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Cinemalaya 2018

Palitz Reyes
Aug 12, 2018
9 min read

Cinemalaya is my "food for the soul" annually. It's been 6 years since I started supporting this Festival but this is the first I decided to review the films in competition. I am not a professional film critique. My comments will be based on the standards Cinemalaya Films has set in me and how clear the synopsis and director's notes are to the actual film output.

I'll write the film reviews based on the list I tweeted earlier.

10. THE LOOKOUT

For me it did not have quite good representation of a gay film though I know it doesn't want to focus on that fully. Yes, I understand that the story somehow needs it because of the backstory of the lead character but for me, most 'pink parts' are not needed. The film just needs to have a well-established sequences I guess. I kind of set a little high expectation because of the trailer. I thought it's going to be a badass action film. The dialogues made the film look as if it's a teleserye. Some of the lines were delivered in an exaggerated manner. The ending was anticipated as I have seen a few from previous teleseryes. The torture scene (of Rex Cortez) was so long that it bored me. My friend and I had to look at the time just to see how long they have been delivering their lines and doing that scene. I love Yayo Aguila's acting though and the lead actor, Andres Vasquez. He just needs control. Over-all it's not a film I would want to watch again. I've seen it so that's enough.

9. SCHOOL SERVICE

I really am never going to watch trailers again.. but that won't happen. You can't avoid it because you'll be watching every single trailer of the full length or short film while waiting for the screening. This is another film that gave me the feeling to expect something. I don't know if it's a challenge or maybe a norm that's taking over the direction of the film. As far as I know the works of the director Louie Ignacio, I know he has worked many years for mainstream film and tv. I have seen one indie film he did which was also part of Cinemalaya Festival back in 2014. And I can say that I have a few the same comments to this film. I have read that a viral video of a child who was high on rugby made him do this film. While they are researching deeper to get a story out of the child, they found out that it was a big syndicate behind it. The story was quite dragging to me as to where the film wants to focus on or who. They have a big cast that I guess they want each to have a moment in the film. Some scenes also had me feeling as if I am watching another teleserye which is I'm not really used to when I attend Cinemalaya in the past years. I just wished they have put more mystery in the image of the school bus and establish that and not just a plain vehicle they use.

***

8. MUSMOS NA SUMIBOL SA GUBAT NG DIGMA

I have read that the director of this film loves to put symbolism to his film. I saw his film "Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig" last year. He made the symbolism of the film revolved around preaching of a priest and a dream. This time, he made a take of an "Adam and Eve" image, the chants and the mystery of the present phenomenon. I actually love the story however, I guess I've had enough of Lav Diaz and Brilliante Mendoza's signature establishing shots and scenes. I know that it is one of the classic images of an indie film -- more establishing shots but, again, I have enough of those already. Overall, the film is ok.

7. KUYA WES

When I found out that Ogie Alcasid will star in an indie film, I knew it will be a comedy film. Ogie really

has a cartoon physical feature that's needed in a comedy film. But more than that, I was hoping the film will give a refreshing taste in the festival. It's not everyday we see a comedy indie film so I have kept my hopes up until the gala premiere. What I like about the film is that, it has establish quite fairly the mood it wants the audience to feel while watching. Like the shots of the details in their office, Moi Bien's funny lines, the giant Security guard, the decoration of the remittance center, the customers and Ogie's distinct acting. "Sana mahanap niyo si Kuya Wes sa inyong mga sarili" was Ogie's final words before the film starts and as the film rolls, I, then understood where the story will go. And Yes, I was right. "Kindness and Love are in our DNA. But not all of us shows either. We choose the people we want to show kindness to or fall in love with. Both are free but have a limitation. When you reach the end, u let go." This was my tweet after watching the film. Pretty much to sum up my Kuya Wes experience. I just want to somehow point out a small detail I guess. From the start to the end, Ogie had that well defined acting style. But in the scene where he was really angry and started to hurt himself and had a fight with Alex Medina, I wished they were able to show why he's like that. I mean, is he a special child, or does he have a disease or something? Because I saw and know some people who walk, talk and have some anger management issues that are somehow synonymous to his acting style and they are people with special needs. So while watching it, I wonder who is Kuya Wes in a deeper point of view. Oh well, good thing the story focused on two characteristics of Kuya Wes and they achieved it.

6. MAMANG

I found the lights design in this film really helpful as to establishing whether the character of Celeste Legaspi is experiencing Dimentia or not. I have seen hundreds of films and I would always see flashbacks just to support the body of the story. But here, they needed something to support and establish the present, past stories and characters happening at the same time -- the lights really is the best option. I just wished the revelation of Ketchup's character in the ending would have been revealed sooner than had a few scenes that I guess not really needed in the film. Over-all I liked it.

