My Magic

My Magic
Theatrical release poster.
Directed byEric Khoo
Written by
  • Eric Khoo
  • Wong Kim Hoh
Produced by
  • Tan Fong Chen
  • Wong Kim-hoh
  • Freddie Yeo
  • Gary Goh
Starring
  • Bosco Francis
  • Jathisweran
  • Grace Kalaiselvi
CinematographyAdrian Tan
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
  • Zhao Wei Films
  • Infinite Frameworks
Distributed byARP Selection
Release dates
  • 23 May 2008 (2008-05-23) (Cannes Film Festival)
  • 25 August 2008 (2008-08-25) (Singapore)
Running time
75 minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguageTamil
BudgetS$200,000[1]
Box officeUS$19,940[2]

My Magic is a 2008 Singaporean Tamil language drama film directed by Eric Khoo and produced by Zhao Wei Films in association with Infinite Frameworks. My Magic was the first Singapore film to be nominated for the Palme D'Or, the top award for film at the Cannes Film Festival.[1] It has been also selected as Singapore's official entry for the Oscars in 2009.[1] It was released in Singapore cinemas on 25 September 2008.[3]

Plot

A single father takes a job as a magician to provide for his son, only to be pressured into dangerous acts.

Cast

  • Bosco Francis
  • Jathisweran as Rajr
  • Grace Kalaiselvi
  • Jason Lim
  • Seet Keng-yew

Reception

Derek Elley of Variety wrote that it "walks a thin line ... between sympathy with and exploitation of its main character's woes".[4] Maggie Lee of The Hollywood Reporter called it a "one trick pony" that engages in schadenfreude and sentimentality instead of living up to the premise's possibilities as a heartbreaking father-son story.[5]

Bosco Francis was named best actor at the Asian Festival of First Films.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Tan, Valarie. "Singapore film "My Magic" steals limelight at Cannes Film Festival", Channel NewsAsia, 3 June 2008. Retrieved on 2009-04-10.
  2. ^ "2008 Singapore Yearly Box Office". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. ^ Yahoo! Singapore Movies Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd.
  4. ^ Elley, Derek (25 May 2008). "Review: 'My Magic'". Variety. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ^ Lee, Maggie (30 May 2008). "Film Review: My Magic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. ^ Fang, Joy (30 December 2008). "Cheers, cheers and more cheers!". My Paper. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016 – via AsiaOne.