Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Salvage" (2017) movie review

SALVAGE, a found footage horror film
by Sherad Anthony Sanchez

It's quite hard to scare people like me who's been desensitized by years of watching countless horror movies in my 23 years of existence. And it sucks, especially because I'm a big horror junkie. I loved being scared. I loved the thrill and excitement. But now, it's very rare to come across a good horror movie. These days, i'm looking for something different. A new brand of horror. Something weird. Something unique. Most of today's audiences have also grown tired of the genre too. So horror movies nowadays need to find new ways to scare people. There's also a scarcity in our local horror movie genre because first, most of the films produced here are romcom or comedies; and second, there aren't a lot of good local horror flicks recently. In Salvage (2015, the film had screenings during the 11th Cinema One Originals film festival), director Sherad Anthony Sanchez wants to subvert horror with one of it's tired sub genres: the found footage.

Taking cues from classic found-footage films before like Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (1980) which revolutionized the found footage style of narrative filmmaking, later popularized by such films as The Blair Witch Project (1999)  and Paranormal Activity (2007), the film has a similar plot as it follows missing documentary film crew. After being suspended, a TV news Team is redirected to an unwanted assignment of Aswang rumors in a town in Central Mindanao. Cynical and unenthusiastic, they follow their lead towards a remote barrio where they experience the varying definitions of salvage. The film stars Jessy Mendiola. JC De Vera, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina and Barbie Capacio, the film was produced by Cinema One and Salida Productions way back in 2015 and is getting a commercial release just now.

The film starts out with your typical behind-the-scenes look on how documentaries are done. Here, we get a glimpse on what the media is willing to do for the sake of ratings and viewership. It's like a satire on today's journalists, and their portrayal is often humorous and at times over-the-top. We are led to believe that the suspect behind those murders in the province are aswangs, but then, the film takes for a turn as it is revealed that the mythical monster is not the real culprit. It's somehow satirical, considering that the real people behind the disappearances and murders in the town is the military there, which reflects the daily news that we watch everyday on extrajudicial killings and overkill by the police force. After this revelation, the movie takes off from being your normal found footage film to a weirder movie that no one, not even me, can still comprehend up until now. Don't get me wrong as to why I still cannot interpret the movie easily. I've seen the film twice now (the first was during last year's Cinema One Originals film festival) but it's still hard to explain what the whole movie is all about. This is when I realized that the film is doesn't really have a straight-forward story and instead, goes for a psychedelic mind-trip. Revealing what really happened will definitely spoil the movie and ruin the experience, but let's just say that the town that they went into is like our country's own local version of the Bermuda Triangle.

The film's use of the found footage technique is quite fun to watch. This subgenre may not be new to moviegoers as we have seen countless of them before, but it is definitely new to local cinema. This may as well be the first found footage horror film that we had (there's another found footage Pinoy horror flick earlier this year entitled Darkroom but it was sort of forgettable). The use of glitches and pixelation in it's scenes, similar to the technique used in Unfriended (2015) was really effective. It adds a gritty feel to the movie because it seems like an actual recovered documentary reel. These glitches and pixelations also creates some really creepy and disturbing visuals. During the first half of the film, we see the action unfold through the lenses of the team's camera. But soon, these characters starts to experience some weird, hypnotic trance and the camera shots eventually get's mixed up with the character's point-of-view, blurring the lines between what reality and fiction. This is what makes Salvage trippy and mind-bending kind of fun. Director Sherad Anthony Sanchez' take on horror isn't like your typical horror flick where you get thrown one jump scare after another. The horror in this film is about the unknown. It's all about uncertainty and unpredictability. You are not sure what you are seeing anymore. You're not even sure if there is an actual plot anymore. But here you are, glued to the screen. You can't take your eyes off it. You have to see what happens next. You have to know where this will lead the characters. You don't care about the story or plausibility of the film. You're like riding a roller-coaster in an amusement park: you just stay and sit there, enjoying the wild ride.

