Sundalong Kanin
A film set during the Japanese occupation, viewed from the eyes of children is in itself unique. What started as fun and playful make-believe soldier games, slowly escalates into more grim realities of war.
Highlights:
- Much of the film's screenplay relied on the journey of 4 friends, Nitoy, Benny, Carding and Badong. What a formidable ensemble of 4 young actors who carried the whole 90 minutes of the film
- Kudos to Marc Abaya whose often over the top performances found deeper meaning with his Tonyo
- At first, I did not recognize Art Acuna. Then it dawned on us on how brilliant an actor he really is. He was a Japanese soldier speaking (what it seemed) flawless Japanese, and with Japanese mannerisms. Unbelievable Art Acuna.
- Editing provided a fast pace but at the same time letting the viewers feel a tension is about to happen
- Beautiful camera shots complimented with thoughtful production design brings the audience to an innocent pre-war rural village that transformed into an anxiety-filled community where neighbors and friends became spies and enemies overnight
- Solid storytelling that gives each act of revenge a deeper background
Lowlights:
- Was there Tag-lish in the 40's? For every "bagabag" and "lisan", there was "mag-evacuate?" Hmmm "mag-evacuate", during the Japanese occupation. Not a big deal indeed especially considering the ambition of the film. It was just distracting.
Subject for discussion:
- There could be a lot of argument about how realistic the scenes are. 4 kids can kill a japanese solider while the soldier was sleeping. OK that sounds realistic, given the kids are teenagers already or as how Marc Abaya's Tonyo would put it, "May bulbol na mga yan". (They have pubic hair already)
4 kids spying for Filipino guerillas, plotting revenge and in the process killing one of their own. Just sounds too much. Plus these 4 kids seem always omnipresent, wherever the action is they are there. So it does give a "Superbook" or "Flying House" vibe.
Rating: 7/10.
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