A story of two undertakers, one young and new to the job, the other old and dehumanized.

“Such Is Life” is a short film project with an initiative to diversify and expand the range of genre stories told in Singapore. Drawing inspiration from theater and satire, it is a genre bending narrative consisting of dark comedy, tragic comedy and drama that focuses on themes of life and death, young and old, authority, ethics and values.

THEN

Ash and Zoe are two teenage girls trying to find their place in the world – the best of friends, though complete opposites. Ash is a neurotic perfectionist while Zoe’s a spunky free-spirit, but that doesn’t stop them from supporting each other through school, dysfunctional families and the pains that come with growing up. Before going their separate ways as they graduate from secondary school, the girls embark on one last night of wild teenage misadventures and many firsts that will cement their friendship for a lifetime.

NOW

Ash and Zoe are in their early-20s and at the crossroads of life – and their friendship. Ash is a jet-setting go-getter while Zoe’s making her way in the world, one band gig at a time. Through the years their friendship has aged less like wine and more like sour milk. News of their old school’s demolition brings the duo back together on a mission to break into their old school and dig up a precious time capsule before it’s destroyed.

Weaving between past and present, Ash and Zoe’s journey sets them back on the path of their friendship, but will also determine their future – with or without each other.

 “Johnny” starts off featuring a young man named Johnny who woke up in his room, surrounded by his family members (Jennifer, Johnny and Dad). Covered in bandages and bruises, Johnny struggles to get up and appeared to be suffering from a short term amnesia. He learned from his sister, Jennifer, that he had been in a coma for days after being involved in a brutal car accident.

 Even though Johnny was steadily recovering, he could only move around the house in a wheelchair. Jennifer, as a protective big sister, took special care of her brother and seldom allowed him to move around unsupervised. Confined and oppressed, Johnny started growing suspicious about the people in the household and the information he had been fed with.