The Watchmen of Rochor

A documentary on a watch parts supplier set against the changing urban landscape of Singapore.

On the island state of Singapore, rapid progress has ushered in the age of gleaming skyscrapers. Left in its shadows are relics of a bygone era. The Rochor Centre Complex is of them.

On the second floor of Rochor Centre, Mohammad Ali and his brother run Khatena and Sons Trading. A family watch shop passed down from his father. The siblings, like many of the other tenants and residents of Rochor Centre, are facing imminent eviction. The complex is slated for demolition in 2016. Its inhabitants as well as history enthusiasts have cried foul. But Singapore, in its path to urban renewal, has no space for nostalgia.

To protect the legacy of his shop and preserve the community of customers he has built, Mohammad Ali now has tough decisions to make.

  • Jeremy Ho
    Director
  • Taahira Ayoob
    Producer
  • Andre He
    Director of Photography
  • Jemimah Seow
    Sound Recordist
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 10, 2014
  • Country of Origin:
    Singapore
  • Country of Filming:
    Singapore
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Jeremy Ho

Jeremy Ho, 24, is a filmmaker and graduating student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Singapore. He currently works as a director at a Singapore-based production house called Weave.

The Watchmen of Rochor was his documentary directing debut. With the same team, he then went on to direct Lahore Landing, an interactive documentary on another side of Pakistan.

Add Director Biography