In honor of the 100th birth anniversary of Singapore’s founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the National Museum of Singapore has commissioned a heartfelt short film entitled “LKY100: The Life and Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015).” Local filmmaker Royston Tan directed the film, aiming to commemorate Mr Lee’s enduring contribution to the nation and celebrate his remarkable leadership.
Running approximately 5 minutes, the film will be showcased in the concluding section of the museum’s Singapore History Gallery and featured in a digital trail. The film artfully weaves together key speeches from Mr Lee’s illustrious career, capturing the essence of his charismatic leadership. The selected speeches primarily come from his iconic National Day Rally addresses, delivered in English, Malay, Mandarin, and Hokkien, emphasizing the importance of multiculturalism to Mr Lee.
One of the highlights of the film is the inclusion of the first televised National Day Rally in 1971, where Mr Lee reflected on Singapore’s progress and transformation against all odds. It poignantly juxtaposes Mr Lee’s speeches with the nation’s evolution into the modern and metropolitan city it stands as today.
Director Royston Tan expressed his deep admiration for Mr Lee, stating, “Mr Lee Kuan Yew is fondly remembered as a charismatic speaker, and I wanted to capture his essence as a strong leader through the medium of his speeches. It is an honor to pay tribute to a historic leader like Mr Lee with this film, and I hope that it serves as a nostalgic and inspiring narrative for both the older and younger generations to continue creating a better future for our nation.”
As part of the National Museum’s National Day Celebrations, excerpts from the film will be incorporated into the museum’s National Day façade light-up, providing a captivating visual spectacle for all visitors. The light-up event will be held from 21 July to 9 August 2023, from 7.30 pm to 12 midnight.
The film also complements a digital trail within the National Museum, providing visitors with an immersive experience chronicling Mr Lee’s life and legacy. The trail spans across the post-war Singapore section of the Singapore History Gallery and the Semangat yang Baru: Forging a New Singapore Spirit exhibition. Launched earlier in April, the on-site experience utilizes augmented reality to showcase the historical and contemporary significance of Mr Lee as a political figure. It features key artifacts and multimedia exhibits, shedding light on his values and how his ideas shaped the nation’s trajectory.
To participate in the digital trail, visitors can use their personal mobile devices to scan a QR code at the Singapore History Gallery at level 1 or at the Semangat yang Baru exhibition gallery. Completing the trail rewards visitors with a gift from the vending machine at the Singapore History Gallery exit, inspired by Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s iconic red box.
Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, expressed the museum’s hope that the film and accompanying digital trail would encourage Singaporeans of all ages to explore and be inspired by Mr Lee’s legacy. This celebration of his contributions and leadership in transforming Singapore into a modern and vibrant city is meant to serve as a foundation for future generations in navigating the nation’s challenges.
The film screening of “LKY100: The Life and Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015)” will be available until 31 December 2023 and is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. For more information and the complete list of the National Museum’s offerings to commemorate Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birth anniversary, visit go.gov.sg/nmslky100 or check the National Museum’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
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