It has been more than a week since i last watch Saint Jack, the after effects of it still lingers. That shows it is not an ordinary film.
I went into the theatre without much expectation, when the film starts with the opening credit rolling, i sat up very straight, devouring the fascinating font selected. The long tail of each font stretching beyond its normal alignment gives me a hint that this is going to be a different experience. This is not the usual crappy 70s sleazy film made. There is a humour exuding even from the font. Its gonna be interesting.
As Jack walks into the Chinese shophouse and greeted by a young Indian chap who talks and spray mosquito around him, i found myself unable to hide my humored smile behind the dim theatre. Such fascinating and improvisational like mis en sense repeats throughout the entire film.
The 70s is an era which i was born into. I was too young to have a vivid memory of it. When the landscape and the people scape were unfolded in front of me, instinctively i feel this film is depicting a rather accurate portray of my country. Although the film revolves around the character of pimp, Jack Flowers, Jack is not the only main role. Singapore is in fact the other protagonist. All the caricatures of small roles that appears throughout the film etches a multicultural developing nation with an array of characters that Jack immensely enjoy interacting with. It is the same feeling whenever i visit other developing country.... fascinating.
Honestly, i think the plot is thin. but the rich characters made up for everything. It is an underrated film that has finally seen its daylight (in Singapore). the delightful feeling is an accidental discovery of a film treasure that records an era with so much nuances and humour.
The Marking of Saint Jack:Kinda Hot. A book written by Ben Slater adds even more fun to the entire experience.
