Cinemalaya X Day 7 - Sundalong Kanin

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.

Cinemalaya X Day 7 - Shorts B

We started our Cinemalaya X with Shorts, so we are ending it with Shorts.

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Indayog ng Nayatamak

Highlights:

- A high-brow artistic expression showcasing the internal creative process of making art

- A commentary on the relationship between the artist and the subject, and how in the creative process the subject can overpower the artist

- Visual effects displayed the slow process of engendering art

- Solid performances from the 2 major artists

Lowlights:

- Within the first 2 minutes, you already knew what was going to happen in the end

- The movements complex, and you already know that was going to happen, you start to hope something different happens.  No.

Rating: 6/10

Lola

Highlights:
- Editing, Cinematography and Sound successfully set a difficult tone, so the suspense while forthcoming indeed made sense and was respectful of the audience's intellect
- Creative and well-thought characters.  Christmas as setting also made the difference
- Erlinda Villabolos shines, even given the very demanding expectations of her performance.  Astig (tough) but at the same time endearing.  Her lola is the heroine of Cinemalaya X

Rating: 9/10

Ina-Tay

Highlights and Lowlights:
- There was a huge Sound problem with the film.  The very beginning was too loud, that majority of the audience were covering their ears during the first few minutes of the film (as the film had subtitles).  The volume became more suitable after a while, but then intermittently became louder and louder again.
- The dialogues could have been the major selling point of the money, as it was witty and catchy, but the sound problem throughout the film made dramatic moments comedic, and comedic moments became cartoonish and a farce
- The film could have been a good satirical commentary on gender roles.
- Here is an example on how 1 technical element could damage the whole film.  I wish I could watch the film with better sound, but I have to rate it based on what I experienced

Rating: 3/10

Nakabibinging Kadiliman

Highlights:
- A very creative representation of familial relationships, interdepencies, love, and routine
- It was wonderful to see how characters navigate through life given the physical limitations
- Screenplay and Editing were powerful in conveying routine, change in emotions, transformation
- Sheenly Gener delivers a brilliant performance
- Paolo O' Hara will get another Cinemalaya trophy

Rating: 10/10

Eyeball

Highlights and Lowlights:
- I did not get how this film could be in Cinemalaya.  It had a Wow Mali vibe all throughout the movie.  And sometimes Wow Mali is fun.
- How predictable!  Within the first minute of their conversation at the carinderia, the only thing you are not sure of is whether it will be a gun or a knife.  Oh a Gun.  Will it be short range or concealed.  Oh short range.
- It was difficult to relate to a character like that, a one-dimensional asshole that is both annoying and arrogant.  So you know this well end tragically.
- What a waste, reference to Social Media could have been the major differentiating factor of the film.  Rather, it just made it more confusing

Rating: 1/10

Cinemalaya X Day 6 - #Y

image from cinemalaya.org 

- Here is a multi-dimensional film that can attack the viewer from various angles and at different levels.  A more thorough review will be out after the festival to discuss the treatise and interpretations, as even highlights could contain spoilers.  Could be the most polarizing of the films given salient events can be read with different interpretations - philosophical, psychological, social
- Visuals and camera work that not only created scenes but raw emotions
- Music and Sound that served as another character
- The 1-liner social commentaries on society, fads, and trends were incredibly witty rather than preachy
- Commendable Ensemble.   Elmo Magalona carries the whole film with a perfect balance of youth and maturity with his portrayal.  Colleen Garcia was a revelation.  Chynna Ortaleza was the conscience of the movie through her endearing portrayal

(A more thorough review will come out in a few days)  Rating: 9/10.

Cinemalaya X Day 6 - Children's Show

Highlights:
- A very solid screenplay that is poignant and witty
- Editing that enables disturbing and powerful critical fight scenes
- Musical Score that helped define the right cadence of emotion throughout the film
- Well-developed characterization of protagonists that allow the audience to root for them no matter how flawed and damaged their characters or actions may be
- Miggs Cuaderno delivered witty 1-liners with ease while portraying a complex array of emotions.  Buboy Villar delivered a gritty multi-layered performance
- Just the right amount of crazy with scenes involving groans, voices and birds

Lowlights:
- Sound that was sometimes too loud, sometimes too soft
- You long too fully understand the rationale in the father's character and actions

A true gem of Cinemalaya.  Rating:  8/10.

The Actresses in Cinemalaya X

"No acting"-acting was probably coined in reference to indie films.  Mercedes Cabral, in an interview, confirmed that TV acting requires a different approach - you can't have an ugly face when crying and need to cry at a certain camera angle.  A common criticism  from indie directors is how much acting direction they actually provide their lead stars.  If you are a new filmmaker tasked to direct a multi-awarded superstar, how much acting direction can you really give?  Is it possible that indie actors portrayed roles primarily based on personal interpretations and tapped on their experience, relying less on their directors?

Case in point, the Cinemalaya films this 2014.

In the Director's Showcase category, it is safe to assume that Nora Aunor gets the Best Actress award.  Just give her the trophy.  And this has nothing do with the recent National Artist snub.  Her restrained performance from Lamangan's Hustisya was intelligent and poignant.  If you are not Aunor, it is very difficult to imagine how one can be a serious contender in this category.

On the other hand, a very tight-race in the New Breed Category for Acting.  Whether the film worked or not, the actresses carried many of the film.  Is it a coincidence that the strongest acting performances came from the New Breed Category?  I wonder how much direction Ricky Davao received in his 2 powerful scenes - one at the restaurant, and the other while eavesdropping - in Mariquina.  I wonder if Dante Rivero received actual acting direction for his insightful portrayal in 1st ko si 3rd?

