Respeto. The Humiliation of Hendrix

In the 1st few minutes of #Respeto even before the opening title, I was already engaged. With Hendrix's body language, I got to know him deeper, liked him and his friends. Then I was hurt, hurt again and again especially with his helplessness. With a shared experience of depression with Hendrix's father figure Doc, he got consoled. He and his patron eventually recovered. I too recovered. Until the pain has become unbearable. 

Photo grabbed from Cinemalaya

Such is the tragedy and destiny. Respeto is not just our story told well in a film, it is a universal statement of humanity.

What impacts to me most is the humiliation of Hendrix. The initial ones, he brushes them away, dedma (pagkatalo, paghihiya, pagtapon ng tae, ihi, akusasyon na pagnanakaw, pagtapon ng typewriter, utos ng bayaw). But he recovers. The emotional ones, he vents them with tears (wala akong magawa). He likewise recovers. The final one, he retaliated.

Even if we deny it, the deepest pain of being human is humiliation.

Karagdagang notes sa Respeto: Bagong format para sa akin. At di ako rapper. Panalo siya. Di ko kilala si Abra pero naintindihan ko si Hendrix at si Doc. Galing ng body language ni Abra. At syempre pa ang lenguaheng pinoy. Isa lang di ko magustuhan. Ba't may subtitle pa ng Ingles, nakakagulo sa pagappreciate ko sa sagutan. Respeto ba ang title niya? O kabiguan na may konting naudlot na pagasa? 15 na Paboritong eksena: 1. Opening rap 2. Pagkumpi ng typewriter habang may aksyon sa likod 3. Pagtapon ng typewriter 4. Entrance sa bar 5. Pagihi 6. Yabang kay Candy 7. Pagkalungkot ng naisahan kay Candy 8. Paghiya ni Doc 9. Paguusap ni Doc at ni Hendrix pagkatapos ng paghiya 10. Astronaut at butete 11. Balagtasan 12. Birthday 13. Pagsabog ng Coke 14. Galit ni Nor 15. Ending

Watching a movie like a film and a play

#Birdshot.

Watched it like a film for its visuals, sounds, actors and craftsmanship. Appreciated it like a piece of literature for its symbolism and parallelism. Life is not clear. Even in simplicity, it is complex. Influenced to watch by the dissection of filmpolice reviewer.

Father and Son. I've worked with the director's father Raymond in executing a storyboard for a local brand of beer directed to the youth market. These are two qualities I admire about him: his understanding and appreciation of the story line and the brand message and his expertise; his rich base of modern, progressive, novel and even traditional techniques to create a compelling piece of work through the tone, texture, character of the sights and sounds.

Mikhail in his two movies #Recorder and #Birdshot demonstrated having a good story to tell and a well crafted output. Like his father, he is bursting with techniques and their appropriate use to effectively narrate. But when his story has a statement to make, he is is leveling up to be a serious artist. But Mikhail is not just a filmmaker. He is a young artist. Looking forward to view, understand, dissect and appreciate his future works.

#PataynasiHesus
Watched it like a play where there is one setting on a road trip. The stories on the characters unfold through their interactions. Each story is unique and engaging.

Raw production with meaty insights on the region with national relevance.

Hilarious as most viewers stated in their FB posts.

Nashock ako sa pelikula. Di sa paghubad, sa di pagtake ng board, sa nakabuntis (di na talaga bago), sa pahihiwalay (ng aso at may down syndrone), sa sayaw ni Hubert, sa pagkawala, sa bumabalik na asawa, sa pagsagasa, sa ultrawild screen, sa pagbagsak ng estante (grabe shock to the max), sa LGBT, sa lalaki/babae na naglasing, sa salitang puki, sa feria sa burol, sa dami ng Bert, sa batang gustong maging doktor na 1 time board passer, sa pagtanggap ng isang kabit kungdi . . . kaya pala bumyahe ng mini van mula Cebu hanggang Dumaguete na 170 kms. and back! 

Great ensemble. I love them all.

Patay na si Hudas reminded me of "Sa North Diversion Road," a play written by Tony Perez made into a movie by Dennis Marasigan. Richard Bolisay in his review closed it with a provocative question. "Everything changes, even the road is bound to change its name. And then a question walks closely to our ear: do exit points really take us to an exit or do they take us back from where we started?"

Victor Villanueva's movie end with their return trip back to Cebu, this time better appreciative of who they really are.

Pain and Struggle of a Helpless Pinoy Teen Rapper and a Solo Child

Respeto and Kiko Boksingero. One complex and powerfully impacting, the other pure and simple. Both are entries in the 2017 Cinemalaya 13.

 #Respeto. In the 1st few minutes, I was engaged. With Hendrix's body language, I got to know him deeper, liked him and his friends. Then I was hurt, hurt again and again especially with his helplessness. With a shared experience of depression with Hendrix's father figure Doc, he got consoled. He and his patron eventually recovered. I too recovered. Until the pain has become unbearable. Such is the

tragedy and destiny. Respeto is not just our story told well in a film, it is a universal statement of humanity.

#KikoBoksingero is a dramatization of a gap left behind by an absentee father. Kiko, my 1st film for Cinemalaya 13 narrates a longing for completeness filled in slowly and gradually with eventual resolution. The crafting is in the simple details, in the nuances of expression, staging, linear sequencing, simplicity bringing out raw emotions one can relate to. Uses boxing as a metaphor for parenthood.

Respeto and Kiko. Both stories tell struggles of the youth. Their growth is made easier with an identified mentor they can connect with to fill in the gaps. What is untold is how they can cope without them and who will eventually benefit from their own eventual mentoring.