To their credit, the cast were very game in giving their best into this movie. Jessy Mendiola plays Melay, the segment producer of the a news and current affairs show on television. Her portrayal of the role is simple, which makes it believable. Her added charisma works well on screen especially for her character as we mostly follows her through all the mayhem in the movie and root for her survival. JC De Vera plays Neil, the team's cameraman. Though he is mostly not seen for quite some time in the film since he is always the one holding the camera, he still tries his best when it comes to his acting scenes. Barbie Capacio adds humor to the film's gritty atmosphere. The whole theater roars with laughter every time she is present. Joel Saracho and Karl Medina add some great screen presence as they complete the team's cast. It was so fun to watch them run around the forest, screaming and cursing at the same time. Though there were some moments when the acting was a bit rough or may come as over-the-top, it looks like they're just playing around, having fun, and that's what makes it enjoyable to watch (especially that thrilling jeepney chase).

At times, the film is a hit-or-miss and this is most likely due to the film's very limited budget. This film was produced through film grants from the Cinema One Originals film festival and not like those slick Hollywood found footage films we've seen in theaters. But luckily, the crew tries to overcome it's limited financial sources by experimenting on different techniques to create a film like Salvage. I know for sure that this movie may not fit well for the tastes of other moviegoers, but for those cinephiles who wants to see something different from Philippine cinema, this movie is for you. Sherad Anthony Sanchez' Salvage is a bizarre, hallucinatory mindfuck - one that will stick in your mind for along time.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5

Salvage (2017) 

Directed by Sherad Anthony Sanchez,
Starring Jessy Mendiola. JC De Vera, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina and Barbie Capacio

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" is a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and will run from August 16-22, 2017.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Triptiko" (2017) movie review

Triptiko, a black comedy thriller anthology.

Minsan ang buhay, medyo weird (Sometimes, life is weird) says the tagline of Miguel Franco Michelena's anthology Triptiko (2017). According to writer and director Michelena, the film is a Filipino pop culture version of triptych, which is a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical pieces intended to be appreciated together.” In this movie, he assembles three separate stories with different genres to form a one of a kind anthology. Being a fan of anthology movies, I was definitely excited to see this one. The first story of the film follows a young man (Albie Casino) who thinks he just got "lucky" suddenly experiences one unfortunate circumstance after another. Next is a male model (Joseph Marco) on the rise is plagued by a mysterious ailment that turns his career upside down. And a love-struck folk singer (Kean Cipriano) discovers that the object of his affection (Kylie Padilla) is not who he thinks she is. The film is produced by Michelena Brothers Production in association with Barrio's Pictures and features an ensemble cast, led by Albie Casiño, Jerald Napoles, Joseph Marco, Art Acuña, Kylie Padilla, Kean Cipriano, Max Eigenmann, Jay Gonzaga and Pinky Amador. It has been Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board and is an official entry to the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

Screenshots from the trailer

The first segment entitled "Suwerte" stars Albie Casino as Jake, a young man who thought that he just got lucky with a girl he had a one-night stand with. But after witnessing a murder happening right before his eyes, he becomes the target of the murderer. The story attempts to redefine our perspective of luck. For me, this segment maybe the most bad-ass story among the three. More akin to a chase movie, it mixes shock and thrills while we follow the plight of Jake as he falls into one bad luck to another. To his credit, Albie Casino did a pretty decent job as the main character. He was believable as a young man in peril and was able to portray the role convincingly. Jerald Napoles was really fun to watch and did a great job in his role.

In "Hinog", the second segment of the film, we are introduced to Jason (played by Joseph Marco). He's an up-and-rising product endorser and ramp male model. But the problem is that his body is being plagued by boils that eventually affects his career. Determined to be cured of his ailment, he ends up consulting a shaman to help him find out the true nature of his sickness. This segment seems like an attempt of the body horror genre (horror fiction in which the horror is principally derived from the graphic degeneration or destruction of the physical body. Such works may deal with decay, disease, parasitism, mutation or mutilation) in the tradition of  David Cronenberg and Brian Yuzna. And to be honest, this was my most favorite segment in this anthology.

Joseph Marco was really good in his portrayal of the sick Jason. One can really see and feel his character's desperation through his acting. Art Acuña was also fun to watch as the trippy shaman from whom Jason asks for help regarding his ailment. Aside from these characters, what made me enjoy this segment even more was the unrelenting portrayal of the ailment, from the unapologetic close-up shots of the infection that will make you puke. These gross-out moments came in fast and unexpected and really caught me off-guard. To be honest, this is the first time I felt like I was about to throw up while watching a movie. I was biting my hand the whole time while watching Jason and the shamando their own extraction. This is the probably the most disgusting and repelling story I've seen in a local film, yet I enjoyed it so much that I am so attracted to it. Plus, the ironic ending was the perfect way to conclude the segment, though I kinda felt bad for one of the characters. To me, this segment was the most memorable one.

