Somehow I've always taken an affinity to local documentaries, for the fact that there's always something special to tell about Singapore from a unique perspective of the filmmaker's lens, something that was unseen delivered and made known. Important documentaries that tell the story of what was once, like Pin Pin's Invisible City, and Yee Peng's Diminishing Memories. I'm no nature buff, and I'd admit I was a bit apprehensive whether the content of Chek Jawa could appeal to me.

It certainly did, and I'd expect it to appeal to a mass audience as well, not necessarily just the nature buffs or conservationists, because it deals with the can-do human spirit, demonstrating that when we come together with a common cause, we can indeed make a difference, in spite of not being funded to do something, but doing it with passion, for a greater passion. It's inspiring to see so much achieved by a group of volunteers, who readily admit they actually had no clue whether what they're doing is right in scientific methodology, but their goal of preserving an extraordinary piece of land at Pulau Ubin, which is home to 6 eco-systems no less, takes precedence.

And the amount of wildlife shots is astounding as they are stunning - I have absolutely no idea about the wealth of bio-diversity in just Chek Jawa alone. The filmmakers and the volunteers deserve a salute in their successful effort to put off a reclamation project on that very same piece of land, in a bit to save the wildlife for future generations to appreciate. What they have achieved was to present in concrete terms, the case for preserving the wildlife, and I'm glad that their hard effort paid off, that is, until the year 2012. Whether or not Chek Jawa will go then, will depend very much on how we treasure, and continue to voice our concerns over any possible land re-use. But of course, the powers that be have the final say, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to persuade logically, and with good reason.

Watching children go ga-ga over the interaction with the wildlife, and having it become a live teaching grounds for relevant studies and research, do seem like valid reasons. Nothing beats holding something in your hands, versus a textbook diagram or a specimen behind a plexiglass in a museum. And what more, to anyone who says that Singapore is a boring place with the expansion of its concrete jungle, well, I'd advise him or her to go take a trip to our nature reserves. If anything, Remember Chek Jawa has taught me two things. One, Nature is worth preserving, and second, never underestimate the power of the human spirit, especially when it gels together, working for a cause. As they say, unity is strength.

Remember Chek Jawa epitomizes that spirit, and has, in my opinion, sealed an important place in Singapore's limited, but growing, filmography. Eric Lim has presented the documentary in easy digestible chunks, deftly handling the talking head interviews with footage of preparation and the actual project itself, highlighting all the anecdotes and challenges, reminding that it is no doubt a difficult task at hand, but one that resulted in a little sweet victory in many sense, and especially to raise awareness of Chek Jawa for audiences who have seen this film.

Oh, and by the way, readers who are in Toronto will have an opportunity to view this documentary! It is scheduled to screen on 28 Oct 07 at the "Planet in Focus" International Environmental Film & Video Festival which runs from 24-28 Oct 07.