I Not Stupid (小孩不笨)

The movie is about to begin. Please be seated.

Kindly turn off your mobile phones.

How about a little applause?

Thank you. How about a louder applause?

You can do better than that?

Thank you.

Why are you so obedient?

Ha... Ha... Ha...

This is a prison we have all been to.

Don't be fooled by its gentle facade,

we have all experienced its cruelty.

They have labelled us a class with no aptitude for school.

I am Terry.

The cute boy behind me is Liu Kok Pin.

The handsome one on my right is Ang Boon Hock.

Kok Pin and Boon Hock are buddies.

Three of us are from different backgrounds. But they are really cool.

Teacher, as long we work hard will we become somebody?

Of course, but please put your leg down.

Teacher, have you worked hard then?

Of course.

After teaching for so many years, are you somebody?

Oh! Oh! Teacher doesn't look too well, her heart must be shattered.

I have been here for more than 15 years, what kind of students have I not seen?

It is students like you that create trouble for me!

Actually they are not bad children,

just that they are from EM3, so people are prejudiced against them.

Even if you were right, you would still be wrong.

Don't mix with students from EM3.

They cannot study. They will influence you.

Boon Hock, what have you done? From EM2 to EM3.

Good thing your cousin Tiong Meng is not like you.

Even Boon Hock's aunt and cousin look down on him.

Mom, let's go!

There is a lot of homework in EM1.

So I decided to befriend them.

It is good to have more friends.

As some would say,

three stooges are better than one Einstein.

Oh? Did I get it wrong?

Well, something like that anyway.

How can he do that? Stupid idiot!

This is my father.

He is a good man, just that he speaks very loudly.

Damn it! He took my parking lot.

- Yes? - You still say 'Yes'?

I was going to park here, how could you just drive into my lot?

Sorry, sorry. I was on the phone. I didn't notice.

This is Kok Pin's father, Mr Liu.

He is 'fortunate' to run into my father today.

On the phone?

There are so many kids here and you are on the phone?

Can you not shout?

Damn it! I was honking at you back there and you didn't hear me,

if I had spoken softly, could you have heard me?

Can you not use that choice of words?

The choice of words I use is my business. It is not for you to tell me.

You get out of your car now.

- Ok, let me say this. - Say what?

I saw an empty lot and I drove in, I didn't...

What do you mean? I was in front...

- I was on the phone... - On the phone?

I didn't know you...

- Everybody wanted the lot. - Where are they?

I was waiting in front for so long.

Whatever it is you don't have to shout, right?

Because of you, all the cars cannot move.

- You don't understand. - What is there to understand?

I was here first, right?

It is not intentional.

If that is so, why did you take my lot?

This is a public area. Anyone can park here.

What public area? I came here first.

- I really didn't know. - You didn't know?

Mine is such a big Mercedes!

Kok Pin loves to draw ever since he was little.

But his Mom just hates it.

She is so worried about his homework,

because having worked for so many years,

she knows that

a degree may just be a piece of paper, but without it, makes the difference.

A promotion is not important to me now.

I am only worried about my son.

Whether he can survive in a society that values only English and Maths.

Without a degree, how are we going to survive?

Kok Pin has never been good in his studies.

The sad thing is, his Mom thinks he is just lazy

and that's why he is doing badly.

So she preaches to him daily.

Work hard so you can get into Normal Academic, O Level, A Level

and get your University degree.

Recently, there was a student formerly from EM3

who completed his O Level with several As.

The fact is his Mom blames herself for his poor results.

It's all my fault his results is so bad,

I should have spent more time with him.

Actually, you need to punish children.

Just like my son.

When I don't cane him, he gets 40 marks.

When I cane him, he gets 90 marks.

Appropriate punishment from parents is a way to bring out the best in our children.

Some children are just like that.

Once you cane them, they will do their best!

Every time his Mom's friends talk about their kids,

it will spell doomsday for Kok Pin.

Mom! Stop hitting me! I will try and get 90 marks next time.

Please stop hitting me.

Oh no! My dear sister-in-law, once your son is in EM3, he is done for.

- Really? - Really.

Mom, let's go! I am hungry.

Oh son, wait for me!

- Hey that fat woman is your sister-in-law? - Yes.

Looking at her, I can tell she is not educated.

Don't talk rubbish. Her son is in EM1.

- EM1? - Yes.

That's not possible.

Our government had said before,

when two uneducated people get married

their children will also do poorly in their studies.

Look at her, if her son is in EM1

- I chop off... - Hey!

- My finger... - Don't talk rubbish.

Our government is the best, they would never say such a thing.

Two uneducated people get married and their children will also be poor in studies.

I sell Wonton Noodles, does that mean my son will also sell Wonton Noodles?

- Dad, 30 dollars. - I don't know. That's what I hear.

But I am lucky. I am also not educated,

but my son is in the gifted class. It is better than winning lottery!

Some people just don't know what they are talking about.

Boon Hock, you heard that?

If you are not good at school people will look down on you.

The woman who likes to wear white

with a body to die for is my Mom.

My Mom loves me 'cos I am obedient.

I am obedient 'cos she understands me.

She will plan and arrange everything for me.

Our relatives and friends think she is like our government.

Especially the way she talks.

Do you know how lucky the two of you are

to have a good and responsible mother

who knows how to take care of you?

In our daily lives she looks as if she interferes in everything.

Actually, it is the way she shows concern.

There are many things that we, kids, don't understand.

It looks simple from the surface, so we try to be clever.

Excuse me, why do you litter?

What is it to you? Nosey parker. Fat ass.

But when a problem arises she will suggest the most practical way to solve it.

That is my Mother.

How many times do you want me to tell you?

Don't stick your nose in people's business.

For no reason, you were scolded.

Next time if you see something pretend you never saw it.

Because all this is none of your business.

We are very wealthy, and we live in a big house.

We lead a carefree and comfortable life.

My Dad's only worry is I will end up like my Mom and Sis,

not speaking Chinese well.

So I stayed with my Taiwanese Godmother who taught me Chinese.

As a result, I am very fluent in Chinese, but I am bad in my English and Maths.

That's why I am in EM3.

Actually, my main problem is English,

there is nothing wrong with my intelligence.

Hey! Hello! Come!

You certainly know how to choose a date to give birth to your children.

Housewarming is on the same day too. It makes your celebration so convenient.

- Oh yes, your red packets. - Oh you don't have to.

It's for good fortune. One for you and one for you.

Thanks Godmother.

People are envious of us,

but I still feel that I lack something.

I can't tell what it is. Just something.

I'm sure I will know one day.

Mom! Mom! They bullied me!

Terry, they are our guests.

You must learn to be a gracious host, understand?

Now, go and give them drinks. Go!

You can have it back!

I am being bullied in my own home, and all I do is cry.

No wonder Sister looks down on me.

Look, this design is pretty unique.

Liu, tell you a good news!

The milk powder commercial that you and Ben did

has been accepted to the Taiwan Regional Ads Awards.

- Really? - Alright!

Thanks. It is a collaborative effort.

But the condominium TV commercial has been rejected by the TV Station.

- Why? - They say the language used is not proper.

Thanks. That is also a collaborative effort.

Here, have some Ba Gua.

Really... Why can't we use our local slang?

We can't even say 'Don't Play Play'.

This cannot be used, that cannot be used. How do you nurture a creative environment?

- I thought it used to be ok? - Thanks to Phua Chu Kang.

Now the government is afraid Singlish is going to overtake English.

Now they are very worried.

Listen, I don't know what the big deal about Singlish is.

I mean it's Singlish that makes Singaporean so unique.

Exactly.

Even for ads in China now, we use the local slang.