Before the week comes to its final stop,
here’s my take on the nine short film finalists for this year’s Cinemalaya Film
Festival.
SANCTISSIMA (Kenneth Dagatan): ★★★★★
- My favorite entry this year feels
unique and familiar at the same time, confidently creating a morbid atmosphere
while telling a story that’s not far from your favorite Shake, Rattle &
Roll movies. The only thing that could’ve made Sanctissima better is if the
devil’s son (anak ng demonyo) remained mysterious for the entire film. Still,
it’s an absolute crowd-pleaser with a witty message to tell.
PUSONG BATO (Martika Ramirez Escobar):
★★★★★
- You either die a rock star or live
long enough to see yourself fall in love with a rock. One this is for sure: Pusong Bato rocks! The film
is ironic, metaphorical and ambiguous at its best. It’s quite a depressing story if you would
look at the bigger picture but the absurdity of its presentation made it laugh-out-loud
funny. It’s like a wine that gets better and better the longer you think about
it.
MATER (Annemikami Pablo): ★★★★½
- Religious extremism is bad, no matter
if you’re a monotheist, polytheist or a proud atheist. I liked Matel so much
probably because of my beef with those hardcore Christians and extremely proud atheists.
Both of them will always be the same self-righteous itches in my eyes.
LISYUN QNG GEOGRAFIA (Petersen Vargas): ★★★★☆
- The best thing I could say about
Listun Qng Geografia is that it feels truer than most romantic movies today.
The actors feel sincere. Their bond feels real. There’s so much feels! Kidding
aside, it has gorgeous cinematography and an LSS-able soundtrack for those who
weren’t invested in their story. Love finds ways.
KYEL (Arvin “Kadiboy” Belarmino): ★★★½☆
- Frank Ferguson Jr. carried this film
to its highest point, no pun intended. His performance, together with Kyel’s
gritty atmosphere, made me high as eff in this dreamlike sequence. However, the
final scene does not suffice its high-adrenaline start. Rock ‘n roll to katol!
NENOK (Milo Tolentino): ★★★☆☆
- Charming at points and gladly not as
overdramatic as it could’ve been. Nenok is like a dark, Pinoy version of Dennis
the Menace. You know how it is. Just enjoy while having our national breakfast
meal.
PAPETIR (Darwin Novicio): ★★½☆☆
- This should be entitled “Pabitin”
because it’s so nakakabitin. It’s hard to be an entertainer and it’s also hard as
an audience to determine if an act is scripted or not (i.e. Maine Mendoza’s
collapse in Eat Bulaga) because that’s what they do. Papetir successfully delivered
its message but it fell short in making us feel it because it’s too short for a
short film.
APASOL (Ryanne Murcia): ★★½☆☆
- Captivating sceneries and a quotable
statement at the end saved this from being another “pa-deep” film. Even if I
didn’t like it as much as some people do, I was impressed at how it can simply
be explained by its director. Its biggest problem is that it ran at the same
film fest with Lisyun. Both tackled
homosexuality and separation from their parallel loved one. It’s just that the
latter felt real and Apasol is more of an escapist’s imagination. Tanghaling
tapat, naka-jacket si kuya.
GATILYO NG BARIL (Glenmark Doromal &
Eero Francisco): ★½☆☆☆
- So much balls to deliberate a vague
and insufficient evidence against the deceased suspects. What I hate about it is that it feels like an interview manual that blue chip companies let their employees watch. It has nothing interesting to say or do. It's nothing but a blurred allegation. I wonder what the
remaining families of Galman and Dimahilig will say after seeing this.
What I like most about this line-up is that it had no overwhelming poverty porn. They showcased a wide variety of culture, issues and genres. Shorts B is way better even if my favorite is in Shorts A. Tonight will be a close fight between Sanctissima and Pusong Bato but Anj Macalanda’s Wawa can’t be counted out as
others say. Too bad that I slept through that film. Hoping to see it again someday. Have a taste of Sanctissima's exquisite delicacy while waiting for tonight's results.
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