One Day Pass to Astonishing Cinemalaya 2017
13th Cinemalaya Film Festival
Anually in the Philippines, film enthusiasts are all getting their chance to witness the newest film masterpieces of Filipino filmmakers through the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, a film competition and festival that aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers.
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Movie Reviews
Bagahe
Bagahe is the movie that mirrors the realistic life of some OFWs that were being abused and it also reflects how the system of the Philippines is being corrupted that one person would be force to leave the country in order to sustain their family needs.
The term ‘Bagahe’ was used to symbolize two of the most important things in the movie: Bagahe as the literal baggage that Mercy used to get into the plane amid of her being pregnant; and Bagahe as the metaphor of her shouldered struggles she faced going back in her family.
The film revolves about the story of an OFW named Mercy played by Angeli Bayani who escaped from her rapist boss back to the Philippines. Later on, news came out that a baby was found in the airplane’s trash.
Zig Madamba Dulay once again bailed the Philippine Cinema to paramount level as his Bagahe tackles the superb realistic life of the OFWs and Angeli Bayani who played Mercy better-than-expected.
As Mercy enjoying the reunion with her family, some policemen came and forced her to undergo medical procedures and found out the she is the mother of baby Rosario - the baby found inside the airplane.
Zig Dulay also eyed the consequences of being a woman as the main characters of the story are mainly all girls having their own problems but managing to surpass against the judgemental society.
Requited
Rolling…
The film turned out to be disappointing. Yes, I do admit that I expected a lot in this film. The story for me is very limited and slow in transition. But I think that’s one of its beauty as well, having the viewers guess the characters background story, how they started, and what happened in-between?
Nerissa Picadizo's Requited, which stars Jake Cuenca and Anna J. Luna, is about disease-stricken Matt (Cuenca) and his bright "friend" Sandy's (Luna) biking trip, an extremely important one for Matt, to Mount Pinatubo.
On the 1st quarter of the film, I enjoyed the long silence and sight-seeing of the places that Matt has passed by. But when the story gets going, and when Sandy came in to picture my curiosity for the both of them rose. Matt’s feelings for Sandy is very confusing and you wanted to know what is their label.
But two things I love the most in the film Requited: the cinematography, and choice of location. It’s just so beautiful, the wonders of the Philippines are again recognized and will attract more and more tourist.
But of course, the main point is the story. It disappointed many people, and I know that it can still be improved. However, we have to respect the idea of the writer of the film, on why, how tragic it has ended and kept us hanging with the unanswered questions.
At the end of the film, my heart just dropped and up till now there’s this void that I will never know how can I fill up on. I guess as what Matt say’s in the film “I’m moving on, on my own” is the answer. I’ll rate it 6/10. It’s not that bad, it’s just disappointing. But kudos to everyone in the team! Now, I want to go to Mount Pinatubo and be with my inner peace.
Ang Pamilyang hindi Lumuluha
From the title itself, I have drawn a conclusion that this will be all about comedy and for fun. After watching scenes of a broken family, a daughter who's walking away from home, a husband's having his mistress proved that this movie will break your heart into pieces somehow. This kind of film is under the genre of black comedy which portrays death, suffering and tragedy as a funny things in life. The story started with a bit of story telling about the folklore of the Pamilyang hindi Lumuluha. People told that this family brings fortune and luck to the community and people around them by having a good harvest and a good life. And suddenly, there was a time that the daughter of the family cried and cried.
The family got too nervous about what's going to happen or they simply consider what will gonna happen to the people of their community also. The family decided to leave their place. As the days go by, the folklore became a memory that will never be forgotten. When the family left, all the misfortune and bad luck happened to the community. The people who's living there, wishes the family to go back to get their life back to normal.
Sharon Cuneta as Cora who played the lead role of being a business woman and a mother to a family gave her best to the film and proved that megastar is not just for primetime and mainstream but also for indie films like this. She greatly played the role of a business woman who doesn't have enough time being with her family. Days passed by and her family started to have a concern with each member. Her husband started to have a mistress because she became plain housewife who's focused on her business. Her daughter as well became cold when she always hear her parents fighting with each other. He walk away from home lofe her father did. Cora lived a life all by herself. Until one day Moi Bien who played the role of Bebang became her house maid and rocks her world more than magnitude of 10.8. Just kidding about that earthquake hahaahahaha. Moi Bien added color to life of Cora. Then one day the Pamilyang hindi lumuluha became their topic. Bebang helped Cora to bring back the Pamilyang hindi lumuluha as well as Cora's family because ahe believed that when the said family in the folklore be complete again, luck will begin to happen also.
To make this movie review short, Bebang helped Cora to find the members of the family but unfortunately, the daughter died a month ago. Cora didn't made it. He bacame angry to the son and mother and father of the family becausw they didn't tell Cora that Amelia is already dead. Cora depend her chance of bringing her family back to the folklore which is the best mistake she made with her life. She shoudn't depend the chance of bringing your family back to anyone but yourself. Yes you may not being it back once and for all bit maybe one at a time, right ? Change yourself first for good before you will be able to change also your family.
