[Movie Review] Ang Geck Geck’s Debut Film, Ah Girl (泡泡糖女孩) is a Heartfelt Singapore Story That Reminds Us What It Was Like to Be a Child

Some films tell big stories through grand moments. Others find their strength in the little details of everyday life. Ah Girl《泡泡糖女孩》, the feature film debut of Singaporean filmmaker Ang Geck Geck Priscilla, belongs in this latter category.

I caught the media preview on 2 November, ahead of the film’s islandwide cinema release on 19 November 2026. Having known Geck Geck since her student days at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), it was particularly meaningful to see her first feature film finally make its way to Singapore audiences after more than a decade in the making.

I have always admired her grit and determination, as well as her passion for telling stories about children. Geck Geck believes that children deserve to be heard and taken seriously, rather than having their feelings and experiences dismissed simply because they are young. Ah Girl is a deeply personal project that draws from her own life story, making the film feel all the more intimate and sincere.

Set in Singapore in 1994, the 99-minute film follows seven-year-old Ah Girl as she navigates a complicated family situation following her parents’ separation. Living with her father, younger sister and grandmother, she struggles to understand the changing relationships around her while dealing with the usual challenges of growing up, starting primary school and finding her place in the world.

The storyline is relatively straightforward, but its strength lies in how it presents familiar family struggles through the eyes of a child. Rather than relying on dramatic plot twists or elaborate storytelling, the film takes its time observing the little things that adults might overlook but children notice and remember.

The performances by the two young leads, Ong Xuan Jing and Sydney Wong, are particularly impressive. Their portrayal of the sisters feels natural and convincing, and the emotional depth they bring to their characters is remarkable, especially considering their young age and limited acting experience.

Ong Xuan Jing’s Best New Performer nomination at the 63rd Golden Horse Awards is well deserved. One particularly memorable scene involves Ah Girl being forced to cut her hair.

Without giving away too much, the look of defiance on her face is a moment that many viewers will likely remember. It may even bring back memories of their own childhood experiences, when adults made decisions on their behalf and there was little they could do except express their unhappiness in whatever way they could.

Ahead of it’s official release in Singapore, Ah Girl has received considerable recognition on the international film circuit.

It won the Youth Jury Award at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam and Best Asian Feature Film at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival. The film has also secured three nominations at the 63rd Golden Horse Awards: Best New Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ang Geck Geck Priscilla, and Best New Performer for Ong Xuan Jing. The winners will be announced in Taipei on 22 November.

Beyond awards or international recognition, the film’s appeal lies in its simplicity and attention to detail. It captures the small nuances of childhood emotions, family relationships and everyday experiences that can stay with us long after we grow up.

It is also a reminder that children experience family problems and emotional struggles in ways that adults may not fully appreciate. What might seem like an ordinary disagreement or passing incident to a parent can leave a lasting impression on a child.

After more than ten years of development, seeing Geck Geck bring this deeply personal story to the big screen is an achievement worth celebrating. It is a film made with heart, patience and a clear understanding of the world it wants to portray.

I wish Geck Geck all the best with the theatrical release and hope Ah Girl finds an audience among Singaporeans. Beyond being a local film, it is a story that invites us to look back at our own childhoods and perhaps remember the child we once were.

Ah Girl opens in cinemas across Singapore on 19 November 2026. Preview screenings will take place at Shaw Theatres Lido from 14 November.