The Leap Years
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| The Leap Years | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jean Yeo |
| Written by | Jean Yeo, Alain Layrac, Fina Torres, George Walker T & Catherine Lim (novel) |
| Produced by | Chan Pui Yin Ng San San |
| Starring | Wong Lilin Ananda Everingham Qi Yuwu Joan Chen |
Release date |
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| Country | Singapore |
| Language | English |
The Leap Years (also known as Leap of Love) is a Singapore film produced by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, based on the novella Leap of Love by the author Catherine Lim. The production for the film started in 2005, and the film was initially to be released in December 2005 release.[1] It was released on February 29, 2008 in Singapore.
Plot
Li-Ann, a single and attractive teacher in a Singaporean girls' school teaches her students about an obscure leap year custom practiced in Ireland, where men cannot refuse a proposal or date from a woman should she do so on February 29; she chances upon Jeremy at Windows Cafe who becomes a major part of her life.
Setting
In the original story, the cafe was called the Blue Paradise Café, while in the movie it was Windows Cafe. (Windows Cafe was an actual restaurant at Club Street, Singapore, at the time the movie was filmed. Though by the time the film opened, it had been replaced by a new restaurant called Seven On Club.)
Cast
- Wong Lilin as Li-Ann (younger years - ages 24 to 36)
- Ananda Everingham as Jeremy Harvey (younger years - ages 24 to 36)
- Qi Yu Wu as KS
- Joan Chen as Li-Ann (older years - age 48)
- Jason Keng-Kwin Chan as Raymond
- Vernetta Lopez as Jennie
- Nadya Hutagalung as Suneetha
- Paula Malai Ali as Kim
- Tracy Tan as Dyllan
Production
The Joan Chen part is not in the novella. According to director Jean Yeo, it was added as a marketing decision to get Joan Chen involved, as her presence could help with the distribution of the film. It was shot separately, and the 9 minutes of Joan Chen's part was shot by the second unit director.[2][3]
Li-Lin's real life ex-husband Allan Wu makes a very brief cameo appearance as Danny, the husband of Kim (Paula Malai Ali), during Li-Ann's second leap year of meeting Jeremy.