The third and final segment was a bit different from the first two segments. This story, entitled "Musikerong John" is about John (played by Kean Cipriano) a folk song musician as he relives the memories of his last relationship. The girl, named Ann (played by Kylie Padilla) was the girl of his dreams. The one that he thought he would be spending his whole life with. But then, one day, she starts acting weirdly. Little did he know that she was already turning into something he'd never imagined. I loved all the songs that Kean Cipriano performed in this segment (they were written by Ralph Lorenzo Tan under the pseudonym "I"). He also did a good job in his portrayal of the heartbroken musician. He shares great chemistry with his co-star, Kylie Padilla who also surprised me with her outstanding performance. Of all the three stories, this segment probably has better storytelling and editing. The story shifts from the present back to the past smoothly. The pacing started to slow down in this segment for us to focus on the tension brought by these changes to the relationship of the two characters.

As a whole, Triptiko works because each segment offers a unique emotional experience to the viewers as we jump from one story to another. It's like our very own local version of 
 George A. Romero and Stephen King's Creepshow (1982). Each of the stories, weird and trippy. I actually loved how they open each segment with a quote that is related to the story. The film boasts a well-written screenplay, mixed with some great acting and direction. Though there were a lot of moments that were a too darkly lit which was a bit hard to watch. The film looked good during it's outdoor scenes, but a lot of the indoor moments were very dim and I had a hard time adjusting my eyes to see the character's expressions. Despite that, I enjoyed this movie a lot more than what I have expected. It maybe too extreme for some of the average moviegoers and a lot of people might be repelled by it's content but it's actually a great movie once you get past that.


I am so glad that I took the time to see this film despite my conflicting work schedule. It was definitely worth the time. Definitely bonkers at every point, Miguel Franco Michelena's Triptiko is an out of this world movie experience. It's a psychedelic mind trip: it's mad, freaky, and totally messed up. I've never seen quite anything like it in local cinema for the past years. For me, this movie is already running as one of the best Filipino films of the year.

Triptiko promises something weird, then gives you something more.


Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Triptiko (2017)
Directed Miguel Franco Michelena,
starring Albie Casino, Joseph Marco, Kean Cipriano and Kylie Padilla

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" is a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and will run from August 16-22, 2017.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B" (2017) movie review

Ryza Cenon and Martin Del Rosario stars in "Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B"

Horror meets romance in director Prime Cruz' Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B. The film, which stars Ryza Cenon as the titular monster and Martin Del Rosario as her love interest, was one of the seven full length film entry in last year's QCinema International Film Festival. I've been dying (no pun intended) to watch this film during last year's QCinema International Film Festival but due to my strict schedules and the scarcity of the film's screenings, I wasn't able to catch it. Since then, I've been hoping to get a glimpse of the so-called Manananggal in Unit 23B, patiently waiting for a special screening of the film. Fortunately for me, AMSU23B has been selected to be one of the twelve entries in the very first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Thank God for PPP!

Screenshots from the trailer

Dubbed as a dark romance or rom-gore, an amalgam of romance and gore, AMSU23B follows Jewel (played by Ryza Cenon), a mysterious woman who lives alone in the city. She has a secret which has led her to settle into a lonely existence. That is, until she meets Nico (Martin Del Rosario), a broken-hearted, down-and-out guy who also feels unlovable like she does. Jewel is torn between wanting to love him and wanting to save him from herself. Will he accept her if he knew the truth about her? Can she ever find love, or is she destined to be alone forever? Though that synopsis may sound like your usual young adult gothic romance in the vein of the Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson starrer Twilight (2008), you might get surprised because AMSU23B is not your Rated PG fantasy chick flick. AMSU23B is a much more adult fanfare akin to Scarlett Johansson's alien-themed scifi flick Under the Skin (2013). It amps up the blood and gore factor and makes your Pinoy folklore monster irresistible as hell, hence the R-16 rating. The film creates a unique take on the famous monster, making it sexy and sultry. Whenever she gets aroused, she starts to crave human flesh.

