QCinema 2017 | Dormitoryo

In 2011, Emerson Reyes released a great short film called Walang Katapusang Kwarto. It was witty, solidly constructed and was overall a great short film. Six years later, Reyes is back with Dormitoryo, a full length version of the original film. While it capably expands on the premise of the original, the mere process of expansion leads to a couple of drawbacks.

Dormitoryo takes the story of Walang Katapusang Kwarto (with original actors Max Celada and Sheenly Gener reprising their roles) and uses it as the central story of this film, fleshing out the stories of people merely mentioned in the original short. It soon becomes clear that all of the other tenants have their own share of problems, insecurities and neuroses. There's the perpetually horny student who has trouble with his chosen course, the lonely landlady separated from her family, longing for more human interaction, a gay couple contemplating suicide and a couple on the verge of a major shift in their relationship.

Reyes seems to enjoy portraying imperfect lives in transition supported by a central story. His first feature length film, MNL 143, operates on a similar premise, and it's evident he's refined his technique in the intervening years. His characters are very human,  relatable even, but they are weighed down by a brokenness rooted in loneliness and isolation, even if they share a room with someone else.

The film takes its time building upon these stories of broken people. Like in the original film, it peels back layers of secrets, letting the audience slowly learn new pieces of information over time. Some characters are more fleshed out than others, with the film sometimes deciding to withhold information instead of spoon-feeding the audience. Finding out more about these characters is part of the fun.

The film isn't without its faults, however. In the process of expanding its running time, the original story loses a bit of its tempo, diluting its comedic effect and wit. Though the added stories are nice, even great, the original story remains the most interesting story in the film. The ending is somewhat telegraphed, though the way it plays out feels at times like a cop out instead of a legitimate resolution.

If you haven't seen the original film, it might be a good idea to watch this film first, in order to preserve any revelations the original and this film both share. It's delightful to peel back the layers of Dormitoryo, to uncover the truth behind these people's facades, even though the transition from short to full length doesn't entirely work out.