Flat Girls (2025)

So glad I gave it a go! A painfully beautiful film.

Everything about the film was stunning—from the cinematography, acting, and locations to the sound. It’s a queer, sapphic, social realism type of coming-of-age story that’s complex, heart-wrenching, realistic, and relatable. The characters within the flat navigates various life's complexities, including self-image, identity, love, dreams, difference in social class and opportunities, difficult family/financial circumstances. It’s a total tearjerker, filled with details to catch.

The film isn’t straightforward—it leaves room for you to think, interpret, and make your own judgments, which feels really human and reflects how complex we can be. Things aren’t always what they seem, and when feelings are kept, words are left unspoken and there are no clear explanation given, it’s easy for misunderstandings and assumptions to happen. I honestly love the way the movie is directed and everything about it, even though it had me crying in the theater and left me with a lot of emotions and thoughts to process afterward.

Earnearn and Fairy are a perfect match! Their chemistry are very natural and endearing while their acting is impressive. I love how much emotions they could convey through just their expressions and glances. It allows us to see what their characters are going through/feeling without needing any words. ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ˢᵘᵖᵖᵒʳᵗ ᵗʰᵉᵐᵎ ᴵ ᵈᶦᵈ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵐᵒᵛᶦᵉ

There are so many reasons to rewatch it— the characters and their story, the little details, the incredible acting, beautiful scenes, and the soundtrack—it was such an experience seeing it on the big screen that I just kept going back. Another amazing film from GDH.
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***********SPOILERS starts here******************
Please do not read if you haven't watched it!!
(personal perspective and interpretation, detailss)
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Feelings:
When it comes to who had feelings for whom, Ann clearly liked Jane. You can see it in her reaction after Jane said she didn’t feel anything and wasn’t sure how to interpret their kiss. Ann went along with Jane's response. When Jane asked, “How are we supposed to feel when you kiss someone we liked?” Ann answered, "I don't know. I guess you won't have any doubts, just this is it—it feels right,”" and teared up. I think it shows Ann realizing her own feelings, and the sadness that it isn't "mutual," yet she didn't force her sentiments on Jane when she didn't know.

For Jane, at first she would get jealous and upset whenever Ann and Tong were close, she didn’t understand why. As the film goes on, we (and Ann) start to see Jane slowly warming up to Tong—she becomes more comfortable around him and shows signs of interest. She does things with him that she does with Ann, like poking his cheek. Jane is still figuring things out, but one thing is clear: Ann means a lot to her.

Identity:
You see Jane taking her chest strap on and off throughout the film, which symbolizes her figuring out. In an earlier scene, Ann casually tells Jane the clean one in another bag. That just tells me how close they are without any judgment. Even Jane’s mom doesn’t know she wears it, but Ann quietly helps her keep it a secret by doing the laundry and hands it to her personally (the details!). Tong also found out later and didn't judge her as well.

***Alleged relationship between Ann and Tong:
I felt like the whole relationship between Tong and Ann was built on a series of misunderstandings. Their dynamic—especially considering Tong’s warm character, all his actions and Ann’s strong character and her determination. (For me, they just wouldn't. Tong had been caring. Ann had always worked hard for money. Some scenes and dialogues has no clear basis, felt out of place (because the movie doesn't tell us), yet it doesn't make sense with how things supposedly played out between them either. The movie wants viewers to draw their own conclusions.)

- It was Jane’s perspective seeing Ann going to Tong’s room to get her phone.
Earlier, Jane had snuck into Tong's room and hid when someone knocked on the door. Tong woke up and opened the door for Ann, but if Ann had seen Jane inside, she probably would’ve misunderstood too. We don't know what happened or didn’t happen—it’s up to interpretation but just because they were in the same room?
(The phone being found on the bed could be Tong letting Ann sleep on the bed instead of the couch the night before. He returned to sleep on the bed once she left in the morning. Tong checking outside before Ann leaves after taking her phone could’ve been his way of preventing any potential misunderstandings but Jane was in the room.)
- That scene was after the night where *Ann didn't want to go home.*
Also, it was the night where Tong comforted Ann with her dilemmas about giving up her dreams for her family to stay in the flat. Given Ann’s young age and all the responsibilities weighing on her, his words, "You can be something much better," "You don't have to be a big sister all the time", and "It's okay" is very telling of his character to me. He also mentioned to her, **"If you need help with anything, you can always tell me."**
- Before this, Tong was warm to the kids and treated Jane like his child because they were alike. He just has his own financial/family struggles. "All good cops have no money." I believe he is a good cop. (The sudden switch in the character and dynamic is too abrupt to follow along without any doubts.)

