AJOOMMA

Widowed Mrs Lim (played by veteran Singaporean actress Hong Huifang) divides her time between cosseting her 20-something son and binge-watching lurid K-drama. When her son has to pull out of a planned trip to South Korea touring locations from her favourite soap opera, she puts aside a lifetime's timidity to travel there alone. It's scary – she manages to get lost on her way to the departure lounge. However, she gradually rediscovers her confidence, sorting out her hopelessly floundering tour guide Kwon-woo (Kang Hyung-seok) and making a new cross-cultural friend Jung Su (Jung Dong-hwan), a kindly security guard. Singapore's Oscar entry treats themes of parenthood, ageing and loneliness with a light touch, peppering Auntie's travels with wacky setpieces and clips from an imaginary soap - starring real-life TV heart-throb Yeo Jinsoo. The film has a light comic touch, and it's heartwarming to see Mrs Lim living out her own soap opera.