"Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it" : A Look on Kip Oebanda's "LIWAY"

People watch her as everyday as the revengeful "Contessa", but this year, people get to see Kapuso actress Glaiza De Castro in a different light as she plays a Martial Law victim in her latest indie film, “Liway” written and directed by Kip Oebanda (Bar Boys).

The film which is based on a true story is an official entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival and features Glaiza De Castro as the titular character “Liway” who finds herself in the middle of prison during the tail-end of the Martial Law era. The film chronicles their life inside prison as she tries to raise her son, named Dakip (since he was born after his parents got imprisoned) in such environment, that despite of the hard situation that the child finds himself in, he can grow up happy, hopeful and resilient. At the same time, their family is struggling with a difficult question, what is best for their child during that time since the risk for former rebels have already intensified as more people disappear or found dead. The family is in immense pressure not just to survive but to ensure that the child doesn’t grow up traumatized and still remains hopeful despite the situation. Will they let Dakip stay with his family in that prison cell or will they set the child free? But if they were to set their child free, can they take the pain of having your own son grow up not knowing you as his parent?

According to the director, this film is very timely given of what’s happening in our society right now. The film is a hopeful and optimistic tale of a family as they try to survive the hardships that they face. “Liway” wants to give encourage people to believe that no matter what happens in our society, even the times becomes suppressive (like during the Martial Law), there’s a way to speak, there’s a way to act, there’s a  way to keep your dignity as a person in spite of what’s happening around you.


When asked whether this film is an anti-Marcos film, director Kip clarified that the film has no intentions of such. “It’s just a true story of  a family. Hindi siya kasi nagme-makeng stand na anti or pro-Duterte, or anti or pro-Marcos, ang stance talaga (ng pelikula) ay totoo ito. Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it. Now, whether or not the audiences perceives that as anti-Marcos or pro-Marcos, that’s a different story.” He further commented that “I don’t sugarcoat what happened during that era. Towards the end of our film, meron naman kasing documentary/ testimonial proof that all of these things did happen. And for me, malaking contribution na yun to say that these histories are real. That these stories are true. Na totoo itong mga taong ito at ang mga kwentong ito because may movement ngayon to discredit that narrative, to say na exaggerated yan or masasama’t criminal silang lahat. There is a push to eradicate that history.”
Director Kip and his family is a real life survivor of the Martial Law era. According to him, “I care very much about this particular issue, and I get hurt when people say na hindi kami totoong tao, or hindi totoo yung mga narratives namin. People really did suffer. People really did die.” He said that just to be able to contribute to the discourse by saying that these stories are real is already an achievement for a filmmaker like him at this point in time.

As for Glaiza De Castro, he said that by accepting the film despite her busy schedule due to her teleserye, it shows that she’s really interested. He further commented that people are going to see a
different side of her in this film. “It’s a challenging role, I would say. Kasi on one hand, she’s a very caring and loving mom who’s calm and poised, but she’s also the commander of a rebel movement. So it’s a very difficult balancing act of toughness and sensitivity that I think she pulls off very, very well. So I’m very happy for her.”

 

The film reunites Glaiza De Castro with Dominic Roco who plays her husband. Glaiza and Dominic both starred in another indie film before, the 2015 romantic flick “Sleepless”. The film also stars Soliman Cruz, Renante Samantes, Joel Saracho, Sue Prado, Vance Larena, and introducing Kenken Nuyad as the child Dakip, with Khalil Ramos. The film will debut at the Cinemalaya Film Festival this August 3-12, 2018.

Top 10 Best Filipino Films of 2017

2017 was a great year for Philippine cinema. Despite the failures of the Metro Manila Film Festival in maintaining the changes that were implemented in the previous year's festival (which is one of the best and most unforgettable edition of the MMFF), we were still blessed with other Filipino films of outstanding quality, some of which came from other film festivals in the country such as the annual Cinemalaya International Film Festival, and the first ever Pista ng Pelikulang Piilipino. We also got the chance to see some independent films from 2016 getting wide theatrical release last year. Therefore, it was quite hard to pick just ten out of all the films that I've watched last year.

Here are the few Honorable Mentions:

• Patay Na Si Hesus (2017 Theatrical release)
• Triptiko
• Smaller and Smaller Circles
• Deadma Walking
• Ang Manananggal  sa Unit 23B (2017 Theatrical release)

Now, without further ado, here is my own pick of the Top 10 Best Filipino Films of 2017.

