Khoo's Magic Coup in Cannes
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Magic, fire-eating and the heartbreak of a troubled family has put Singapore on this year’s international film agenda.
Director Eric Khoo’s latest feature, “My Magic”, is among only 20 movies selected to compete for the coveted Palme d’Or at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, where it will have its world premiere going up against works from Hollywood heavyweights Steve Soderbergh and Clint Eastwood.
It will be the fourth time that Khoo's work has been showcased on the screen of the prestigious Grand Theatre Lumiere. His past Cannes contributions have been “Mee Pok Man” in 1995, “12 Storeys” in 1997 and “Be With Me” in 2005.
“My Magic” was shot over eight frenetic days late last year. It’s dialogue is almost all in the Tamil language and was inspired by local fire-eater Francis Bosco.
It tells the tale of a street magician who can enthrall a crowd but who struggles to get to know his estranged teenage son.
Khoo says he fell in love with the art of cinema at the age of two when he went to movies with his mum. He first picked up a camera – his mother’s Super 8 - at the age of 8.
After completing school in Singapore, he studied film-making in Australia and then returned home to pursue what became a glittering career.
Khoo says he fell in love with the art of cinema at the age of two when he went to movies with his mum. He first picked up a camera – his mother’s Super 8 - at the age of 8.
After completing school in Singapore, he studied film-making in Australia and then returned home to pursue what became a glittering career.