AMSU23B starts out with the usual boy-meets-girl tale, as Nico and his mother (Vangie Labalan) move into an apartment complex where the pretty but quiet Jewel resides (Fun fact: I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence, but most of Prime Cruz' work follows a boy and a girl meeting in an apartment complex: from his romcom Sleepless and his horror web series The Complex) He immediately catches her attention, and soon she is slowly drawn to him. They start hanging-out together, from a late-night chat over some beef mami to some balut-session at the complex' rooftop. Then, there's the trademark laundry scene which shares similarities to a scene in Prime Cruz' Can We Still Be Friends). Along the way, we get glimpses of men getting murdered by something (or someone, since it's obvious that it's the titular manananggal). The pacing of the film maybe a bit slow for those who are so used to watching the endless parade of local romcoms that are churned out by big movie companies all throughout the year. But that is what makes the film's romance work. I've seen director Prime Cruz' Sleepless last year and his Star Cinema produced Can We Still Be Friends earlier this 2017 and I've noticed that this has been his technique in squeezing out the chemistry between his leads. He builds up the romance between the characters slowly but surely. The story takes it's time in building up the connection between it's star-crossed lovers and it's what makes us fall deep into their story.

Though the film is dubbed as a rom-gore, to be honest, there isn't a lot of stomach-churning moments in the film that will repel normal viwers (though I'm not sure if the normal category fits me as I've been desensitized by years of watching horror movies so gore isn't really new to me). There's lots of blood, yes. Yet not enough gore or violence. But then again, AMSU23B's main focus is about a manananggal falling in love for the very first time, so I guess it's better that they had a bit of restrain when it comes to the gory aspects of the film. Now, speaking of the titular manananggal, we don't actually get to see Jewel in full form until the third and final act of the film. Though in the first hour, we see her kill a character, Director Prime Cruz tricks his audiences to imagine how she would look like through inventive shots and shadows, obscuring her actual appearance. But do not fret because once the film hits it's final act, the long wait is definitely worth it. Jewel's final transformation is epic and mindblowing. It's actually one of the most memorable moments of the film and is one of the most beautifully choreographed sequence in a local film in recent memory (next to the opening sequence of Jerrold Tarog's Bliss). In addition to that, the film also boasts some great and alluring visuals with it's obsession with green and red colors. Then, there's that delightful soundtrack that seals the whole package.

Vangie Labanan is a scene-stealer with her funny and cute portrayal of Nico's mom. Martin Del Rosario plays Nico with lots of angst and hugot. His portrayal of his character is simple yet heartfelt, to the point that it's relatable. There's something in him that is just way too adorable and innocent at the same time that makes his character a perfect contrast to Jewel. Ryza Cennon is so fun to watch as the titular manananggal falling in love for the very first time. I think she's the perfect actress for the part because she looks so gorgeous on screen and she can act well. Her character is the most crucial aspect of the film and the hardest one to pull off because the character switches from being coy and timid at first, to a seductive man-eating monster, but Ryza aced it with flying colors. She definitely owned this movie with her amazing and intense performance which is the biggest key in making the titular monster effective. She gets some plus points for that wild, sexy and daring masturbation scene which was a subject of controversy last year.



A must-watch in this year's Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Prime Cruz' Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is a sexy, exotic indie gem that will leave a bite in your memory with it's unique take on the classic star-crossed lover story. It's romantic. It's tantalizing. It's bloody good.


Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B (2017)
Directed by Prime Cruz,
Starring Ryza Cenon and Martin Del Rosario

***

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" is a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and will run from August 16-22, 2017.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Birdshot" (2017) movie review

Mikhail Red's "Birdshot" (2017)

The highly anticipated "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" has officially begun last August 16, 2017. And I decided to kick off this film festival with Mikhail Red's "Birdshot" (2017). I've been hearing a lot of positive feedback about this movie so I was really excited to finally see it in the big screen. The film opened the 13th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last August 4, at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see it back then due to my busy schedule. Fortunately for me, the film is one of the twelve Filipino movies that has been selected to be part of the "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino."

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. The mystery-drama film has won production funding from the Doha Film Institute and the CJ Entertainment Award at BIFF's Asian Project Market. The mystery-drama film has also won the Best Picture in the Asian Future category of the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival, and has been selected at the Goteborg Film Festival: The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award. The film, penned by Mikhail Red and Rae Red, stars Mary Joy Apostol as Maya, Arnold Reyes as Domingo, John Arcilla as Mendoza, and Ku Aquino as Diego. [Source: Cinemalaya]

"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. The film tackles relevant issues that are plaguing the country today, from corruption of the authorities to police brutality. Some of the scenes in the movie eerily mirrors similar events that happened in recent years, such as the Hacienda Luisita dispute and the Maguindanao massacre. This gives the film a gritty and realistic feel.

