Cinemalaya 2010 features films by independent film directors, and a new (?) section featuring established directors in the spotlight. I'm not going to go in depth here so I'll just give you a brief overview, and my thoughts.
DIRECTOR'S SHOWCASE FILMS
Sigwa
Joel Lamangan's entry centers on Dolly (Dawn Zulueta, Megan Young). She's returned to the Philippines after more than 30 years to know more about the daughter she left in the care of one of her friends. They were friends, however, in the most turbulent of circumstances: the first few years of Martial Law. including the infamous First Quarter Storm. Plus they were all political activists, which is kinda bad for you if you don't want to be detained/tortured/etc. In her quest to search for the truth for her daughter, she revisits the friends she left behind: Oliver (Tirso Cruz), who became allied with the government, Cita (Zsazsa Padilla), who remained a communist rebel, and Azon (Gina Alajar), who gave up the revolutionary lifestyle to take care of her daughter (and Dolly's as well.)
I'm not really a fan of Marxist philosphy, nor do I support student activism of such a radical level, because of my opinion that such systems are doomed to fail. Does the movie itself take a stance on this philosophy? I'm more inclined to say that the film at least says that people who tolerate social injustice are not so different than the people who are behind them. The film gives a few winks in our direction with regards to that.
The movie is professionally made, slick and polished, although with some weird script dialogue, e.g. "when did you do a 360 degree turn [with your ideas?]" (Uhhh... that will just take you back to the start) and firing on the ground ftw. Digital media has come far since the first Cinemalaya, and it's showing in spades here with a high definition picture and a clear and solid image. The production designer even made the effort of making props, sets and even softdrink bottles appropriate to the era.
The acting is decent, although you will see your share of "sampalan" scenes taken almost out of a telenovela, but that's Joel Lamangan for you. The young version of the casts delivers, adequately filling their respective roles.
My one problem with this film is that the last 20 or so minutes seem incredibly rushed. A major conflict between characters seems resolved minutes after it is established, and after that, the movie wraps itself up.
All in all, it's a nice film to watch, but is brought down by the ending. I'd give it 6.5 activists over 10.
Donor
The issue of abuses and planned changes in the system of Organ Donation in this country is such a large ethical clusterfuck that it would take me ten times as long if I wanted to write about it. (Too long didn't read version of my opinion: 0) Organ Donation is good in itself and an awesome effective treatment, but 1) the planned changes make the system even more open to exploitation, 2) our current system cannot feasibly prevent abuses as we suck at implementation 3) I think tightening restrictions to already existing limitations can help prevent abuses to the system as much as loosening those restrictions and "trying" to regulate them and 4) if the system is passed, we should make damn well sure that issues of informed consent and compensation are treated with as much respect to ethics as possible.)
*takes deep breath*
Mark Meily's entry focuses on Lizette (Meryll Soriano,) a seller of Pirated DVDs who lives with her live in partner Danny (Baron Geisler). Earning money is hard due to a lack of job opportunities and constant raids screwing over her business. One day she is given a remarkable opportunity: sell her kidney to a wealthy Jordainian businessman with kidney failure (as an aside he didn't look like he had CKD to me lol) for 100,000 pesos. At this time donation of organs by strangers/foreigners is illegal, but there is a way, as Emperor Palpatine would say, to "make it legal." That is, they get married, so that Lizette can legally give her kidney to her 'husband.'
At first she rejects the offer, but the time comes when she really needs the money. Plus it isn't helping any that Danny is a huge dick and periodically borrows or steals her money. So she decides to take the plunge. But soon, the repercussions of her actions make themselves clear as everything begins spiraling into a shocking finale.
In an impromptu Q and A after the movie with the director, myself and a couple other moviegoers, the director said that the movie was his way of saying "How much of a price can you put on life?" 100,000 for a kidney, 20,000 to kill an unwanted child (and they haggle too!) 9000 pesos to snuff out a life in an instant? But what do those prices mean? The value we put on our own lives is decided only by ourselves. Or perhaps at the same time, human life transcends value because life should not be sold or traded for any sort of monetary value. Director Meily noted the recent events regarding Organ Donation and noted the ethical issues present in the movie, creating the juxtaposition of death and self-destruction in the final scene.
In the movie, although Lizette technically does the legal thing (which is arguable, because during their exchange of vows they did not disclose certain ethical, legal or moral issues that would prevent them from getting married) she crosses all sorts of ethical lines by agreeing to do this. In fact, characters in this movie transgress the boundaries of what is legal or ethical for their own benefit: Lizette sells pirated DVDs, in itself unethical, but at the same time does it for her own survival; the doctor knows that there is something seriously screwy going on with this organ donation but does it anyway for his patient and his own pocket; and Danny illegally tries to obtain a gun for his own protection.
Unfortunately, the movie doesn't cover everything. The topic of Informed Consent was only implied to have taken place sometime in the movie, but it is one of the most important aspects of the Organ Donation process.
Technically the movie is professional and polished, but one little nitpick I have was the overuse of the fade in - fade out transitions. I think these transitions have their place and the common fade in - fade out makes the movie a bit segmented for me, making the movie seem like a collection of various scenes, rather than making the whole thing seamless. The acting is spot on, Meryll Soriano and Baron Geisler showing their acting chops.
In the end, I'd say put this on your 'watch' list. I'd give it 8 kidneys over 10. Plus let me know what you think of the ending. I kinda liked it lol.
NEW BREED CATEGORY FILMS
Mayohan
Nino (Elijah Castillo, from Pisay the movie) is a 15-year old boy who comes to Infanta, Quezon to visit his grandmother. With a limp that came from a horrific accident that claimed both his parents, Nino starts the film a bit withdrawn, an outsider to this alien place. Soon though, he starts to acclimate himself to rural life. As it happens, May is festival time in this place, culminating into a dance festival (Pasayaw) at the end. Slowly, he begins to start a friendship with Lilibeth (Lovi Poe,) who wishes to break away from this life due to issues of her own.
First things first, when they said that this movie was in HD, they weren't kidding. This movie is gorgeous to look at. Shots saturated with light and color, effective use of lighting and maybe filters, offsetting that problem we always see with darkness or shadows and digital movies. Add that to the fact that the setting is scenic and pretty. Props to the production design, cinematography and post production people.
The movie is a story of youth, a relationship in transcience, yet still a friendship worth keeping. Both actors are capable in their respective roles, but the accents sometimes seem off. I have no major qualms about the story as everything presents itself in a deliberate pace. The little moments between these two characters fit the film well, and the chemistry between the two accentuates this.
This is a really sweet film which kinda touched the hopeless romantic in me. If this is any indication for the quality of the rest of the films in this year's competition, I think I'm going to be in for a treat. 8 bottles of lambanog over 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment