Cinemalaya: Sana Dati (2013)

A romantic film but not really.

Under the Directors Showcase for the 9th year of the Cinemalaya Film Festival, Sana Dati tells the story of a woman named Andrea as she is about to get married but on that fateful day, a man comes and throws everything into disarray, causing Andrea to remember the man she truly loves. 

Reviewing this film is difficult without having to spoil some scenes in the movie, but I will do my best not to. Director Jerrold Tarog said it himself that this is a film about flawed characters who makes flawed decisions. Writing the film seven years ago, he wanted a break from the usual, typical, and shallow romantic films in the industry, hence the creation of this film. As romantic as the movie may look and sound, believe it or not, it is actually an anti-romantic film. But the way he executed the real purpose of the film is subliminal which would require a deeper understanding of the film for you to get it. 

I have given you the biggest spoiler it has, which is its anti-romanticism. However, it is up for you to find out how it became like that. How did something so melodramatic and romantic on the surface had a different meaning after all. This is well-crafted film proves that you don't need the cliche and typical love stories to satisfy you. As a matter of fact, the realism of the film will haunt you. Maybe the concept of the film doesn't always happen in real life but it shows the brutality and the harshness of the world we live in. It shows that not everyone gets a happy ending like the fairy tales we always heard of as we were children. The prince charming in the white horse may never come and that's life. Deal with it, the movie tells you.

The film takes place in the present during the wedding day, but just before the ceremony begins. However, it would always have flashback sequences that develop the entire plot of the film. It's like an unsolved puzzle at first but as the film progresses, the pieces starts falling into places and you start seeing the bigger picture. Everything would eventually make sense. There may be times where the constant flashbacks can be a bit disorienting and would leave you lost. Nevertheless, you will still find your way back and appreciate the film.

The film has good characterization. I love the character of Paulo Avelino the most. His character has so many secrets that it keeps bothering you throughout the movie and when all is revealed, you feel a sense of relief yet sadness as well. Avelino is able to give life to his character well. He was able to make the audience sympathize with his character and make the audience believe and be naive just like the character of Lovi, Andrea. Lovi Poe on the other hand also manages to captivate the audience. Her character Andrea, isn't really the most charismatic girl out there. Andrea is a confused and troubled woman whose past keeps on haunting her which causes her to make bad decisions in life. I did not like Andrea but that's not a bad thing since I'm sure that her character was meant to be like that. Lovi Poe is able to give justice to the character. She was able to portray the characteristics needed for Andrea to come into reality. Tj Trinidad's character is also well-played. He plays the character of 'the other man' in the movie, but unlike in typical films where you despise the other man, you would feel pity for Trinidad's character. He is only a man who gets caught in the middle of a conflict he doesn't know about. The audience can sympathize with him rather than hate him.

Overall, the film is beautifully made and a great and unique addition to the genre of romantic films. Great casts, great story, great cinematography, great director, great movie. Hopefully this would be the start of a revolution in the field of romantic films here in the Philippines.

Rating: 4/5

Cinemalaya: Ekstra (The Bit Player)

The crowd brings the scene into reality.

Ekstra is a film under Directors Showcase for the 9th year of the Cinemalaya Film Festival in the Philippines. This film directed by Jeffrey Jeturian tells the story of Loida (Vilma Santos), an ordinary woman who, most often than usual, gets to be in soap operas and movies. In addition, she also gets to act alongside high-profile celebrities. As fun as it all may sound, unfortunately for Loida, in all her acting career, she is just an ekstra (bit player) who is rewarded with a meagre salary. To make matters worse, Loida has a daughter in college whom she is financially supporting alone. Despite all her worries, she still dreams of making it big someday. But until then, she must continue her work as a bit player in yet another job offering. Will this be her big break or will it be another typical day for her?

Ekstra explores the world of the lonely voice in the world of entertainment. The film is meant to bring justice and honor to the little people who makes a scene complete. Without them, a scene is empty and useless. In a thought from the film, a setting from a movie or soap will be meaningless and awkward if the only ones present in it are the lead actors.

The entire film is a satire about film making like the film Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) but this time, it is centered on the world of the bit players. However, every once in a while, the audience are pulled away from the satirical approach whenever Loida is interrupted by her daughter with text messages coming from the world outside of showbiz. This sudden interruption allows the audience to see that people in the entertainment industry are also human beings who experience problems just like everyone else. Aside from that, it also serves as the film’s way of snapping its fingers at the audience who might find some parts of the film draggy. The film’s running time of two hours might be fine for some but for me, it didn't need two hours to establish what it needed to say.

The moment the film starts the harsh world of the bit players are already established. In a world where looks matter, even the bit players need to meet a specific look requirement or else they’ll get the boot. Even children are not excluded in the shallow world of showbiz. In once particular scene, children who were not good looking enough were rejected and asked to leave the vehicle that is supposed to take them to the location for the shooting. 

