The Leap Years

The Leap Years, a romantic drama movie from 2008, features stars such as Jason Chan, Joan Chen, and Ananda Everingham. This film is based on Eileen Chang's short story, "The Leap of Love," enriched with a Singaporean charm. It tells a captivating tale about serendipity, love, and the choices one makes all interlaced with components from Leap Day superstitions.

The story centers around the life and personal journey of Li-Ann Wee (Wong Li Lin), a modern and independent Chinese Singaporean woman juggling her responsibilities and ambitions in corporate Singapore. Li-Ann narrates her unique encounters on successive Leap Days (February 29), which comes once every four years, over a span of multiple decades. As such, The Leap Years showcases leaps in time as much as it is about Leap Year itself.

On Leap Day in 1988, Li-Ann encounters Jeremy Harvey (Jason Chan), a talented and heartwarming American architect. Given the year's special nature, Li-Ann is excited about the traditionally observed Irish folklore, where women propose marriage to men on the 29th of February. The romantic sparks are evident in their meeting. However, impending circumstances leave them at the bay of making crucial decisions. The film proceeds in a time-leap narrative where Leap Year acts as a unique platform of connection between Li-Ann and Jeremy over the years.

We also get to see the solid friendship between Li-Ann and her best friends, Joan Chen and Ananda Everingham. They provide her with the needed emotional support and guidance through her romantic journey. This close-knit trio acts as a realistic presentation of camaraderie, making the plot more relatable and engaging.

Directed by Jean Yeo, the film excellently exhibits the rich culture, vibrant city life, and scenic beauty of Singapore. The cinematography is breathtaking, capturing the development and transformation of the city-state over the years. However, the core of The Leap Years is not only romantic love but also the love for family, friendship, and self-growth.

The movie showcases not only Li-Ann and Jeremy's romantic journey but also explores their personal growth, ambitions, and compromises, making their characters more realistic and compelling. The star-studded cast delivers outstanding performances, diving into their characters with sincerity and finesse. In particular, veteran star Joan Chen presents an impactful performance and leaves a notable imprint on the plot.

Moreover, the dialogue and screenplay are well-composed, displaying Callan Tham's story crafted around Singapore's modern lifestyle. Yeo's direction and Douglas Seok's screenplay harmoniously incorporate traditional folklore into a modern story, making it an intriguing watch.

The Leap Years is filled with poignant moments and is backed with strong storytelling and stellar performance. It’s a movie that beautifully captures how love isn't always about being together but is sometimes about understanding, waiting, and wishing for the happiness of the one you love. All this is woven into leap years' themed narration that leaves audiences curious, engaged, and emotionally invested.

Jason Chan's portrayal of Jeremy is both commendable and noteworthy. His charm and chemistry with Wong Li Lin lights up the screen and makes you root for their story. Joan Chen and Ananda Everingham's performances add another layer to the film making it a complete package of emotions, humor, friendship, and love.

In conclusion, The Leap Years is a timeless romantic tale that uses the concept of 'leap years' as a backdrop to beautifully portray a woman's journey of physical and emotional growth, while navigating through the ups and downs of life and love. It encapsulates the audience with its stimulating storytelling, mesmerizing visuals, brilliant performances, and genuine depiction of love, friendship, and personal transformation. This movie is an absolute delight for those who appreciate a good romantic drama interspersed with brief moments of comic relief and life wisdom.