- Jane and Ann's misunderstanding at the court bench scene. / There was tension present before anything else
*Ann doesn't know about what Jane saw, but she saw Tong and Jane being close and she thinks that Jane likes him while Jane thinks that Ann and Tong are possibly dating.
> Ann meets Jane, thinking that Jane likes Tong while holding a new badminton racket she got from him.
> Jane meets Ann, thinking that Ann and Tong are together, more so after seeing Ann with her new racket from Tong.
- Jane got upset and ran off; Ann chased after her.
- More Jane and Ann's misunderstanding at the stair scene
Jane: "I thought you wouldn't date a cop?
Ann: "Well he gives me money"
(I think Ann was masking her feelings and going off based on Jane's assumptions and misunderstandings instead of explaining because when Jane asked, "Do you know anything about love?" Ann replied, "Love only matters to those with money." "How can a person like me dare to love someone?" which Jane didn't catch.)

- Jane's mom noticed Ann having more money, and Jane told her she probably received it from Tong because they're together. Her mom mentioned, "But he doesn't have money and even borrows from me.
- The interaction between Tong and Ann wasn't awkward at all at the court scene
- Tong mentioned he wanted to study law for a promotion and wants to learn English from Ann
(Ann receiving money from Tong could be pure kindness or from teaching English)
- **The pan-out scene with neighbors gossiping about Ann and Tong from above the court**
(It looked like they were spreading rumors along with Ann seemingly uncomfortable expression and Tong's confused expression.)
- **When Jane was getting back her mom's money and questioned Tong for giving out money when he doesn't even have any, he said, "Ann's family is in need, and he's happy to be able to help with her situation even by a little, just like how he's happy when he's able to take care of Jane."**
(He gets emotional after Jane leaves; it could be because of his reality. He doesn't even have money for himself, let alone help anyone else. Before this, he was on a call with his child; she told him he doesn't need to spend money on her because her step-father is rich, and told him to save up the money so he's able to see her. Her mom told her that he is unable to come visit her because he has no money.)

- The rumours of Tong and Ann dating spread because of Jane.
Ann exploded at Jane because her mom is now tying her already bleak situation down with marriage to Tong for money
(Ann probably didn't want to be like her friend, tied to the flat after marrying / in a earlier balcony scene with fireworks)
- Jane chasing Ann, who ran away to the pier
> Jane's "You won't marry him, right?" (misunderstanding)
> Ann's "Do you really like him that much?" to Jane (misunderstanding)
> Jane's "I don't know, but he is not good enough for you to stop your life for him." "Don't you want to leave this place"?
> Jane apologizing to Ann.
- Tong telling Ann to bring the kids tomorrow; he will bring them all to the cruise.
(This could be him knowing Ann was hurting (with her entire situation and everything that has happened) and wanting to make her happy, even just a little.)
- Ann tells Tong she will live with him immediately if he could give her 10m
(If they were dating or already had some sort of relationship, I don’t think Ann would’ve even asked the way she did. It felt like Ann was looking for an escape)
- Tong said something along the lines of "Don't leave me; I'm trying my best, and I need time," to which Ann replied that she could not wait long.
(Tong’s response seemed to come from him wanting to help her and his own complex circumstances. He probably already knew that Ann wanted to leave the flat and how he is unable to help her as much as he wished he could. With his situation, where his family left and how he's unable to provide for his child as much as he wanted, it could have made him want to hold Ann back initially, but in the end he cheered for her, gave her assurance and told her that he believed she could do it. Maybe, like the importance of P'Ann presence to Nong Jane in the flat, the kids presence in the flat was important to Ah Tong which was why he wanted to help Ann for her to stay.)
- Ann saying they already broke up to her mom could be because she didn't want to explain and wanted her to stop.
- The painting of names on the wall, Jane and Nice painted all the names, including Tong. (This was what made him seem like a significant figure to the kids, also with how he got emotional when seeing the wall at the end, and all the changes that had happened with the kids leaving the flat.
To me, he was a warm and reliable brother figure to the kids and liked spending time with them compared to other cops as they probably eased his own worries and gave him happiness. With the chasing the boat scene, eating with jane, driving etc was all heartwarming to see. TMI he taught the kids how to drive, and Jane ended up having to drive.

What the movie ending made me ponder (aside from everything else)
- Ann's ending could be positive or the worst, but I think Ann ran away to chase her dream. She would be stuck unless her mom changed, which she didn't. Also, Jane said, "I hope we bump into each other on a plane, because you have to take me to first class." Her family and Jane weren't that "sad" either. Although Jane was indeed sad 🥲
- Jane's life after leaving the flat—is she doing well? I hope so. What is Jane's actual feelings for Ann? Does she realize it after, or not? Hope she's the same person who appreciates simple happiness :))
- Tong started hanging out with other cops after the kids left. (The dialogue makes me question, but I don't know the basis of it and I believe him and that promotion he'll get.)
- Ann and Jane never revealed their feelings and misunderstood each others feelings until the end. Will they ever meet again? And will they ever be able to let each other know?
- Anyway, I only wish all the characters well. 😭

(Once everything is figured out, I think you'd be able to really enjoy the movie again based on your perspective. Truly loved it!)

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