Sprawling mega-structures of glass and steel, shopping malls represent the intersection of modernity and wealth in Singapore. For some, shopping is more than a habit of conspicuous consumption—it’s a way of life. For Clara, a 40-year-old tai tai, or wife of leisure, the mall is a second home, a refuge from the empty space from which her husband typically absents himself. The upscale boutiques and department stores—filled with designer labels and luxury goods—have become her playground, the sales clerks her friends.
Less admiring of consumer culture, 23-year-old Aaron escapes corporate limbo by hanging out with friends and cavalierly passing judgment on the misguided souls throwing away their money in the mall. Yet he can no more deny the magnetic draw of the mall than the consuming attraction to his best friend’s younger sister, with whom he spends an increasing amount of time, skipping out of work and lying about it to his family.
Across town in the less high-end district, an eight-year-old girl wanders away from her parents, only to lose her way. While waiting to be found, Renu amuses herself by terrorizing security guards and pursuing a mysterious figure who may be responsible for a bizarre crime. The adventure gradually loses its charming novelty when it becomes apparent that no one is coming for her.
Amid their wandering, these lonely mall denizens occasionally cross paths, but it is with some difficulty that they form any real bonds. Through their stories, we learn that where happiness cannot be bought, pain forges experience and invites contemplation. Without moralizing, first-time director Li Lin Wee weaves whimsical daydreams with the fluorescent lighting of the real to deliver a heart-felt ode of sorts to the paradoxical spirit of the mall.

Actor Aaron Kao will be in attendance.

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