'881' earns big in Singapore

HONG KONG -- Royston Tan helmed musical comedy "881" has become the highest grossing local film of the year in its native Singapore.

Co-producer MediaCorp Raintree Pictures said that the pic had passed the S$3 million ($2 million) mark Thursday, with a cume of $1.98 million.

Movie overtook previous Singapore B.O. leader "Just Follow Law" with $1.83 million, and becomes only the fifth Singapore-made movie to pass the symbolic $2 million mark.

Pic, which is set in the strange world of "Getai" music for the dead, will be presented as one of four films in upcoming Pusan fest's new Gala Screenings section. International rights outside Singapore, Malaysia and Japan were recently picked up by the Easternlight label of Oz-U.S. sales agency Arclight Films.

Production was produced by Zhao Wei Films and MediaCorp Raintree Pictures in association with Scorpio East Pictures, the Media Development Authority of Singapore and Infinite Frameworks.

- Story by Patrick Frater, Variety.com