The Leap Years (aka Leap of Love) is a Singaporefilm by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, based on the novella "Leap Of Love" by Singaporean 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 ultimately released on the 29th February, 2008 in Singapore.
Li-Ann, a single and attractive teacher in a girl's school in Singapore 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 29th; and chances upon Jeremy at Windows Cafe who becomes a major part of her love life.
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]
Cast
Wong Lilin – Li-Ann (younger years - ages 24 to 36)
In the original story, the cafe was called 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 Though by the time the film opened, it had been replaced by a new restaurant called Seven On Club.)
The initial taxi trip in the movie shows the main characters travelling from Windows Cafe in the Telok Ayer Street area to Geylang (as evidenced by the countless durian stores) and back to Chinatown, which does not make logical sense given the short two hours they have together.
Li-Lin's real life 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.