10. Ang Larawan. Directed by Loy Arcenas, based on A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by National Artist Nick Joaquin, starring Joanna Ampil, Rachel Alejandro, Paulo Avelino, Sandino Martin, Nonie Buencamino and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo with Celeste Legaspi, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dulce and Ogie Alcasid. Ang Larawan follows the Marasigan sisters, Candida (Joanna Ampil) and Paulo (Rachel Alejandro) as they struggle living in poverty in their ancestral home with their reclusive artist father Don Lorenzo. Their siblings Manolo (Nonie Buencamino) and Pepang (Menchu Lauchengco) who both live luxuriously kept on convincing them to sell the house, but they always reject the idea. The last painting that their father finished before he got into his "accident" can save them from poverty, but the sisters don't want to give up their father's final masterpiece to preserve their family's legacy.

One of the grandest Filipino films of the year. I'm really glad that I chose to watch this during the start of the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival on Christmas Day. From it's rich visuals, outstanding music and bravura performances, Ang Larawan is a must-watch spectacle... Pinoy musicals have never been this gloriously stunning and entrancing.

9. Kita-Kita. Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, and starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez. Lea (Alessandra De Rossi) and Tonyo (Empoy Marquez) are two Filipinos living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Lea is a Velo taxi tour guide. She suffers an accident which leads to her being affected by temporary blindness. Her blindness, if not cured in a few weeks, could become permanent. Tonyo is also a Filipino who lives right across from Lea. Lea tries her best to ignore him at first because she is scared of not seeing him. But Tonyo is persistent and is determined to be her friend, using humor and kindness to make a connection. With every effort that he makes the two gradually become closer. In an ironic way, becoming blind allows Lea to see the true character of Tonyo.

Kita Kita is one of the biggest surprises of the year - a funny, charming, delightful type of entertainment that will leaves a smile in your lips (or a tear in your eye for others). It's an unconventional movie with a heart, overflowing with charm that never overstays it's welcome.

8. Kiko Boksingero. Directed by Thop Nazareno, starring Noel Comia Jr., Yayo Aguila and Yul Servo. In this coming-of-age drama, Kiko (in an award-winning performance by Noel Comia Jr.), an 11-year-old boy left aimlessly alone with his nanny Diday (Yayo Aguila) after the recent death of his mother, rekindles a long lost relationship with his father (Yul Servo) in an attempt to find a new lease on life. His father, a washed-up boxer, is currently staying in Baguio for a few days while waiting to find a buyer his home. During his stay, he meets Kiko who, unbeknownst to him is his son. After finding out the truth about the kid, the two of them starts to bond together through boxing. As Kiko starts to spend more time with his father, he starts to grow up and change too.

This is probably the simplest entry from last year's Cinemalaya International film Festival, yet it's also the most heartfelt film among other entries.  It's sweet, humorous, heartwarming and full of emotions. Kiko Boksingero is a small film with a big heart. A champion by all means.

7. Birdshot. Directed by Mikhail Red, starring Mary Joy Apostol, Arnold Reyes, John Arcilla, and Ku Aquino. The coming-of-age thriller tells the story of a young farm girl who wanders off into a Philippine forest reserve. Deep within the reservation, she mistakenly shoots and kills a critically-endangered and protected Philippine Eagle. As the local authorities begin a manhunt to track down the poacher, their investigation leads them to an even more horrific discovery.

Birdshot is undeniably one of the most compelling stories from the Philippines. It's story mixes a coming-of-age tale with a mystery thriller angle as it follows Maya, a teenage girl who is forced to face the consequences of her actions which results to a twisted and tragic fate for everyone involved. The characters in the story are all entangled in a web of lies and deceit, and the choices that they make eventually causes them to get pushed further into a darker path. Mixing sharp social commentary with a compelling story, coupled with great performances of the cast and brilliant direction of it's helmer, "Birdshot" is a one-of-a-kind, must-see movie that elevates Philippine Cinema to a whole new level.

6. I'm Drunk I Love You. Directed by JP Habac, starring Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino. Maja Salavador and Paulo Avelino plays Caridad Sonia “Carson” Herrera and Dionysus “Dio” Brillo respectively. They're best friends who are finally about to graduate from college after their long overdue stay in UP for three years. They've know each other for seven years, and they've gone through a lot of stuff already that they're practically closer than BFFs. Days before their graduation, Dio invites Carson to go on one last road trip to La Union for a music festival. Carson agrees, and she is joined by her ever supportive gay bestfriend Jason Ty (played by indie favorite Dominic Roco). Little did Dio know is that Carson has been harboring feelings for him for the past seven years. Problem arises when Dio's ex-grilfriend Pathy (Jasmin Curtis Smith) shows up in the picture to reconnect with him. Will Carson finally get the courage (with the help of a bottle of beer) to tell Dio her true feelings for her before it's too late?

It is very rare for movies to tackle romance in a gritty, real way. Most of the time, romantic films focus on how good it is to feel in love. Most films we see today uses romance as an escape to reality. But then, there are those films who would rather hit us with the painful truth about love than portray it as a colorful adventure. And I have never seen a movie to ever do that as hard as I'm Drunk I Love You. JP Habac's film is a lot of things. A coming-of-age story. A wake-up call. A self-help manual. A reminder. But most important of all, it's a slap in the face. A harsh slap to make you realize that hey, it's time to grow up and move on. 

5. Love You To The Stars And Back. Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia. Feeling out place in her own home, an eccentric and socially awkward girl, Mika (Julia Barretto), decides to go on a road trip with a very strange goal – to look for aliens. In her trip, Mika accidentally bumps into a simple and good-humored boy, Caloy (Joshua Garcia), whom she chooses to give a free ride to until he reaches his destination. Mika is surprised to know that Caloy has cancer. But despite his condition, he has learned to accept his fate and remained positive and joyful. The two embark on a roadtrip filled with adventures and misadventures, not knowing that it will lead them to experiencing their most memorable romance at such a young age. They unexpectedly teach each other an important lesson on love and life – one that takes most people a lifetime to learn.

Antoinette Jadaone's Love you to the Stars and Back proves that mainstream cinema can still come up with great stories. It is one amazing romantic coming-of-age movie that reminds us of her great skills as a director and writer, and also serves as a proof that the JoshLia tandem is a loveteam to watch out for. It also features one of the year's best performance by actor, with Joshua Garcia's heartbreaking portrayal of Caloy. It's a movie that is full of laughter and pain, oozing with kilig and tears.

4. 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (2017 Theatrical release).  Directed by Petersen Vargas, starring Khalil Ramos, Jameson Blake and Ethan Salvador. Felix Salonga (in an unforgettable performance by Khalil Ramos) is a friendless, overachieving top notcher in a typical public high school in the province of Pampanga during the late 1990s whose life is turned upside down after the Film-Am brothers Magnus (Ethan Salvador) and Maxim Snyder (in an award-winning performance by Jameson Blake) transfers to his his school. Felix becomes curious at the two mestizos, particularly with elder Magnus, after his first glance of the boys. As days passed by, he soon develops a strong, unusual friendship with the brothers. He gets to know more of their background, particularly their family. As things get more complicated, this relationship with the Snyder brothers ultimately leads him to be entangled in a dark path involving a plan for murder, his sexual awakening and his first heartbreak.

Petersen Vargas' feature film debut is sweet, humorous, romantic, yet turns dark and disturbing as it moves along, dragging the willing audiences back into one of the hardest phases of a person's life-growing up. It's an experience not to be missed. An experience that's too cool to be forgotten. No pun intended.

3. BLISS. Directed by Jerrold Tarog, starring Iza Calzado, Ian Veneracion, TJ Trinidad and Adrienne Vergara. BLISS tells the story of an aging actress, Jane Ciego (played by Iza Calzado in her most daring role yet) who started acting in showbiz at a young age. Now in her 30s, she decides to produce her own film to win some respect in the industry. But things do not go as planned and an accident on location cripples her. Jane wakes up unable to walk and trapped in her own home, a large house filled with strange sounds and people who may want to harm her. She is looked over by her cold husband Carlo (TJ Trinidad) and a sadistic nurse named Lilibeth (Adrienne Vergara), and then there is Rose, a nurse wanted by authorities for sexually molesting a patient. She mysteriously enters Jane’s life and soon begins affecting her dreams as much as her waking life. Jane’s sanity begins to crumble as the horrors pile up in a symphony of blood, tears and madness. What was supposed to be a simple dream for Jane soon becomes an endless nightmare.

