Ang Sayaw Ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa movie review

Recently, I've discovered this new haven for indie film lovers like me. It's called Uno Morato, a cafe, a bookstore, a bar and art space all in one. But that's a different story. Anyways, I discovered the place after learning about their special screening of this indie film released way back 2011. It was Alvin Yapan's Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (The Dance of Two Left Feet) starring Paulo Avelino, Rocco Nacino and Jean Garcia. It was produced by Alemberg Ang (yes, the same force behind the critically-acclaimed coming-of-age flick and my favorite film of all time, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten). It was an official entry to the Cinemalaya Film Festival.

Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa explores the intersection and divergence between feminist and gay concerns in the third world context, as it features the poetry of Merlinda Bobis, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Joi Barrios, Rebecca Anonuevo, Benilda Santos and Ophelia Dimalanta. When Marlon (Paulo Avelino), a college student, stalks Karen (Jean Garcia), his literature professor, he finds out that she moonlights as a choreographer and dance teacher in a dance studio. Frustrated over his performance in her literature class, he plans to impress her instead by learning to poeticize his body movements and enroll in her dance class. He hires his classmate to teach him the basics of dancing. As Dennis (Rocco Nacino), his tutor, teaches him how his body should move, Marlon begins to understand the intersections between the art of poetry and dance.

This opens up his world to new insights about the life of Karen as s single woman who chose to live the life of an artist in a third world setting. Marlon begins to understand how the poems being discussed by Karen in class are testaments to her choice to stand by her art. Karen eventually finds out, through Dennis, that Marlon only enrolled in her class to be near her. She confronts Marlon about this and wishes that his interest for dance would survive his infatuation for her. Marlon feels betrayed over Dennis telling Karen. But it is also this sense of betrayal that tells him that he has already become close to Dennis, whom he now considers a friend. Up until then, Marlon and Dennis have become inseparable as they both tackled the complexities of poetry and dance. Sensing the coldness between the two, Karen set them up to help her train a group of dancers for a cotillion dance. Eventually, Karen trains both Marlon and Dennis to star in her dance adaptation of the epic Humadapnon, when she bags a grant. Marlon will play the lead role of Humadapnon, who becomes trapped in a cave full of women. Dennis’ character now has to rescue Marlon from the women, as he plays the role of Sunmasakay, the male incarnation of the goddess Nagmalitong Yawa. On the eve of their performance, in a drunken conversation, Marlon confronts Karen how he could not understand her poetry. Karen, in response, assures Marlon that he does understand her poetry. His mind is just unwilling to, unlike his body which already understands. Karen invites Marlon to dance with her, but in the middle of her dance, she passes him onto Dennis. Their drunken dance culminates with Marlon and Dennis taking on the roles of Humadapnon and Sunmasakay on stage. (Cinemalaya website)

This is unusual for me, as I'm featuring a movie that's been released years ago. But to be honest, after watching the film, I didn't feel that it was already dated. I think that the film would resonate with today's audiences, particularly millennials like me. Yes, this is the first time that I've seen this film, although I've heard before but I haven't really paid any attention to it. And now, after watching it for the very first time, I'm really glad that I took the opportunity of experiencing it.

I've only watched one movie by Alvin Yapan before. It was the psychological-horror film Ang tulay ng San Sebastian starring Joem Bascon and Sandino Martin, which was an official entry to the 2016 CineFilipino Film Festival. The film portrays two men, an ambulance driver and a nurse who are headed back home in the province, trying to keep each other awake by sharing road ghost stories in the midnight of Good Friday and eventually experiences these urban legends themselves. So I don't know a lot about him until I went to see this movie. One thing that I found similar between Ang Tulay ng San Sebeastian and Sayaw is it's homoerotic themes. Both films features two male lead characters, and both films plays with the bromance between these two individuals. This reminds me of the other Alemberg Ang produced film, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. In 2 Cool, we have Felix and Magnus. Here, we have Marlon and Dennis.

What I liked about the film is the way Alvin Yapan weaves a love triangle between the film's three characters, but never actually pushes too far to the point that it falls into the usual stereotypes of Philippine movies.  During the short Q&A session with director Alvin Yapan after the said special screening, he mentioned that he was aiming to make a subtle love story between two men instead of a passionate, racy gay movie. And he succeeded in doing so. Although the story starts with Marlon's infatuation with his teacher Karen, it doesn't actually uses the theme of love to move the story forward. The love angle was touched very lightly. Instead, the film becomes focused to each of the three characters, and how their lives are changed with the proceedings. The film becomes an exploration of each character, particularly Marlon and Dennis which is actually what made me loved the film. It's almost like a coming-of-age for these two characters. As I get to know these two characters more deeply, I slowly became connected with them. I sympathize with them. I feel the tension between them. I feel their pain.

Of course, the lead actors also deserve praise for their amazing portrayal of these characters. Jean Garcia was perfect for the role of Karen. Her performance was restrained, which made her believable even if we don't know a lot about her character. I remember this scene where she watches the two boys dance for the audition of her dance adaptation of Humadapnon. The scene was focused on her, particularly her face as she watch the the boys dance with wonder. That was one of my favorite scenes from the film because Jean Garcia was able to show how great her acting skills are through the expression of her eyes. Rocco Nacino also nailed his role of Dennis. He embodied the character and owned it. You can really feel the awkwardness he felt whenever he and Marlon would get close while dancing. You can feel the tension that runs through his body whenever their skin would touch one another. You can feel his innocence, his confusion and his pain. Then, there's the young Paulo Avelino. I've always liked watching him on screen, with my favorite being his short but memorable take of Gen. Gregorio "Goyong" del Pilar in the 2015 biopic Heneral Luna and his portrayal of Dio in the 2017 romance film I'm Drunk, I Love You. But after watching Sayaw, I can say that this is my favorite performance of Paulo Avelino so far (despite the fact that this was released years ago). He has this rawness in him that makes him charm you and will steal your attention whenever he's around. He maybe a bit inexperienced in acting since he was still fresh and new to the industry during this time but he already proved that he has what it takes to be a great actor in this movie. He already showed promise here, and when you look at him now, you'll realized how far he has evolved in his craft from watching this film. Plus, he shares great chemistry with his co-star, Rocco Nacino which makes their tandem work.

Another thing that I loved is the cinematography and editing of the film. The way Marlon and Dennis would overlap one another's blocking in most of the shots which feature the two male characters really got my attention. It adds more tension and makes the film sexy than it should be. The editing of the film, particularly the opening sequence right before the title was really good and fun to watch. The way it jumps from one scene to another and back and forth without breaking the pacing and continuity of the film was genius. Also, the music and poetry featured in the film adds more emotional resonance to it and gives the film a heart.

This film is just one of the latest addition to my all time favorite Filipino films of all time. Featuring bravura performances from the three leads, a beautifully written script, gorgeous cinematography and masterful direction, this indie gem is a must-watch for everyone. Restrained, yet teaming with sexual tension, Alvin Yapan's Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Paa is a touching study of the human nature, and will leave a mark in you long after watching it. And that final shot in the film's ending is sure to break your heart.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ out of 5

Ang Sayaw Ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (2011)

Written and directed by Alvin Yapan

Starring Paulo Avelino, Rocco Nacino and Jean Garcia