Metaphor
When the sudden blackout hits, it strips away appearances. Everyone is forced into vulnerability, symbolising how crisis can equalize people regardless of status, culture, or language.
Kelvin Sng’s Career Shift:
Previously known for box-office comedies (Taxi! Taxi!, The Fortune Handbook), Sng used this project to rebrand himself as a director capable of serious, experimental work.
It was a low-budget, high-risk film, but creatively bold: no script, ensemble improvisation, multicultural casting.
The film positioned him toward international festival audiences rather than just local commercial viewers.
Reception & Impact:
1. Screened at EagleWings Cinematics with sold-out shows, despite being experimental.
Audiences praised its authentic dialogue and the chemistry among actors. Some critics noted the uneven pacing, but many saw it as a refreshing departure from formulaic Singaporean cinema.
2. Gave actors like Priscelia Chan a platform to show range beyond TV roles—she said she was shocked to discover there was no script but found the process liberating.
Why It Matters:
Don’t Go Home Tonight showed that Singaporean cinema doesn’t need to rely solely on slapstick comedies or nationalistic themes. It can attempt intimate, human stories with a global lens.
For Kelvin Sng, it was almost like a “statement film”, saying:
“I’m more than just a commercial director. I can also craft authentic, cross-cultural stories with artistic ambition.”