BLISS is one of the most fucked up, unapologetic, disgusting, shameful, and demented Filipino films I've seen on screen. But it is also one of the most fun, mind-boggling, surreal, riveting and wildly entertaining local films I've watched. Intelligently written, imaginatively directed and brilliantly acted, this film pushes the boundaries of Philippine Cinema way past it's limits. BLISS is deliciously disturbing. It's like that little, sugary confection that you've been warned not to eat because it's bad for your health. Problem is, once you get a taste of BLISS, you'll be craving for more.

2. Bar Boys. Directed by Kip Oebanda, starring Rocco Nacino, Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda and Kean Cipriano. The film follows the three (yes, just three) young men as they enter law school and how their lives are drastically changed by this new world. Here, they have to endure fraternity initiations to terror teachers, on top of their own problems with their families and relationships.

This film serves as my top pick from this year's Pista ng Pelikulang Piilipino (next is Triptiko). Everything in this movie is just perfect, from it's slick, production design to it's awesome soundtrack (that sequence featuring APO Hiking Society's San Na Nga Bang Barkada triggered my memory of my school days!) to it's outstanding direction and bravura performances. Kip Oebanda's Bar Boys is no doubt my most favorite entry of all the films I was able to watch. It's a youth-oriented comedy drama, a coming-of-age story, and a throwback barkada flick rolled into one. It's a hilarious, heartwarming, emotional, and inspiring feel-good joyride that will leave more than what you expect.

1. Respeto. Directed by Treb Monteras II, starring Abra, Dido Dela Paz, Loonie, Kate Alejandrino, Chai Fonacier and Silvester Bagadiong. Henrdix (played in a surprisingly effective performance by Abra) is a wannabe rapper who's trying to make a name for himself through the underground rap battle known as "Berso". He aspires to make it big and hopes to get out of the life that he was born with- an abusive home (his sister and her drug pusher boyfriend) and a violent surrounding (as people from their squatters village always ends up being killed by unknown assailants supposedly due to drugs). Soon, he meets Fortunato Reyes, known with his nickname Dok, an old poet and Martial Law victim (played by veteran Dido de la Paz) who ends up helping him straighten up his life and puts him in the right direction.

Treb Monteras II's Respeto is undeniably the breakout film of this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival. It's a very powerful film that disguises itself as a simple movie about rap battle. It's a tragedy of a young man, his mentor and how the world around them led them to destruction. It's a satire to our government's actions and brutality. It's an elegy to the dying moral of our society. Respeto will also leave you breathless with it's heart-stopping and jaw-dropping ending. One of the most unique and most heart-wrenching endings in a Filipino movie in recent memory.

And that sums up my Top 10 Best Filipino Films of 2017. Looking forward to more amazing Filipino films this 2018. 'Til next year's countdown!

Cinemalaya 13 : "Kiko Boksingero" (2017) movie review

Of all the Cinemalaya film entries this year, there is one movie that stands out among the rest. Not because of it's complicated story line, nor it's star-studded cast. It's because it has a heart. And that is what makes Thop Nazareno's Kiko Boksingero (2017) rise above the rest. The film, which was penned by Emmanuel Espejo Jr., Ash Malanum, Denise O'Hara and Heber O'Hara, stars Noel Comia Jr., Yayo Aguila and Yul Servo.

In this coming-of-age drama, Kiko (in an award-winning performance by Noel Comia Jr.), an 11-year-old boy left aimlessly alone with his nanny Diday (Yayo Aguila) after the recent death of his mother, rekindles a long lost relationship with his father (Yul Servo) in an attempt to find a new lease on life. His father, a washed-up boxer, is currently staying in Baguio for a few days while waiting to find a buyer his home. During his stay, he meets Kiko who, unbeknownst to him is his son. After finding out the truth about the kid, the two of them starts to bond together through boxing. As Kiko starts to spend more time with his father, he starts to grow up and change too.

Photos from Imdb.com

Of all the four Cinemalaya entries that I've watched during the festival run, this movie stands out among the rest because of it's simple yet deeply moving story. It doesn't have too much complications unlike the rest of the stories of the other film entries. It's conflict is simple and honest. It's about a kid who's just meeting his estranged father for the first time. It's simplicity is what makes it endearing because it doesn't have to be pretentious in any way. The story moves fluidly, giving enough time for the audience to love Kiko and sympathize with his character's situation. The dialogues are natural. The characters are well-written and don't feel stereotyped nor manufactured.