The film did not clearly specified the era of when the story happened, but obviously, it's at a time when cellphones don't exist yet (at one point, one character is shown using a rotary dial telephone which gives us a clue of it's period drama setting). This adds up to the overall mystery of the story. I love how the film introduces multiple yet interesting subplots in the beginning of the film. These subplots are then interwoven together, forming one big web of drama and mystery. The film follows two separate cases that soon ties up smoothly in the film's ending. The first is the death of a haribon (Philippine eagle) inside a sanctuary. Maya unknowingly shot an eagle in the said sanctuary, breaking the law on endangered animals in the country. Her father, Diego, tries his best to cover up the crime to save his daughter from the prosecution (I'm guessing it's because his daughter is almost of legal age and will have to face the penalty for the violation, though I'm not really sure). The second story follows Domingo, a policeman investigating the disappearance of a group of men on their way to Manila. He and his partner, Mendoza soon discover their missing vehicle, a bus, empty without any clue on what happened to it's passengers. As he continue his investigation (despite the strict order of his boss to let go of the case), he discovers that there's a bigger conspiracy behind all of it that will change his perspective as a man of authority. Then, there's also a subtle reference to the supernatural along the way.

The different story lines made the film more interesting and enjoyable to watch because both plots offers different kind of thrills to the viewers. We feel worried for Maya and his father as they try to hide the truth about the death of the bird from the authorities. We are mystified if the unknown entity that Maya is seeing is really of supernatural origin or not. We are puzzled on what really happened to that missing group of men. We are anxious as to where this investigation will lead Domingo in the end.

In "Birdshot", director Mikhail Red proves that he is definitely one of the most promising filmmakers of the country that we should look out for in the future. Red's masterful direction is evident from the first frame of the film until the last shot. He is focused in every aspect of the film, even up to the tiniest details. The film may be a slow-burn thriller but he made sure that the tension is kept consistent from start to finish. His attention to detail makes the film's visuals more impactful. Cinematography-wise, "Birdshot" is eye-catching and breathe-taking. From the golden cornfields stretching across the land to the claustrophobic forest that is hiding a dark secret, cinematographer Mycko David  uses these locations to the film's advantage. Every scene is shot gorgeously, leaving the audience in awe. In addition to that, the wardrobe of these characters have this unique look that you usually see in Korean or Japanese movies, from the trademark red shawl of Maya's character to the vintage looking brown uniforms of the police, which gives the movie a distinct foreign look and feel.

Mary Joy Apostol gives a surprisingly good performance as Maya. Despite the fact that she is a newcomer to the film industry as this was her first full feature film credit, she was able to match her fellow actors in terms of acting. Ku Aquino who plays Diego, Maya's father, was also great. Cinemalaya 2017 Best Supporting Actor Dido Dela Paz is one hell of an antagonist. Arnold Reyes was outstanding in his role of Police Captain Domingo. He was able to give justice to his character, which was one of the toughest to pull off. His character had to go through a harrowing change along the way and Arnold depicted that in a convincing and believable way. He shined in that interrogation scene with him and Ku Aquino in the police station, which in turn was one of the most unforgettable moments of the film. John Arcilla never fails to amaze us with his committed performance as Domingo's partner, Mendoza.  His character also have the most memorable lines from the film (like "Paano tayo magsisimula kung ang meron lang tayo ay wala?") He and Arnold Reyes have great chemistry together: one is young and innocent about the lies and deceit in their surrounding, while the other is tenured and has gotten used to the evil and corruption around him and has learned to play along to survive.



The film's final moments is also one of the most unforgettable endings in a Filipino film. It's bloody, brutal, unsettling and eerie, especially the final revelation in the finale.

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. This is the kind of movie that defines the word "astig".

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
"Birdshot" (2017)
Directed by Mikhail Red, Screenplay By Mikhail Red, Rae Red
Starring Mary Joy Apostol, Arnold Reyes, Ku Aquino, and John Arcilla

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" is a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and will run from August 16-22, 2017.

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