“I am a simple man. All I want are the simple things in life” - Harry Lee
Harry Lee, a part-time security guard and taxi driver, has dreams of retiring to a quieter life in Australia, a long-cherished escape from the relentless pace of Singapore life When a friend offers him an opportunity to make more money driving up-market call girls to their clients, he accepts. However, he starts taking an obsessive interest in the welfare of an abused Vietnamese prostitute. It awakens painful memories from his past and leads to desire for personal redemption as an avenging angel.
PERTH is directed by the enigmatically named Djinn (Voodoo Nightmare). Stars Lim Kay Tong (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story). It draws comparisons with Taxi Driver, with Harry sharing Travis Bickle’s rage and anger against the moral decline of society, without recognising his own inadequacies, and with his fixation on saving a particular prostitute. It is considered Singapore’s most violent film and whilst it was shooting, the police carefully monitored its depiction of the red light district and its gangsters – issues which concerned government departments too. Interestingly, Harry Lee is named after Singapore’s Prime Minister before independence, adding additional political overtones to the story, while actor Lim Kay Tong actually has a home in Perth. Dark and gritty, with a climax that explodes into violent bloodbath, PERTH is set to drive an adrenaline rush through the veins. A brutal, breathless experience.
DVD extras include: commentaries with director Djinn and actor Lim Kay Tong; deleted scenes; behind the scenes featurette; trailer