The film's humor is cute and sweet.The humor is very effective because the're taken from real-life situations and experiences like asking a picky child to eat vegetables or having one get circumcised. The audience picks up the jokes right away, sending everyone to laughter inside the theater.  But once the film hits it's gears to show off it's dramatic side, it will really leave you in tears. My favorite example would be the scene during the first few moments of the movie when Kiko lies in his bed and covers himself with his mom's blanket. That scene got me to shed a tear or two. Another would be the last part during the finale of the movie which i'm not going to spoil for you guys, but it's worth it.

Cinematography was also good. The crew took advantage of the film's location which is Baguio. The sound design was on point. Unlike another entries that I've seen, this one is polished and clean without any technical hiccup. Thop Nazareno's delicate handling of the material is solid and excellent. The cast were also outstanding. Noel Comia Jr. is perfect for the role of Kiko. He embodied the character in a realistic and believable way. No wonder he won the Best Actor award in the recently concluded Awards Night of the Cinemalaya 2017 Philippine Independent Film Festival. Yayo Aguila also deserves praise on her effective portayal as Diday, the house nanny. Yul Servo was also good as Kiko's long-lost father. 

I love the film's final moments.  It's somehow sad but also beautiful as it shows how a young kid like Kiko starts to change after meeting his father whom he have never seen in a long time. It's the perfect closure to a wonderful story like this. 

A wholesome drama that everyone will surely appreciate, this movie is undeniably one of this year's best festival entries. It's sweet, humorous, heartwarming and full of emotions. Kiko Boksingero is a small film with a big heart. A champion by all means.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Kiko Boksingero (2017)

Directed by Thop Nazareno,

starring Noel Comia Jr., Yayo Aguila and Yul Servo

Cinemalaya 13 : "Respeto" (2017) movie review

Don't shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. And the same can be said for movies, particularly Treb Monteras II's Cinemalaya 13 entry Respeto (2017). At first glance, I thought the film was another poverty porn indie splashed with some rap battles here and there. But I was wrong. I was dead wrong. It turns out that Respeto is way different from the movie that I had in mind. It's story is much deeper. It's themes are much heavier. And it may be the runaway winner of this year's Cinemalaya film festival.

Treb Monteras II's Respeto follows Henrdix (played in a surprisingly effective performance by Abra) a wannabe rapper who's trying to make a name for himself through the underground rap battle known as "Berso". He aspires to make it big and hopes to get out of the life that he was born with- an abusive home (his sister and her drug pusher boyfriend) and a violent surrounding (as people from their squatters village always ends up being killed by unknown assailants supposedly due to drugs). Soon, he meets Fortunato Reyes, known with his nickname Dok, an old poet and Martial Law victim (played by veteran Dido de la Paz) who ends up helping him straighten up his life and puts him in the right direction. The film also stars rapper Loonie, Kate Alejandrino, Chai Fonacier and Silvester Bagadiong. Respeto mixes music, poetry, and political satire and molds them into a surprisingly good movie.

Screenshots from the teaser

Though the film follows the character of Hendrix as he tries to find his way into the underground fliptop scene, the film jumps back and forth to Dok's story which was a perfect contrast to the young rappers life. Hendrix is trying to escape his violent and harsh reality through rap verses that often reflect his life. On the other hand, Dok is trying to escape the horrors  that is still haunting him from his past. He wrote poems to express all the guilt and emotions that's eating him up inside. The film also bravely tackles relevant themes that recently touched us and still bombarding us everyday like the lingering effects of Martial Law from the Marcos regime and the extrajudicial killings of innocent men. All of these are interwoven together in one coherent and smooth story line. 

Njel de Mesa and Alberto Monteras II's script was very witty and funny at the same time. There are some really fun and entertaining rap battles between Hendrix and other rappers insulting one another, especially during the first half of the film. Most of these are full of laugh-out-loud jokes and vulgar humor which reflects the real life nature of fliptop battles. Dok even had his own moment where he gets to diss Henrix' action and attitude, rap-battle style. But what I really loved were those beautifully written verses that Hendrix created and spoken during his quieter moments. These verses were more heartfelt and sincere, and they added more depth to his character, letting the audience realize that he's not just some wannabe rapper.

