Silent Walls (Chinese: 密宅) is a 2023 Singaporean thriller television series telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8 and produced by Ochre Pictures. It stars Tasha Low, Ayden Sng, Mindee Ong, Tay Ying, Charlie Goh, Foo Fang Rong, Shane Pow, Ferlyn Wong, Macy Chen, Alfred Sng, Desmond Shen, Desmond Ng, Jojo Goh, Andie Chen, Bernard Tan and Chen Shucheng.[1][2][3] The series centres around a mansion and the lives of its occupants in 1938, 1963, 1988 and 2023.[4][5]
| Silent Walls | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| 密宅 | |
| Genre | |
| Screenplay by | Kate Feng Yi-en |
| Story by | Nurel Anwar |
| Directed by | Rowena Loh, Wong Kuang Yong |
| Starring | 1938: Tasha Low Ayden Sng Mindee Ong Tay Ying Charlie Goh 1963: Foo Fang Rong Shane Pow Ferlyn Wong 1988: Macy Chen Alfred Sng Desmond Shen Desmond Ng 2023: Jojo Goh Andie Chen Bernard Tan Chen Shucheng |
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production company | Ochre Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Mediacorp Channel 8 |
| Release | 15 March – 11 April 2023 |
Cast
edit1938
edit1963
edit1988
edit2023
editControversy
editThe 1988 storyline features a gay relationship between Kai De (played by Alfred Sun) and his much older dance instructor boyfriend Nigel (played by Adam Chen). Nigel eventually dies from an unspecified sexually transmitted disease, which is heavily implied to be AIDs.
Silent Walls was criticised by the LGBT community in Singapore for perpetuating harmful gay stereotypes. Most notable, LGBT media platform Dear Straight People condemned the storyline for perpetuating the notion that gay men are predators and have sexually transmitted diseases.[6]
In response to the criticism, Mediacorp Channel 8 issued a statement insisting that 'they didn't set out to perpetuate any stereotypes'.[7]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominees | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Promo or Trailer (national winner - Singapore) |
Silent Walls trailer | Won | [8] |
| Best Single Drama / Telemovie / Anthology Episode | Silent Walls – 2023 | Won | |||
| ContentAsia Awards | Best Asian Feature Film/Telemovie | Silent Walls – 2023 Telemovie | Nominated | [9] | |
| Silent Walls – 1938 Telemovie | Nominated |
Star Awards 2024
edit| Accolades | Category | Nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Awards 2024 | Best Director | Rowena Loh | Nominated |
| Best Screenplay | Kate Feng and Rowena Loh | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Andie Chen | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Chia, Jolynn (20 March 2023). "Minor characters in local TV dramas lack flavour, says Mindee Ong". AsiaOne. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ Chia, Jolynn (15 March 2023). "Desmond Shen 'doesn't really want to act anymore', shares why he returned anyway". AsiaOne. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ 李妙楠 (3 February 2023). "一年只拍一部戏 黄晶玲：重质不重量". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ Lee, Jan (5 March 2023). "Ghosts of TV's past: Long-time-no-see S'pore actors return for eerie drama Silent Walls". The Straits Times. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ 蔡欣盈 (21 March 2023). "窥探豪宅里的性爱、血腥 本地剧揭暗黑人性". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Singapore Drama 'Silent Walls' Pushes Harmful Stereotype: Gay Character Is A Groomer with AIDS: Mediacorp". Dear Straight People. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Mediacorp explains LGBTQ+ character portrayal in drama 'Silent Walls', says they didn't set out to perpetuate any stereotypes: Mediacorp". Mothership. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Full List of National Winners 2023" (PDF). Asian Academy Creative Awards. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "2023 Nominees – ContentAsia Awards". 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 22 July 2023.