The Leap Years

"A saint once decreed,
that a man must agree,
to a woman's proposal today.

Give me a sign,
For I'm hidden from your eyes,
Whether to meet me at 8,
At the same place you sit,
And fulfill the tradition of February 29th."

This is a lighthearted romance 1st english local production movie. The problem is Qi Yu Wu doesn't seem to blend in this English movie as he doesn't speak fluently. Seems like everyone is complaining about his "ang mo".

Of course, there are certain parts of the movie that are quite sweet and romantic. Since Li-Ann and Jeremy could only meet every 4 years, I felt that if they could have more emotions and connections between them.

What I like about this movie is that they use romantic "quotes" to evoke the audience emotions such as "If you are not too long, I will wait for you all my life." - Oscar Wilde

The film-makers have missed out minor details such as Li-Ann and Jeremy do not age in appearance. Another thing is where's the mole under Jeremy's eye after so many years?

I think they have oversell this move. Overall, I felt that not a very touching movie but it's quite watchable one.

About The Leap Years
MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, one of Asia’s leading film companies and Ochre Pictures, Singapore’s award-winning production company are producing Singapore’s first English love story entitled, THE LEAP YEARS.

Thai heartthrob – Ananda Everingham, last seen in Shutter (2004) co-starred in this romantic love story with Singapore girl next door - Li Lin. Based on a novella by well-acclaimed writer, Dr Catherine Lim, the story talks about a young Singaporean girl having chance upon her special someone on 29th February. She decides to base her intuition on an Irish leap year tradition that no man will refuse any request of a lady and invites him out for a date. Together, they embark on a romantic journey that spans over 12 years, meeting only thrice in 12 years, on the leap year. The delightful draw being the leap yearly meet-ups is sure to entice the special someone out there in all of us.

Together with a colourful cast of gorgeous ladies and men – Joan Chen, Ananda Everingham, Li Lin, Qi Yu Wu, Vernetta Lopez, Nadya Hutagulung – THE LEAP YEARS aims to capture the fascinating sensibilities and the essence of life in contemporary Singapore.

More about Leap Year Traditions
Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. However, that hasn't always been the case. When the rules of courtship were stricter in the past, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th.

St. Bridget's Complaint
It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year.