Starring: Aidan Gillen, Zoe Tay, Michael Thomas.
John Devine (Andrew Bennett/Michael Walsh), an Irishman who owns a bar in Singapore, is found dead having drowned in a lake. His brother, Gerry (Gillen) flys out to identify the body, attend the funeral and spend time with Kim (Tay) his Singaporean sister-in-law and niece, Isadora (Ashleigh Judith White). Gerry's marriage back home is in trouble and as he bonds with Kim, helping her to deal with recalling a debt, Gerry begins to wonder if his life should be in Singapore.
Straddling the line between drama and arthouse, Mister John is a fairly unique film in its concept and ideas (given that the film hybridises the cultures of Ireland and Singapore) but also has its moments of predictability and mildly tedious pretension. Directors Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy bring a strong level of competence to the film with a great eye for the surroundings and their own distinct flourishes, particularly a rather novel form of camera panning which is showcased on a couple of occasions. Aidan Gillen gives an understated performance that suits the whispy and light tone and the film also manages to pull of some surprising moments of comedy amidst a rather serious film. The film-makers' fascination with the more bizarre elements of the film lead sometimes to the film's undoing; there are shots that drag on listlessly and there's a really over-long dream sequence and both bring the film down. It's also not a film that's going to last in the memory despite its originality, but it's worth seeking out if you're looking for something original.
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