Eduardo Roy's Cinemalaya entry begins with a blatantly illegal cosmetic surgery procedure, followed by segueing into a rendition of "Paru-parong Bukid" (Butterfly from the field), a sequence that perfectly reflects what this movie is about.
Dorina believes, as the film's synopsis tells us, she is a lady incarcerated inside a male body. She performs the same kind of illegal cosmetic surgery on a number of clients, and she's considered one of the best. At the same time, she tries to live a normal life with partner Uno and nephew Hiro.
However, like the fleeting nature of the 'beauty' her treatments provide, this family life is slowly put out of balance.
In the Philippines, transsexuals have formed their own distinct culture. While they are, to an extent, accepted in our society, discrimination and a sense of 'otherness' seems to be the prevailing notion.
In many Barangays there are beauty pageants featuring transsexuals who, in some cases, look even better than some women, and that may tie into one of the major themes of the film. It is perhaps something in the pursuit of their own identity that links into these individuals' need to be beautiful, an addiction to beauty, so to say. I think it transcends mere vanity, in that people like Dorina and her clients see beauty as one measure of being accepted in a society that tends to marginalize them.
The acting is spot on. Dorina (Mimi Juareza) gives a noteworthy performance, giving her character pathos, making us truly feel for the character. One scene near the end of the film, teased in the movie's poster and trailer, is particularly powerful. The supporting characters also deliver, especially the actress who plays Mamu, Dorina's mentor and supplier in the illegal cosmetic surgery business.
While filled with lighthearted moments, the underlying tone of the movie is dark, and that is seen in the film's excellent cinematography, score and production design. A saturated brownish tint envelops every shot, and I personally like the effect. The soundtrack is equally ominous and atmospheric. There were some sound issues regarding syncing of voices, although I am not sure if that is due to a technical problem in the theater or a genuine production error.
Quick Change is an interesting film, something that hasn't been seen often in Cinemalaya (or other Philippine fests for that matter.) If you're open minded and not bothered by the subject matter it's probably one film you cannot miss.
7.5 injections over 10.
nitpicks: I guess it could be explained as the child picking up Nihongo from his aunt, or Dorina having previously worked in Japan, but Dorina's Japanese is far superior to the little boy's. Also these people were injecting stuff without even cleaning the injection site... as a medical worker, this far bothered me more than anything else in the film.
Dorina believes, as the film's synopsis tells us, she is a lady incarcerated inside a male body. She performs the same kind of illegal cosmetic surgery on a number of clients, and she's considered one of the best. At the same time, she tries to live a normal life with partner Uno and nephew Hiro.
However, like the fleeting nature of the 'beauty' her treatments provide, this family life is slowly put out of balance.
In the Philippines, transsexuals have formed their own distinct culture. While they are, to an extent, accepted in our society, discrimination and a sense of 'otherness' seems to be the prevailing notion.
In many Barangays there are beauty pageants featuring transsexuals who, in some cases, look even better than some women, and that may tie into one of the major themes of the film. It is perhaps something in the pursuit of their own identity that links into these individuals' need to be beautiful, an addiction to beauty, so to say. I think it transcends mere vanity, in that people like Dorina and her clients see beauty as one measure of being accepted in a society that tends to marginalize them.
The acting is spot on. Dorina (Mimi Juareza) gives a noteworthy performance, giving her character pathos, making us truly feel for the character. One scene near the end of the film, teased in the movie's poster and trailer, is particularly powerful. The supporting characters also deliver, especially the actress who plays Mamu, Dorina's mentor and supplier in the illegal cosmetic surgery business.
While filled with lighthearted moments, the underlying tone of the movie is dark, and that is seen in the film's excellent cinematography, score and production design. A saturated brownish tint envelops every shot, and I personally like the effect. The soundtrack is equally ominous and atmospheric. There were some sound issues regarding syncing of voices, although I am not sure if that is due to a technical problem in the theater or a genuine production error.
Quick Change is an interesting film, something that hasn't been seen often in Cinemalaya (or other Philippine fests for that matter.) If you're open minded and not bothered by the subject matter it's probably one film you cannot miss.
7.5 injections over 10.
nitpicks: I guess it could be explained as the child picking up Nihongo from his aunt, or Dorina having previously worked in Japan, but Dorina's Japanese is far superior to the little boy's. Also these people were injecting stuff without even cleaning the injection site... as a medical worker, this far bothered me more than anything else in the film.
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