Cinemalaya X Day 2 - Mariquina

Mariquina

Based on synopsis and the trailer, I thought this could be top contender for many awards.

photo from cinemalaya.org

Highlights:

- Exceptional Ricky Davao. the scene at the Chinese restaurant when he was eating fried rice telling his daughter not to ask about her mother, ah! riveting.  

- Mylene Dizon can do anything.  Her attack on a daughter's waning love that leads to apathy is simply sublime. Bing Pimentel was surprisingly dominating in many scenes

- The flashback scene where a very young Imelda was followed by a camera and "tours" the audience their shoe factory was a visual treat

- Biggest surprise was Barbie Forteza.  I did not know she can deliver such complex characterization. She was believable in a performance sans the usual telenovela acting
- Solid ensemble acting
- Mariquina is clean and beautiful here
- Many viewers liked the film a lot.  It seems it is on its way to win major awards, maybe I just missed the point.

Lowlights:

- Screenplay was mainstream.  And I don't 100% mean it in a negative way.  In fact, I thought the script was solid, well-thought and intelligent most of the time.  But ordinary.  It is neither bold, nor daring and seemed constrained by a lot of things.  This is Cinemalaya! 

- The ending, well never-ending.  And when it does, how predictable.   Among the movies in the New Breed, this will most likely be the one to be shown outside the festival.  And people will likely watch.

Rating: 5/10