Cinemalaya X Separation AnXiety, Luyong restaurant, Mariquina OST

We were having CinemalayaX Separation Anxiety so decided to watch Mariquina the 2nd time.  As expected, the GB3 screening was packed.  Here are our observations:

1. We like this audience.  They clapped when Madame Imelda Marcos appeared on screen.    And clapped again at the Shoemart scene as the shoebox was being lowered from the ceiling hole.

2.  Ricky Davao was eating Lumpiang Shanghai, right before his Mariquina river jump.  At their graduation celebration at Luyong restaurant, they ordered Lumpiang Shanghai, Fried Rice and Fried Chicken.   During the scene where Leonor was about to leave her family, (again at the same Chinese restaurant), it was the teenage Imelda who ordered the food - Lumpiang Shanghai, Fried Rice, and ChopSuey.

3.  There is a Luyong restaurant in Mariquina!   here is the link:

http://www.luyong.ph/

4.  The OST of Mariquina is brilliant.  It took us a while to find a link, so are quite happy when we found it.  Here it is ...but please do not download (we are not sure if you can download from soundcloud, but if you can please do not)

https://soundcloud.com/jerrold-tarog/sets/music-from-the-film-mariquina

5.  Here is Best Supporting Actress Barbie from the infamous SM Shoemart Scene.  This is the only award won by Mariquina

image from entertainment.inquirer.net

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