A
Good Child (Original title: Hao haizi) | 2025 | 1h 45m
Genre:
Drama | Country: Singapore
Director:
Kuo-Sin Ong | Writers: Kuo-Sin Ong
Cast:
Richie Koh, Huifang Hong, Cheryl Chou
IMDB:
7.3
My
Rate: 9/10
A Hao, a drag queen who has long faced rejection from his family, is forced to return home after his father’s death to take care of his mother who is experiencing dementia—a journey that slowly opens secrets from the past while also becoming a search for his own identity.
Warning:
Scenes of harsh language, smoking, alcohol, LGBTSynopsis:
A
Hao works as a drag queen at a club, an identity that has long received
rejection from his conservative family, especially his father. However, his
father’s sudden death becomes shocking news. Returning home eventually becomes
something that cannot be avoided.
After
his father’s passing, his mother begins to show strange behavior which is later
known to be symptoms of dementia. This condition makes his mother no longer
able to live her life without supervision. A Hao and his older sibling agree to
take care of her, although in the end most of the responsibility falls on A
Hao.
Over
time, his mother begins to feel comfortable with A Hao’s presence, even though
sometimes past trauma still surfaces. A Hao even tries to introduce his mother
to the world he has been living in—meeting his friends and watching the drag
performance he performs. Slowly, happiness begins to appear on his mother’s
face.
However,
behind that change, the family’s negative views toward A Hao’s identity still
become a shadow that is difficult to avoid.
Will
A Hao finally gain acceptance from his family?
Review:
A
Good Child (2025) is a film based on the character of a drag queen from
Singapore, Sammi Zhen (real name Christopher Lim). This film raises a sensitive
theme about the life of a drag queen and society’s acceptance of that identity.
But more than that, this film also talks about family, the priceless love of a
mother, and the long journey of finding one’s identity.
The
main character is introduced in an interesting yet still elegant way. The shot
taken through the extreme close-up technique shows the silhouette of the main
character with an aesthetic visual touch. The beauty shown on screen then
contrasts with the narration that follows, which slowly opens the main conflict
in the story.
A
phone call from his mother that is not answered, absence at family events, and
bad comments about the child become signs of a crack in family harmony. This
situation becomes even more heated after the father’s death that happens
suddenly, making the conflict develop without much introduction. Trauma that
appears in several scenes—from A Hao, his mother, and also his sibling—further
strengthens the emotional tension in the story.
The
conflict develops slowly, giving space for the audience to absorb every emotion
that appears. The audience is invited to understand the feelings of each
character without feeling rushed. The mother’s dementia becomes a door that
opens various other layers of problems within the family. The internal
conflicts experienced by each character feel strong and realistic.
The
resolution of the story is presented in a satisfying and impressive way. The
twist that appears is not easy to guess from the beginning, but it is able to
unite the various pieces of the story into one reasonable thread. The character
development of each character can also be clearly seen, bringing the story
toward an ending that feels worthy of their journey.
Besides
the touching story idea, the acting of the cast also becomes the main strength
of this film. Richie Koh successfully delivers a stunning performance as A Hao.
Even Sammi Zhen himself admitted that Richie was able to portray him very
similarly. The other actors also perform solidly, so there is no imbalance in
acting quality. The expressions, intonation, and emotions shown feel natural
without seeming excessive.
From
a technical side, the selection of music, scene transitions, cinematography,
and color composition are done with full attention to detail. All these
elements work well together to bring the audience into an emotional journey
that rises and falls in every scene.
Even
so, this film is not completely without flaws. With a story foundation and
conflict that are built so strongly from the beginning, the journey toward the
resolution feels slightly rushed. Some scenes move quite quickly, giving the
impression that the story wants to reach the ending soon. However, this
weakness does not really disturb the overall viewing experience which still
feels touching.
In
the end, A Good Child is not only a story about the identity of a drag
queen, but also about wounds, acceptance, and complicated family relationships.
This film reminds us that the journey of finding one’s identity often does not
go easily, especially when it must face the expectations and judgments of the
closest people. Through A Hao’s story, the audience is invited to see that
behind conflict and rejection, there is always space for understanding and love
to grow again.
Memorable Scene:
The
film A Good Child has many memorable and touching scenes. One of the
most memorable happens when A Hao finally discovers the secret of the past that
has long been hidden. A reality that slowly explains why his life feels messy
and why he has lost direction for so long about who he really is.
All
this time A Hao always blamed himself for everything that happened. But the
truth that is revealed shows that not everything is his fault. This scene feels
simple, but close to reality that often happens. A child often becomes the
easiest party to blame when their life goes messy—either because they are
considered to have the wrong mindset or because of their social environment.
Even though it is often forgotten that the role of parents has a big influence
in shaping the direction and character of their children.
Memorable Dialogue:
“I’m different, but I’m not a joke.”
Ending:
Happy
Ending
Recommendation:
Must
Watch
(Aluna
Uwie)
 – The Story of a Drag Queen, Family Secrets, and the Search for Identity){kind=link}
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