***

5. KUNG PAANO HINIHINTAY ANG DAPITHAPON

The film has a balance of drama, comedy and romance and I liked that. Judging it from the trailer, I thought I might get bored watching it but no. For me, the film has achieved it's goal if I will just depend it on the title. It gave me the actual feeling of waiting. From the part where Perla Bautista needed to go to Dante Rivero, there was a lot of waiting in between until finally, they saw each other. Waiting for Romnick Sarmenta to visit Dante; waiting for Dante to get well and waiting for them to lock up the house and leave. The three main casts are perfect for the role. They are veterans in their field, so when it comes to their acting, no questions asked. I just wished the credits appeared after the frame when Menggie Cobarrubias closed the gate and just leave the audience thinking about what happened to Dante. That'll make us wait more. Goal achieved. :)

4. DISTANCE

I am thinking if I'll be biased in this film but no. I love the fact that the story had a brave take on the reason why the characters of Iza Calzado and Nonie Buencamino separated. Why the distance between them transpired. It was that twist that made me feel more curious and interested on how the film will end. I love the silent parts, the awkwardness of each characters in a scene. It made me feel how the mother was emotionally far from her children yet so near physically. That's a real torture. I just wished the phasing of the scenes were a little fast. I don't really like the confrontation part. I am not sure if there is another technique or approach for that rather than a Therese Malvar shouting at Iza in full force. I wonder. I like the film.

***

3. LIWAY

I might be biased about this because I really love Glaiza De Castro. For me, she is one of the underrated actresses in the showbiz industry. The fact that she stars in an indie film is another milestone for her. Well, I grew up watching life stories -- may it be from MMK or Calvento files or life story films. I didn't research anything about the films this year nor intentionally watch their trailers. I just know that Liway is based on a life story of Commander Liway. I had to say that I really admire the effort of the director to put a shadow play in this film. It is so invigorating! It was a really awesome approach. The scoring was really good. It establishes the mood of the film from start to end. Soliman Cruz was promising. Nakakamiss siya! I love this film but I just wished Glaiza had a few more gun fighting scenes especially while her character is pregnant. I kind of expected for that scene since it was the poster. Also, the goosebumps it gave in the end was the real bomb. But it made think, What if the director, Kip Oebanda is not the director of this film? Will it still give the same bomb to the audience? Just curious. I'm glad to have met and had a selfie with the real Commander Liway.

2. ML

I don't actually know what to say. The story is very timely. Right now there have been a lot of discussions about what really happened during the martial law. Some of the youth are confused by the truths and lies. The seniors are divided. So I guess the challenge of making this film is to showcase both past and present. And I guess the team behind it really did a great job because the film had showcased the story at its best -- the characters, the mystery and thrill of the story, everything. For me, they had the perfect cast. Tony Labrusca is a revelation. There is only one Eddie Garcia who can play Colonel. The cinematography is impressive. The sound design is realistic that it made you feel every scratch, stabs etc. I love how the film was made from beginning to end.

1. PAN DE SALAWAL

I guess this is the film that we all need this time. We need a break from all the hate, debate from different political beliefs and a lot of "hugot" films in Cinemas. This film reminded me of how beautiful life is and it still has some more good things to offer if you just believe and have faith. It's a breath of fresh air. This is a brand new image of an indie film I supposed. In years, this is the first time I asked my 7 year-old niece to see a film in Cinemalaya. I hope the festival welcomes films like this in the future. The director has expertise in making children's films and in here, it was seen. She really did a great job. The actors' portrayals are well-balanced. Bodjie Pascua maybe the lead actor in this film but the support actors and actresses are all given just enough moment for their character to be established in the film. Miel Espinosa is promising in this film. Dominic Roco and Anna Luna have such chemistry that it gave just enough kilig to the audience and the film entirely. Anna has improved a lot and Dominic showed a very convincing and realistic acting. I so love Ruby Ruiz. From her supporting role in her winning film Ekstra from her mother role here. Bodjie is the real icon for a children film or show. He still has the magic in him. The first scene which was a shot of a dirty toilet already made me smile and that's weird up to the snow fall of salt. But, guess what? I'm still smiling even after I watched the film. I love this film.

I Also made my Cinemalaya Predictions:

Best feature film, full-length: Liway (feeling ko lang.. pero I'm thinking of Pan de Salawal)
Best Director, full-length feature film: ML
Best Actor, full-length film: Nonie Buencamino (Distance) or Eddie Garcia (ML)
Best Actress, full-length film: Miel Espinosa (Pan de Salawal)
Best Ensemble: Pan de Salawal
Best Supporting Actor, full-length: Soliman Cruz (Liway)
Best Supporting Actress, full-length: Anna Luna (Pan de Salawal) / Therese Malvar (Distance)
Best Sound, full-length feature film: ML
Best Original Music Score, full-length: Liway/ Musmos na Sumibol sa Gitna ng Digma
Best Editing, full-length feature film: Liway
Best Production Design, full-length feature film: Pan de Salawal or Kuya Wes
Best Cinematography, full-length feature film: ML
Best Screenplay, full-length feature film: Mamang
Best Screenplay, short feature film: Kiko
Best Director, short feature film: Carlo Manatad
Best Short Feature Film: Sa Saiyang Isla