The Violinist is a universal love story that shows Singapore stories can resonate anywhere

While there may be details that both local and international viewers do not immediately recognise, their presence offers an entry point into what that era was like in Singapore.

Popular narratives of World War II often centre on Europe, Nazi Germany and the Allied powers, while the experiences of Singapore and Southeast Asia may be less familiar to audiences elsewhere.

By placing its characters firmly within the history of this side of the world, The Violinist offers viewers another perspective on the war and, for those interested enough to look further, a starting point to discover the real people, places and events woven into its story.

THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF LOVE, MUSIC AND LOSS

Ultimately, at the heart of The Violinist is love.

And not simply the love between Fei and Kai as friends and lovers. But also their shared love of music. There is love for family, for friends, for home and country. There is the longing of a soldier for the family he left behind, and the love that allows people separated by war and decades to remain connected through memory.

And then there is the violin itself.