Cinemalaya 2014

It's that time of the year again. Cinemalaya, our most-awaited and most celebrated annual independent film festival. The event I cannot not afford to miss.

So for this year we only gotten to watch Short Films B, most tickets were sold out. We wanted to watch other films to have a point of comparison, but, unfortunately, it simply didn't happen.

Lola - is a thriller set during Christmas season and revolves around a grandmother’s quiet afternoon that turns deadly when an unexpected visitor drops by. This gave me an inexplicable feelings I can't tell you whether I liked or hated it. This film, I've found, was merely ok.  I wouldn't have guessed the backdrop of the story at all. It was dark, I think, if we are to speak in colors.

Indayog ng Nayatamak - is a film about a painter and his struggle in his artwork. It is a visual representation of inequality, a word that encompasses many facets of society. Let's not dwell on this because there's nothing to chew on. 

Nakakabinging Kadiliman  -  about two siblings whose lives haven’t been the easiest—one is blind while the other is deaf-mute. The two sisters, who rely greatly on one another, are called to endure some changes when a handsome neighbor moves in. It has a very much simple story yet heartfelt. In reality, the simpler a story, the more likely it gets appreciated. 

Eyeball - A vain man is out to meet a woman he met on Facebook for the first time. While waiting for her, he comes upon a naive guy whom he teaches his ways on attracting women. But the vain may need to learn some more.  See, it starts out as straight comedy, with antagonist and protagonist talking in a small eatery. The comedy continues throughout, until the ending was tragic. It’s only after the film has finished that you start to appreciate that the darkness of the film really is present from the beginning. It’s like someone throws jokes at you so that you don’t realize that you’re watching a tragedy until the final act. I did like this. 

Ina-tay - A beautician named Elvis (also known as Elvira) finds out one day that he has fathered a bouncing baby boy and is left with the challenge of single parenthood. The storyline  is far too common. The opening shots will make you smirk, but everything afterward is hilariously awful.

Cinemalaya 2011

As much as I want to see all the film entries but my extremely tight schedule does not allow me to do so. 

This week my friends and I managed to view one screening last wednesday in CCP and last friday in Greenbelt.

Besides watching works from the new breed of directors, cinematographers and scriptwriters, you get to see the actors, directors and their crew/production staff and sometimes seating beside or rubbing elbows with. 

We arrived at CCP around 3:00pm. We were supposed to watch Isda but it was already sold out. We suddenly find ourselves disappointed. We ended up buying tickets for Amok. Let me just start off by saying I didn't expect much from this movie. But it turned out to be the other way around. I was pleasantly surprised Amok was way better than I expected it to be. Lawrence Fajardo's Amok begins by unraveling a story of interconnected strangers bound together by fate. Amok grips you right from the start and keeps you hooked on till the last minute. All the casts were exceptionally good. Kudos! Few dialogues in the film. However, it's their body language, most precisely their facial expressions, that conveys everything to the audience. 

It was an unapologetic, overwrought, sobering and splatter flick. And while we’re on the topic of violence, this movie is so graphic I was overwhelmed. A heart-pounding thrill ride.  The movie contains violent action and brief, mild obscenity. " With tensions running high and a setting too real and too in-tune with the urban life of the Philippines, this film was a depiction of a reality shared by millions, and a reality that can be shattered at any moment."  I still think about it every now and then. Edsa-Taft, that location is part of my life since I pass by that intersection. After watching the film, I am now more observant of the place as I recall the various scenes depicted in the movie.

GRADE: A-

The second film entry I watched was Isda (Fable of the fish).

After seeing the trailer, it made me much more eager to see the movie. It's intriguing and peculiar,  woman  gave birth to a fish? Since I am a fan of outre, and unexplainable movies. I was really looking forward to seeing this. Sadly, this movie was beyond a disappointment. Being a disappointing film doesn’t necessarily mean bad just that it didn’t live up to its expectations. Not satisfying, I didn't like the way the plot unraveled, and questionable plot contrivances (biologically impossible) and Poor ending. Without the effective acting skills of  Cherry Pie Picache and  Bembol Roco. Isda would be a whimper of a movie, too awful to watch, but then again without Cherry Pie Picache, the movie probably would never have gotten made.

GRADE: F

Starting this year, Then and there, I vowed to myself not to miss the annual Cinemalaya. Perfect attendance that is. 

Because I'm one hella frustrated indie film actress

My admiration and obsession for independent films began last year. 

I do enjoy mainstream cinema. However, I feel that the best films can be found within Independent Cinema.   

Where would I be most likely to spend my money?  I would spend it going to see an independent film at any local Contemporary Arts Theatre. I like sitting with similar minded people, watching a film that I can truly relate to.  I like falling in love with the characters, and feeling I know similar people to those portrayed on screen.  Most of all however, I like knowing that the film was made out of love, passion and determination to make the best of what they had. That’s very important.

You might disagree with my last point in many ways. (Stirred up debate)

But these are just my thoughts. I don’t think there’s much room for a bottle of objectivity, and please acknowledge that this is largely a personal interpretation.

Anyway, July is the film festival month here in the Philippines. Well, it's Cinemalaya season once again and I couldn't be happier!

Yay! Excited for tomorrow. Bey, Carla and I, we'll be watching Ligo na U lapit na me and Isda. 

visit

Cinemalaya 2011 Schedule
or
Pinoyindiefilms

Dang.! it  totally blew me away. 


also, watch this video 

Faculty by Jerrold Tarog-  A Prequel to Senior Year

(Senior Year made me miss my old school, ESS-South) :(

Hay naku patama ba ito sa mga snobby, rich kids at bratty students o kaya naman sa mga  paaralang pang-kolehiyo na ang admisyon ng estudyante ay dapat nasa isang milyong ang taunang kita ng magulang.?Sa susunod na lang ako magbibigay ng komento o kritikal na pagtatasa sa video na ito. Dahil 2:15 na ng umaga.