Vilma Santos' acting does not fail to deliver, as expected from a veteran actress. However, there is some concern about how much justice she gave to the role. Vilma Santos is one of the biggest names in the history of Philippine Cinema and that name will definitely go down in history. So in relation to this, the role of being a bit player given to her can draw skepticism. For one reason, she is a well-known star who has established an image and persona for more than a decade that can't be easily brushed off in a single film. In a film with an ensemble cast like this, how is Vilma Santos supposed to downgrade her semblance and be the bit player we want to see? The concept in paper works well, no doubt about that. The harsh world that the bit player lives in is established and well-understood but what raises a question is the portrayal of the role. In one particular scene where Loida asks to have her picture taken with Pilar Pilapil, what I saw were two veteran actresses, who each made a name for themselves, taking a photo. There are lots of big names in this movie, from Cherie Gil and Eula Valdez to Marian Rivera and Piolo Pascual. How is THE Vilma Santos supposed to keep a low profile alongside them? What would have served as a better challenge and social experiment in the film would be "what if they had a nobody play the role of the bit player?" Would the audience have watched it for the story and purpose itself or would they have watched it for the cameos of the famous celebrities in it? Whatever the answer may be, the film would have definitely did its job.

Rating: 3/5

Tuhog (2013)

All the emotions in this film would definitely pierce through your heart.

Tuhog, a Filipino word for skewer, as a whole, is comprised of three individual stories of three different people, whom by chance are literally connected with one another due to a freak accident which causes a pole to impale through them, much to the difficulty of the doctors. The doctors can only save two of them since there are only two available operating rooms in the hospital. The movie then goes through a series of flashbacks showing the story of each characters and how they ended up in their unfortunate situation. 

The first character is Tonio (Leo Martinez). He is an old retired man who dreams of becoming a baker. His family is skeptic about this dream of his because he does not know anything about baking and business. However, Tonio is determined to fulfill his dream despite the negativity.

Fiesta (Eugene Domingo) is a bus conductor whose life has always been about taking care of his demented father which resulted to her grumpiness and feisty attitude which drives away men around her. One day, she meets the new bus driver, Nato (Jake Cuenca) whom she eventually learns to love and vice versa. When everything seems to be going well, Fiesta soon finds out Nato's secret which ruins their relationship.

Lasty, Caloy (Enchong Dee) is a college student who is having a hard time keeping a long distance relationship work with his girlfriend Angel (Empress). Both promised to preserve their virginity to one another until they meet again but the distance between them proves to be quite a challenge for both parties to remain faithful to one another. 

Skylight Films, the sort-of indie version of Star Cinema, decides to release an indie type film through mainstream means. This thought alone would already draw skepticism; would it go for the full indie film or would it have a hint of commercialism here and there? How about both? Nevertheless, Tuhog manages to capture the audience's heart in this emotion and theme driven film that shows a deeper side of man, the side which shows man in search for meaning and purpose in his life. 

The most memorable story out of the three would have to be that of Eugene Domingo or the story of Fiesta primarily because of the depth of the story plus the acting skill of Eugene Domingo. Though memorable, it is far from flawless. There were plot holes in the decisions the characters made that hoped to have gone unnoticed with the help of acting delivery but it did not help. An example would have to be the Fiesta suddenly deciding to share her life story to Nato. If she was as hardcore as the premise established her to be, she would not have easily shared to anyone such personal information especially if they barely knew each other. Another example would have to be the sudden love affair between Nato and Fiesta which seemed to have come out of nowhere. Though we see it coming, there was not a proper build-up about it. However, if I'm gonna be all romantic, I would just like to believe that this can be a good example of how love can be very unpredictable.

In terms of story that everyone can probably relate to, it would have to be Leo Martinez or Tonio. It showed the typical Filipino family and their values which are constantly challenged such as being family-oriented, having a sense of gratitude and even patriarchy. Leo Martinez is able to give life to his character and he is able to send a serious message across the audience despite using comedy as a medium. Though Eugene's story is more memorable, Martinez' story is my personal favorite. One scene that definitely struck me was when he was doing a monologue about his life when all he did was to support his children's dreams yet they couldn't even support him now for his single plea. This part is ageless since it can cater to sons and daughters, wives, husbands and especially the elderly.

Enchong or Caloy's story on the other hand is the lightest of the three. It uses a very young approach and more comedic than the rest. This part is definitely funny and entertaining but I can't help but feel that this is where it becomes commercial. Technically speaking, this is another love story starring high profile actors in order to bring in audience. Probably even the reason why they showed this part last. A typical love story which happens to have more sex jokes which eventually receives a rating of R-13 and then voila! You have an indie film. 

Overall it was a good film. I was satisfied except for the end where I felt like I was cheated to a happy ending. Before getting impaled by the pole, each of the characters were in the worst stage of their dilemmas and the moment they got out the hospital, all their problems just miraculously came to a resolution. I understand that they just came from a near death experience and all problems can be forgotten but it felt too abrupt. Other than that, the narration by the end could have been taken out since it became too preachy already. It should have left the viewers to think on their own rather than feeding them the point of the movie. One last random and unimportant thing, I don't like how I felt like it was indirectly telling the audience to be kind to kid beggars on the streets. Watch it and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Rating: 3/5