AllMovie

Based on a novel by Noel Barber, the British-Australian miniseries Tanamera: Lion of Singapore was set in the titular port city during the years 1935 to 1948. The focus was on two families -- one English, one Chinese -- involved in the Malaysian rubber-plantation business. The drama intensified when Britisher John Dexter (Christopher Bowen) defied convention by falling in love with Chinese girl Julie Sung (Khym Lam). The advent of WWII and the inevitable Japanese invasion further complicated events. A coproduction of Britain's Central Television and Australia's Ten Network, Tanamera: Lion of Singapore was originally broadcast in 1989, lasting seven 60-minute episodes.