What really made the film more impactful was it's straight-forward criticism of today's government. Yes, it bravely criticizes President Duterte's regime, particularly it's violent re-enforcement of the law. There are frequent killings of supposedly drug users and pushers in Hendrix' area, most likely committed by the police. Hendrix tries his best to stay away from these things, but eventually, he will also get entangled in this web of violence that will forever change his life. Police brutality is everywhere in this world of Hendrix. His female friend even got a taste of this right in front of them in probably the most disturbing scene of the film (that frisking scene). That shocking scene really took a big toll on me. It was unsettling as fuck. The long-lasting effect of the atrocities from Martial Law during the Marcos' regime to it's victims is also a recurring theme which became a major plot point for the character of Dok in the story. The film constantly comparing the brutality during Martial Law before, to what is happening to our society nowadays. It's as history is just repeating itself.

Loonie (Top), Abra & Kate Alejandrino (Below) in Respeto

The film also boast a very powerful cast. Loonie was really fun to watch as one of the antagonist bullying Hendrix. Kate Alejendrino was great as our young hero's love interest. I've seen her before in Samantha Lee's Baka Bukas (2016) and Prime Cruz' webseries The Complex (2017) and she is amazing as ever. Her scene with Abra where she just stared at him for a moment during the third act was really heartbreaking. Also, kudos to Chai Fonacier because she was really impressive with her role of Hendrix' loyal bestfriend. Dido de la Paz gave a wonderful performance as Fortunato"Dok" Reyes. His portrayal of a Martial Law victim was so convincing and real. I remember, during the scene where he recollects the violence he and his family went through during the Marcos regime, I can really feel his pain that he has been keeping inside his heart for years. He definitely deserves that Best Supporting Award from Cinemalaya. Then, there's Abra. Who would have thought that he was an actor. A good one, to be exact. I guess the role fitted him well because he acts, he talks, he walks and he breathes exactly like his character. I couldn't think of any other person playing the role of Hendrix than Abra. He really surprised me. Well, I guess it's because he is playing a character that is close to his real life persona. It's as if he's not acting at all. It's like he's just being himself, and it makes a very big difference.

Respeto will also leave you breathless with it's heart-stopping and jaw-dropping ending. One of the most unique and most heart-wrenching endings in a Filipino movie in recent memory.

Treb Monteras II's Respeto is undeniably the breakout film of this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival. It's a very powerful film that disguises itself as a simple movie about rap battle. It's a tragedy of a young man, his mentor and how the world around them led them to destruction. It's a satire to our government's actions and brutality. It's an elegy to the dying moral of our society. Indeed, Respeto is what we need right now.


Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Respeto (2017)

Directed by Treb Monteras II, starring Abra, Dido de la Paz, Loonie, Kate Alejandrino, Chai Fonacier,and Silvester Bagadiong

Cinemalaya 13 : "Requited" (2017) movie review

Last August 8, 2017, I was able to catch Nerissa Picadizo's Requited (2017) during it's gala night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main theater. A romantic drama/ road movie of sorts, Requited is one of the entries of Cinemalaya 2017, which is still ongoing until August 13. It is being currently screened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Malls cinemas namely Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4, UP Town Center, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, and Marquee Mall in Pampanga. According to director Nerissa Picadizo, it took her two years to complete the film. Aside from the time she spent writing the story, she also spent a long time securing funds to finance the film which added to the long production. But after seeing the final product, I guess she could be proud of her own work because of how gorgeous the film is. Also, it boasts a powerful cast with Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna leading the film.

Screenshot from the teaser

In Requited, an ailing biker takes to the rail for one last adventure that pits him against nature and the woman he desires. The film opens with Matt (played by Jake Cuenca) as he starts his journey out of the city to Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales with just his bike all by himself. He's trying to run away from something. It's as if he's trying to escape. But then, he is constantly bombarded with the ringing of his phone as a girl keeps on calling him. Eventually, he got tired of hearing the constant ringing of his phone that he ended up smashing it and throwing it along the way. He bikes along the perils of the EDSA highway to a provincial road, where he comes across the girl calling him on his phone earlier, his best friend Sandy (played by Anna Luna) from whom he had become distant to for some period of time. Sandy tags along with him on his trip, which is later revealed to be a plan that the two of them made years ago. Soon, we discover about Matt suffering from Parkinsons Disease and why he started to  grow distant from his best friend. And as the title suggest, it has something to do with an unrequited love for her.

