24 Jun (Sun): FREE Screening of 'The German Girl Shrine' and 'Moving Gods' by Ho Choon Hiong

Singapore Heritage Society/Kawan Ubin* presents 'The German Girl Shrine' (documentary) and 'Moving Gods' (telemovie) by Ho Choon Hiong

The German Girl Shrine is an obscure Taoist temple in Pulau Ubin that housed the remains of a German girl. Folklore has it that this girl tragically fell to her death in her attempt to escape from the British who had rounded up her family during the outbreak of World War 1. The villagers who found her body, buried her on top of a hill and in time, her grave became a shrine where worshipers would bring offerings to pray for health and fortune.


The documentary - produced 18 years ago as part of a student workshop organised by the Singapore International Film Festival and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, provides a glimpse of the shrine before its makeover in 2016.

This 2001 documentary was to inspire Lim Jen Erh to write Moving Gods a play which was staged by The Theatre Practice in 2003 and a year later adapted into a telemovie for local television.

Both films were produced by Ho Choon Hiong who still visits Ubin regularly. The documentary featured two Ubin residents who passed away in May this year, Tan Leong Keat, affectionately known as "Ah Kow" and Chin Tiong Hock, aka "Bala". Choon Hiong would like to dedicate the screenings in their memory.

*Kawan Ubin is a community of volunteers led by the Singapore Heritage Society, working to uncover stories and map the community and history of Ubin.

Also on the facebook event page.

Date: 24 Jun (Sun)
Time: 10.30am to 12noon
Venue: Seminar Room at Ubin Volunteer Hub (map)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sgheritage/

This activity is free-of-charge.

No registration required. Maximum 40 seats.