Forever Fever, A Critical Analysis: Arjun Kumar, A0184303M, Group 42

Forever Fever, A Critical Analysis
Arjun Kumar, A0184303M, Group 42
‘Forever Fever’, the instant hit Singapore movie is centred around the life of Ah
Hock, a grocery store worker who belongs to a typical conservative Chinese family of
that age. The film is set during 1977, put forth in the film universe by the release of
the Hollywood film 'Saturday Night Fever' renamed as 'Forever Fever'. 'Saturday
Night Fever' was well acclaimed worldwide and it swept through Singapore as the
biggest hit of the period. The lasting impact of this Hollywood movie is not only
shown by its pivotal role in 'Forever Fever' but in fact, 'Forever Fever' itself can be
described as a renamed version of it. It hugely draws from the movie in terms of the
storyline, the main difference that sets the movies apart is that the Singaporean
counterpart ends in a rather positive note. This is also supported by the fact that the
film was released under a different name 'I like it like that' in the United States. The
theme of the story is based on the protagonist's desire for his dream motorbike, the
dance competition that he comes across by fate, and the movie that acts as an
initiatory bridge between the dance competition and his dream. This main plot is
sprinkled with drama, romance, and battle.
Now that the theme of the film is set, let's look at it from the perspective of the
society. Singapore had only just become independent in terms of the timeframe that
the film is based on. Following independence was heavy modernization not just
infrastructurally but of the very psyche of the population. This was foreshadowed by
the gradual decline of the local film industry. The golden era of Singapore was from
the late 1940s until the early 1970s. This was taken over by imported Hollywood
films.[1]
[1] - "The Golden Era Of Singapore Cinema" 2018

And Hollywood films were a vital part of the modernization that was characteristic of
this period. And modernization was heavily associated with westernization. This is
portrayed in various instances across the movie. The family's effort to maintain
conservative values and the children's opposition to it. Ah Beng, Hock's brother, who
changes his name to Leslie and opts for a gender transformation is a stark or rather
extreme example of this. This conflict is not only within families but also within the
protagonist as well, but here it takes a different turn where a superiority value is
ascribed towards western values and notions. When the girl in the dance class that
Hock is attracted to, asks him his name he thinks over it and replies as Tony, not
revealing his real name, and is subsequently embarrassed when his friend calls out
his actual name. He also idolises the ‘Saturday Night Fever’s star Trever Noah who
appears to him like a vision from the cinema screen to offer him life advice.
Paradoxically this is contrasted by showing the hero's idolization of Bruce Lee and
Kung Fu on the other side, but when looked closely, this was a period when Kung Fu
itself entered into the western, and specifically American pop culture. A very popular
song worldwide and inherently in Singapore, called 'Everybody is kung-fu fighting'
by Carl Douglas, was a sensation in Singapore during the 70s. So what appears as an
embracing of Asian identity itself stems as a reflection of Hollywood's changing face
with the popularity of Bruce Lee and Kung Fu. And hence the reinforcement of the
superior attitude that Hollywood and the west held for the people. But at the same
time, the popularity of Kung Fu and Bruce Lee slowly paved the way for more
inclusiveness of Asians in American culture.
Singapore at this time also wanted to curb discos and foreign influence as this was
the period following widespread hippie revolution. And Singapore government were
strict in enforcing rules for the apparent general interest of the Singapore society.
Though a famous disco was shut down because of the alleged drug trade, disco
culture flourished during this period just like it did in the west. [2] This is seen in the
general attitudes of the friends and the portrayal of its popularity. Many other
instances of the western influence seeping in shown in the friends going for regular
bowling and also on the costume that the hero chooses for the dance competition
that mimics the star of the Hollywood hit 'Saturday Night Fever'.
We thus constantly see throughout the film, the heavy influx of western notions into
the society that is carried on by the characters and revolted by the elderly in some
notable instances. Thus more than an emphasis on creating nostalgia, the film puts
focus on showing the actual happening of that time through the characters, that I
would consider even an embracing of westernization and its association with
modernity. This was indeed the situation as can be pointed to by the increase in the
viewership of Hollywood films and music and the decline of local cinema and
music.[3]
The film mostly garnered positive reviews locally and also worldwide among critical
reviews as well. It was indeed the first successful international Singapore film. Kevin
Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "a tale that's sweet-natured, funny and
surprisingly touching". He also describes the film's use of American music as
empowering to Singaporean citizens rather than a form of imperialism. I do agree
with this because the movie by using American music captures the fervour of that
age, which was a crucial period towards the formation of Singapore's present culture
that's not strictly Western nor Asian, but a working blend of both.
[2] “Golden Age Of Singapore Disco", Brian, 2018
[3] "Music Of Western Popular Culture In Singapore", 2018

Bibliography
[1] "The Golden Era Of Singapore Cinema". 2018. www.roots.sg.
https://roots.sg/learn/stories/golden-era-of-singapore-cinema/story.
[2] “Golden Age Of Singapore Disco". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/Media/PDFs/Article/05471d83-9fe7-4165-8eb6-
9c653271c509.pdf.
[3] "Music Of Western Popular Culture In Singapore". 2018. eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/music/Media/PDFs/Article/ab0efebf-230b-4a58-b58f-fff3934f446e.pdf.

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Forever Fever, A Critical Analysis

Arjun Kumar, A0184303M, Group 42

sprinkled with drama, romance, and battle.

[1] - "The Golden Era Of Singapore Cinema" 2018

song worldwide and inherently in Singapore, called 'Everybody is kung-fu fighting'

embracing of Asian identity itself stems as a reflection of Hollywood's changing face

inclusiveness of Asians in American culture.

would consider even an embracing of westernization and its association with

surprisingly touching". He also describes the film's use of American music as

empowering to Singaporean citizens rather than a form of imperialism. I do agree

[2] “Golden Age Of Singapore Disco", Brian, 2018

[3] "Music Of Western Popular Culture In Singapore", 2018

[1] "The Golden Era Of Singapore Cinema". 2018. www.roots.sg.

[2] “Golden Age Of Singapore Disco". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.

[3] "Music Of Western Popular Culture In Singapore". 2018. eresources.nlb.gov.sg.

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