The movie actually starts out really good and shows some promise. The script, which was written by Nerissa Picadizo herself, doesn't want to focus on building up it's characters through too much exposition in the very beginning of the film. Instead, we get to see the two characters come to life through a slow yet effective manner. This is not your usual romantic drama where we immediately get the background of the lead characters during the first ten minutes of the film. Instead, Requited is a slow burn drama that takes it time slowly but surely. The production team behind the film also tags the Requited as a bike film, and it's true. Almost 80 percent of the film, the two characters are just biking. Sometimes, they're arguing. Sometimes, just having a normal chat. All of it while they're cruising through highways on their bikes. Though it may sound weird on paper, it actually works on screen as it is the main aspect of the film that keeps the story pushing forward.

The only thing that really turned me off was the film's shocking (and not exactly in a good way) ending which kind of ruined the great story and wasted the two characters that the audience had already fell in love with. This particular scene came out of nowhere and caught everyone off guard, with varying results. There were some audience members who laughed at this while I almost cursed out loud after seeing what happened. This ending felt rushed and was executed improperly. Maybe it would have worked if it was done in another way. I don't know. But this ending really took a big chunk out of the beautiful story that the movie was telling.

Luckily, the film was saved from this by it's two lead stars' committed performances. Anna Luna's portrayal of Sandy was fun and energetic. She gave the movie a light feeling despite it's sad tone. She elicited a few laughs from the audience. There was even one instance that the whole theater was roaring with laughter with one of her scenes featuring a hotdog on a stick. Her character's quirky attitude really suited her and everyone loved her. Jake Cuenca gives out quite a performance as the ailing Matt. I don't know any other actor who could fit perfectly with that role. It's not only emotionally draining but also physically demanding, yet he was able to pull it off with flying colors. During the film's first ten minutes, Matt bikes along EDSA through a provincial road continuously. Jake Cuenca was able to endure this non-stop biking, while acting at the same time in front of the camera. You can really feel the difficulty he's going through right now with his facial expressions and body movement which translated so well on screen. I was really amazed that he was able to take this challenge of playing Matt and honestly, he's a good contender for the Best Actor award with this performance.

Another saving grace of the film was it's gorgeous cinematography. The film features some pretty cool shots of the two characters cruising along the province on their way to Mt. Pinatubo. Most of these scenes are along the highway, with vast greens or barren lands stretching at both sides giving the shot more depth than usual. But the film gets more jaw-dropping visuals once the two arrive at the trail of Mt. Pinatubo. There's one beautifully shot scene featuring the two characters were biking through the rocky terrain to Pinatubo, where Sandy stops for a while and Matt comes back to check on her (I think this was the scene they used in the teaser). That scene was absolutely stunning as you get a glimpse of the wide land formations stretching in their background. This is the type of movie that you will enjoy more when you watch it in the big screen.

Even though the film's ending was a out of place and felt rushed, the film is still undeniably a good movie during it's first two acts. See it for Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna's brilliant performances. Watch it for it's glorious visual feast. Requited offers enough good stuff to make it worth the time.




Rating: ✰✰✰✰ of 5
Requited (2017)
Directed by Nerissa Picadizo, starring Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna

Cinemalaya 13 : "Nabubulok" (2017) movie review

Last August 14, 2016, the ten finalists for Cinemalaya 2017 were announced at the Cinemalaya 2016 Awards night held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. One of the entries that caught my attention right away was Nabubulok by Sonny Calvento. In the story, Luna is missing. Jason Harper, her American husband, is alleged of killing her. As Jason intends to leave the country, circumstances conspire to avert his plan. After reading the synopsis, I immediately got curious about the film and has since been looking forward for it.

Now, this is actually my first time watching a Cinemalaya entry during the festival run itself. Last year, I was able to watch Jason Paul Laxamana's "Mercury is Mine" when the film got extended screenings after the festival due to popular demands. Then, I was able to catch Eduardo Roy Jr.'s "Pamilya Ordinaryo" earlier this year during a screening in UP Cine Adarna. So technically, this is the first time I was able to experience the Cinemalaya festival. And I couldn't be more happy because Nabubulok will be the first ever Cinemalaya movie I will be reviwing during the festival itself.

Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok (2017) centers in a sleepy town in an island in Panay, where a Filipina went missing. But the neighbors didn't need to look far for a suspect. They believed that her American husband killed her. But there was no body. No evidence. No proof. Only speculations. It happened in 2002. It happened in real life. The movie opens with the disappearance of Luna (Sue Prado). When their family's laundress and Luna's cousin Ingrid starts asking the husband, Jason Harper (Billy Ray Gallion) and their son, Paul (Jameson Blake), both are mum and aloof. As if they are hiding something inside their house, which they always kept closed from the curious eyes of outsiders with it's big metal gate. Everyone starts to smell something terrible coming from inside their lot. Soon, she starts becoming suspicious of Jason's actions and becomes convinced that he is responsible for the disappearance of her cousin, fearing that Jason has killed his wife Luna. Soon, the story spreads like wildfire among the neighborhood and the search for Luna begins.

A crime drama based on a true story, Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok feels like a throwback to the 90's heydays when crime movies were a popular genre in the country. But instead of just telling a straight-forward re-telling of the crime itself, he decided to tell a story where we see different versions of the truth and how it changes our own perspective on what's real and what's not. To quote the legendary Robert Evans, "there are three sides to every story; your side, my side, the truth." The story shifts focus from one character to another, telling their own versions of the truth. This is all the information we get from the characters, and the audience is left to build the truth with these pieces of information through our own imagination. This allows for a much more interactive experience as the audience themselves become investigators on their own, trying to deduce the truth behind the disappearance of Luna. The movie plays like a murder mystery where the audience are given clues that at first, feels like it will lead you to something. But then, eventually we discover that most of these are just red herrings, aiming to misguide you and lead you to the wrong direction. Then, there's the satirical take on the governments attitude towards the Americans. But we won't be focusing on that anymore.

Back to the film, it's gritty, disturbing atmosphere is felt from it's first until it's final frame. The movie opens with sounds of something cracking (like bones being broken to pieces) which sets the unsettling mood of the film. The cinematography also adds up to the overall atmosphere of the film. The shaky handheld shots gives the scenes a realistic approach which is reminiscent of Brillante Mendoza's "Ma' Rosa" (2016). With it's darkly lit scenes, even the daylight moments, you'll immediately feel the gloomy and depressing tone of the film. Also, I can't help but notice the color coding of the three acts of the film which reminds me of Chito Rono's "The Healing" (2012). In the first act, as suspicions starts to rise amongs the people around the Harper family, we see the color red in almost every scene, from paint to a design on one character's shirt. I thought it was just a coincidence at first. But then the second act began and the color blue starts to appear everywhere, from the background to the filters of the shots. It's as if it's representing the agitation felt by almost all the characters as we starts to learn more of Luna's secrets. Then, the color yellow splashes all over the final act signifying desperation and hopelessness of the characters. It was actually intriguing and interesting as it adds uniqueness to the way the story escalates from one act to another.

The film's ensemble of actors and actresses also added to the film's strength. Most of the characters here are flawed, just like normal people, and the casts were able properly translate that into the film. Ms. Gina Alajar was really fun to watch as her character Ingrid is driven to the edge with her suspicions and fears about what happened to her cousin. It's a delight to see the very talented JC Santos again on screen after his stint in "Sakaling Hindi Makarating" (2016). Lito Pimentel and Sue Prado were also great additions to the powerhouse cast. But the one that really got my attention was Billy Ray Gallion and Jameson Blake. Billy Ray Gallion's portrayal of Luna's husband Jason Harper was perfect. He is menacing in every scene, adding more reason to suspect him as the film goes along. But then the second act, we see his character's softer side as a father trying to protect his children and we starts to doubt our own suspicions. Jameson Blake has wowed everyone in his first indie stint with last year's 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. Here in this movie, though we don't see him in a lot, he still amazes me whenever he is present in the scene. His character don't talk that much, and he is left the challenge of projecting his thoughts and feelings through his eyes and it is very effective. There's something unsettling with the way his eyes projects. It's as if his stares are piercing through you. There's sadness in him, but you'll also  feel the fear and desperation slowly eating him up.



The film ends with a title card stating what happened to the Harper family after the events depicted in the movie. But despite that, the audience are still left wondering: did they actually solved the mystery behind the disappearance of Luna? There's doubt lingering in me long after the credits roll. And until now, I am still curious what really happened to her. This is what makes Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok memorable. Part crime drama/ part satire on the country's status towards the US today, the film is a finely tuned, slow burn true crime story with an effective mystery that sticks with you long after the movie ends. It leaves a bittersweet aftertaste in you, a realization that just like the characters in the story, there is darkness present in everyone of us.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Nabubulok (2017)
Directed by Sonny Calvento, starring Gina Alajar, JC Santos, Jameson Blake and Billy Ray Gallion.