For actresses, how much acting direction did these fine portrayals receive?
Eula Valdes - intelligent but eccentric, strong-willed but fragile portrayal of Issey in Dagitab
Angeli Bayani - electrifying and disturbing Divina in Bwaya
Nova Villa - endearing and charming Corazon in 1st ko si 3rd
Mylene Dizon - extremely difficult portrayal of apathetic Imelda in Mariquina

Any of these 4 deserve to win, and personally at a loss to pick which.  4 fine acting portrayals one of which predicted to win the award, whether they actually received acting direction or not for their "no acting"-acting.


In a very animated and intelligent interview, Mercedes Cabral, "ang Diwata ng Malayang Pelikula" talks about acting, the difference between indie, mainstream and TV acting, real-time direction and Nora Aunor.

Senior Citizens in the Social Media Age

The 1:30pm screening of 1st ko si 3rd at Greenbelt was packed.   In Makati, the first screening of a movie is free for Seniors.  So not surprisingly, around 70% of the audience are Senior Citizens.  One amusing scene from the film is when the newly retired Corazon started to discover Facebook.  Her learning to create profile pics, finding friends and online chat were finely executed in the film, eliciting uproar and kilig from the audience.

There are an estimated 6 Million Senior Citizens in the Philippines, representing 6% of our population.  In the US, there are around 80 Million.  In Japan, the current concern is their aging population with people over 60 years estimated at11.5% of their ~128Million population.

Are Senior Citizens the untapped Social Media market?  

As in the film, middle-class seniors have the extra time and the extra money.  Money can come from retirement benefits, monthly pensions and most common in the Philippines - monthly allowances from sons, daughters and even grandchildren.

If you come to Greenbelt or Glorietta on a weekday morning, you can see the power of Senior Citizens.  Very seldom do you seem them alone.  They shop, watch a movie or tambay (hangout) in packs.  Many of them are major decision makers in their families.  It is not uncommon to see teenagers shop with their lolos and lolas (grandparents).  So not only do they have the money, they have major influence as well.

Facebook and the most popular social media sites are user-friendly, however it can still be intimidating for Senior Citizens.  Retail and Buy-Sell websites could look quite complex for a Senior trying online for the first time.

A Senior Citizen version of retail, banking and buy-sell website?  Imagine a webpage that is a lot easier to navigate, maybe even a tutorial at the very beginning, eliminating several radio and drop-down buttons.  A simple, straight-forward website that would not be intimidating for a senior.

(to be continued)

Cinemalaya X Day 5 - S6parados

image from cinemalaya.org

Highlights:

- Unlike others, I thought there was ambition in S6parados.  The attempt to weave 6 stories through incidental circumstances is not a bad idea
- Victor Neri's portrayal is heartfelt
- Melissa Mendez shines in the scene where she lets go of Marcel

Lowlights:
- Like the others, I thought the execution was murky, flawed and out-of-focus.  While the intersection of some stories made sense, the others felt too forced
- Suffered from incomplete development of character for the audience to relate to many of the characters.  Maybe this is the risk of having too many central characters, all of whom are portrayed by big stars.  Were they compelled to be given sufficient screen time?
- Some conflict resolution took as long as half the length of the movie, yet the others instantly thru shock factor, one after another.  Towards the end, numbness.  And the resolutions became questionable as they no longer made sense
- What a waste of talent and screen time for Ricky Davao, whose character is not fully-developed.  Cannot blame Anjo Yllana, Alfred Vargas, Diana Zubiri for their forgettable performances - there was not much to work on
- The choice of music seemed to add more confusion and discomfort rather than reinforcing emotions.  And like many other elements, the music was overworked and overplayed
- After the movie, I said "A bad Star Cinema movie", which is probably the worst description of a Cinemalaya movie I have ever seen

Rating: 3/10

Cinemalaya X Day 5 - 1st ko si 3rd

Again, detailed review and discussion points will be out after the festival.  For now, here are highlights and lowlights...

Highlights:
- the first 45 minutes of the movie provided a delightful experience.  Charming, humorous, and at the same time respectful of the audience's intellect
- film's pace provided perfect rhythm for quick-witted humor
- move over Mercedes Cabral, Nova Villa is the goddess of Cinemalaya X.  Her portrayal of Corazon is a thoughtful departure from the popular sitcom characters she has created.  Her charming performance carries the movie throughout.  And the scene where she was alone in the car after her first date, simply touching
- the slow-mo scene at the cafe and the FB "funny" and "beautiful" scenes actually worked
- what an endearing and rational performance from Dante Rivero
- also, there is strong screen presence from the young 3rd and Corazon, eliciting swoons from the audience every time they appear
- based on crowd turn-out and reaction, this might be the darkhorse for the Audience Award in the New Breed Category

Lowlights:
- while some of the flashback scene worked, it felt overused towards the end.  The MTV flashback  not only cheapened the otherwise intelligent sense of humor of the film, it likewise distracted the audience from the fluidity of the narrative.  all of a sudden, the movie became uninterestingly slow-paced
- the scene between BFFs portrayed by Nova Villa and Ruby Ruiz seemed overworked and gave a righteous, pulpiteering feel onto it, in the process completely contradicting an otherwise smart beginning of the movie
- the much-awaited scene seemed anti-climactic
- the movie had a huge promise at the start, only to stumble in the middle and self-destruct towards the end.  One good thing is that it was on its way back, but was too late

Rating: 5/10