AJOOMMA
Genre
Drama, Family and Comedy
Running time
90 minutes
Year
2022
Language
Mandarin and Korean
Subtitle
English
Country
Singapore and South Korea
Director
He Shuming
Bio
Producer
Anthony Chen
Cast
Hong Huifang, Kang Hyung Suk, Jung Dong-Hwan, Shane Pow
Scriptwriter
He Shuming, Kris Ong
Widowed Mrs Lim (played by veteran Singaporean actress Hong Huifang) divides her time between cosseting her 20-something son and binge-watching lurid K-drama. When her son has to pull out of a planned trip to South Korea touring locations from her favourite soap opera, she puts aside a lifetime's timidity to travel there alone. It's scary – she manages to get lost on her way to the departure lounge. However, she gradually rediscovers her confidence, sorting out her hopelessly floundering tour guide Kwon-woo (Kang Hyung-seok) and making a new cross-cultural friend Jung Su (Jung Dong-hwan), a kindly security guard. Singapore's Oscar entry treats themes of parenthood, ageing and loneliness with a light touch, peppering Auntie's travels with wacky setpieces and clips from an imaginary soap - starring real-life TV heart-throb Yeo Jinsoo. The film has a light comic touch, and it's heartwarming to see Mrs Lim living out her own soap opera.
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