Cinemalaya
represents to me diverse Filipino stories said in a film format. Each film
tells a unique story that primarily captures the nuance of a Filipino, our
story. Some are well told, some still to be better told. The films can either
inform, entertain, provoke. What they unique do is trigger sparks.
#schoolservice
Strong opening with a tragic ending. Taboo subject triggers curiosity.
Characters and conflicts quickly established at the start. Service designed
creatively with all elements and characters crammed in a small space. Yet the
story revolves in the street and in the peripherals. Ai Ai is convincing
demonstrating versatility. Joel, Joe exaggerate their characterization
effectively. Kids are au naturel. A docu structured in a full length movie
leaving a perspective begging for a moral judgment.
Slow, restrained and calm for an extended time until it
explodes. Then settles down again. #distance in #cinemalaya2018 intimately unfolds the internal family conflicts
engaging one to seek for more until it peaks and eventually settles down. The
start to finish is appropriately “Sa Pagitan ng Dito at Doon“ hoping that when
it reaches there, life goes on differently this time. Well crafted, written
well and acted well by Iza and Nonie.
#Mamang. Ghosts of the past coming back alive even if age has
forgotten them. Creatively, that’s how the O’ Hara’s created and executed life
in a dementia gracefully and entertainingly essayed by Celeste Legaspi aided by
inseparable and dependable son portrayed finely by Ketsup Eusebio. Time and
reality are suspended to convey the messages of fear of death, separation,
unresolved issues, unexpressed love, joy of living in the present with simple
needs satisfied and the fulfilment of the promise of everlasting happiness in
the afterlife.
The ghosts of the past and the blind spots of the
millennials. #ML other than martial law could also stand for
millennials. Imagine what happens when you put side by side a retired military
colonel with a psychological disorder with the freewheeling pleasure oriented,
gadgets driven, "now na," "you only live once" generation.
This is graphically presented and impactfully dramatized by veteran actor Eddie
Garcia and boyband singer Tony Labrusca. Film is engaging, disturbing and even
entertaining. While only the torture and brain washing perspective were
highlighted with the military putting value on blind loyalty and YOLO gen on
immediacy, #ML projects both as humans, with a drive to contribute but needing
understanding and help for their imperfections.
Liway. The charming, inquisitive son of Day & Ric was blessed to
have been raised well by his parents. Careful with how the cause oriented
parents rear their child on the lurking dangers outside of the comfort home,
they protect Dakip from the myths and the half-truths outside the camp and
consciously pace the child’s orientation only when he is ready to face and
accept reality. I viewed the story not only from the perspective of the mother
Day a.k.a. Liway and father Ric but on how
Dakip copes growing up. High point for me is when he sees the world outside for
the first time and his sincere speech to the crowd. Truly, Dakip the character
and the dramatization of Kenken Nuyad were remarkable.
What made #Liway an indie
(associated with twist and unconventional and pinoy’s story) was not the ending
but rolling credits to close it. It made me ask how will Dakip be nurtured
without his parents as the military aggressively exterminates the enemies of
the state. There was an impulsive drive to meet him as I knew this was based on
a real story and he is a Filipino based somewhere in the island. Did he grow up
as a normal child? Did he pursue the cause of his parents? The credit gave me
the answer. Ang galing ni Dakip, a.k.a. Kip, a.k.a. @kipoebanda #cinemalaya2018. So do Glaiza,
Soliman.
Waiting for Sunset. Truly a great ensemble, Dante Rivero in
particular! And Perla and a restrained and effective Menggie (and his outfit). #kungpaanohinintayangdapithapon is a well crafted execution of a story on falling out
of love, recognizing it and accepting it in time. Dapithapon explores
subliminally that even before one dies physically, without a life, one is no
longer alive (father and son Benedicto and Chito). The slow pacing and
development of the characters is in keeping with the theme's tone on aging
eventually building up to a simple high point, friendship and acceptance
expected of people in mature stage. Promotes Kapampangan. Characters use it
proudly for intimate talks. #cinemalaya2018
Musmos. A prayer in a song. A prayer in a (full length)
movie. A powerful story set in a one setting: river, water and the bank.
Treating a century old conflict philosophically and spiritually: going with the
flow of the river, slow unfolding of developments, unique rituals, beliefs,
practices and culture yet with a universal human message. #Musmosnasumibolsagubatngdigma a century long conflict told differently. Only in #Cinemalaya2018
#pandesalawal
offers hope to those in despair and the emotionally and physically handicapped. A
fairy tale format Pandacan style unfolds a story of a child who miraculously cures
aliments of residents she finds giving them spark in their life. As part of the
#cinemalaya2018 festival, it adds a genre to the offering of diverse Filipino
stories on film. As situations are pinoy familiar and dramatically essayed by
actors, empathy with the theme and characters is spontaneously established making
one feel good towards the end.
#thelookout
is a person stationed to keep watch for danger or trouble. The situations
presented in the mystery thriller set up the ambiguity of who the lookout is. The
victim, protagonist, the pick, authorities, the brother or the sister, villain
or all of the above?
More interesting is the relationship that develops between
the newbie lead actor Andres Velasquez as Lester Quiambao/ George and the
newbie secondary actor Jay Garcia as Travis Concepcion/ Timothy effectively
interpreted by new faces on film. Set against the backdrop of a well-crafted
visuals and lines, the crime story becomes incidental to the evolving, deepening
and conflicting bond between them.
Appreciate this if you treat the sub plots
are mere diversions and distractions and see the two lead characters as the
lookouts for each other.
Photos from cinemalaya promotional images
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