Movie Review of "Ang Katiwala"
By Marie Camille Cuisia
Figure 1: Movie poster of "Ang Katiwala"
Summary:
Ruben (Dennis Trillo) loses his job as a carpenter in a small town in Quezon where he lives with his wife Edna (Althea Vega) and their 10-year old son, Budoy (Miggs Cuaderno). Desperate to make ends meet, he accepts a job as a caretaker of an abandoned property in Quezon City. Ruben soon finds out that the previous owner of the house is an important figure in the country’s history. When he is interviewed by a TV reporter about this historical figure, Ruben feels embarrassed that he knows nothing about him.
[Reference: http://www.showbiznest.com/2012/07/cinemalaya-2012-quick-guide-to-8th.html]
Review:
Seeing the poster, I am really clueless of what the story is all about. Sitting, waiting for the movie to start, I am very intrigued of what its concept is. When the movie ended, I was more than happy. It was superb.
If you were there, watching the film, probably you would still be clueless of what the story has to offer. The story revolves around Ruben (Dennis Trillo), who lost his job and agreed to be a caretaker of an abandoned house in Quezon. He stayed in a friend's house near Quezon. He left his wife and son on the province. His son, winning a dictionary from a raffle, texts his father new words per day. It came to happen that his son became useful to him.
Figure 2: Ruben and his son
Destiny. The first word sent to him was "destiny". When I saw this, it seems that the questions, "Were all the things that happening in Ruben's life are destiny?", "Is it really just destiny that made him a caretaker?" popped into my mind.
Industrious. This was the second word sent to him by his son. "Ang tatay ko ay masipag", texted his son. Will his industriousness lead him to be successful? Well, upon seeing this during half of the movie or less, I can never tell.
He has no idea that it was Manuel Luis Quezon's property. Later on, he got interviewed by a TV reporter, unfortunately, he knows not much of the president. He later on started studying about him. The night-shift gurad even thought that he was possessed by Pres. Quezon. Ruben, fascinated to know that they have almost the same lifestyle, he continued reading his books and studied further. He encountered the words "inaugurate" and "consciousness". Are these words just plain words or do they have meaning? Will Ruben be inaugurated and be able to escape from the hardships of life? Will consciousness open up something in his life? Will it change his life? Again, I do not know.
Figure 3: Ruben with some thoughts, after being interviewed
The film is really good at making the viewers confused. Different questions popped up into our minds. Murmurs and whispers were all over the main theater as we watch. As the film goes, we saw how Ruben transformed into a new individual. Having Manuel L. Quezon as his new "idol", he gains consciousness about different things. "Parang lahat na lang tayo, squatter sa sariling nating bansa", he said in the movie. He said this because when he went to the baptism of his friend's child, it was the same day that that place was to be demolished. He tried to fight with his friends but did not succeed. His friend's family became homeless and stayed in the house he's been care-taking.
It was a tragic movie, for in the end part of the movie, his friends died. They burned the place where they used to live because of the bitterness they were feeling. Not knowingly, they were followed by some residents and it caused their deaths. Ruben tried to fight and survived.
The semi-documentray film was inspired by the concept of Commonwealth, established by Manuel L. Quezon during 1935. Ruben worked hard for his family and fought hard for his friends, engaging in a hell-like situation, rather than be safe and comfortable. The last part of the movie showed the interview of Ruben during the times he was still the caretaker of the house (he lost his job again due to the killings), the TV reporter stated that if we can all be Ruben Manalos, we can change our society. The story did not have a happy ending, but I really enjoyed it. For me, though the story revolved in Ruben's life, we should not only focus on him. The story showed the different faces of Manuel L. Quezon-the ones who fought for their homeland.
"I would rather have a Philippines run like hell by Filipinos than a Philippines run like heaven by the Americans" -- Manuel L. Quezon
Film itself:
The cinematography was good, but not really the best, I guess :) But the director succeeded in choosing Dennis Trillo, for he really showed innocence. Looking into his eyes, it was a very different Dennis Trillo. And I'm satisfied with the outcome.
Rating:
Photo reference:
http://digitista.blogspot.com/2012/07/cinemalaya-entry-ang-katiwala-features.html
Figure 4: Photos before and after the showing of "Ang Katiwala"
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Mga Lihim na Nagbubuklod at Nagpapatatag ng Pagkakaibigan
Movie review of "Mga Mumunting Lihim"
By: Marie Camille Cuisia
Figure 1: Movie poster of "Mga Mumunting Lihim"
Synopsis:
The death of Mariel (JUDY ANN SANTOS) was met with such hurt by her three closest friends. But it was her best friend, Carla (IZA CALZADO) that she leaves a most special gift, a box full of her diaries through the years. Carla has been Mariel’s friend since their high school years; they have practically shared everything in their lives together. Their two other girl friends, Sandra (AGOT ISIDRO) and Olive (JANICE DE BELEN) formed the quartet who would get together ever so often and served as a mutual support system. Despite warnings from Sandra and Olive not to read the diaries left behind by Mariel, Carla could not help herself to find out what was written on those volumes of handwritten materials. True enough, what she discovered completely shattered all her perceptions and beliefs of the friendship shared by the four women through the years. Inside those diaries were all the little secrets that the women kept from one another—all the hidden emotions, stories and comments that made their lives a sham. Death should be a closure but it could also be a terrible beginning and realization of what was hidden by the living.
[Reference: http://www.cinemalaya.org/film_mumunting-lihim.htm]
Review:
The movie was inspired not only from friendship, but sheer friendship. Jose Javier Reyes lost 2 bestfriends due to cancer, and he considers this film as a tribute to them. A tribute also to Manny Castaneda and George Lim.
The movie has a first scene that is unusual- a burial ceremony. It was surprising to know that it is not death that ends all things, but opens new things. Mariel (played by Judy Anne) left a special present (a diary) to her closest friend, Carla (played by Iza Calzado), that led to discovering of unopened topics (that icluded 2 other people in their circle of friends, Sandra, played by Agot Isidro and Olive by Janice de Belen) that they do not know about each other. It paved way to cat fights and hatred but later on paved way into the strengthening of their friendship.
It is said in the movie that we have 2 kinds of friends:
- The friends that we have because we have no choice
- The ones we chose
It is also said that in friendship, there are things that you all know but you don't talk about. I really agree on these. This is what Mariel broke when she died. She left her friends be capable of knowing the truth among themselves and it led into the deepening if their friendships.
The film used vulgar and mind-blowing words, and is not really suitable for all ages. But what I like about the movie is that I felt it. I was moved by it. It captured the real essence of friendship, and don't forget, the problems too! It was very funny and heart breaking too. The film made all the viewers laugh, and at the same time, emotional. The casting was cool-they were very different from each other. Director Jose Javier Reyes has a good sense of taste in choosing the cast. He chose not the "overused" actresses that always team up in teleseryes and movies. About the cinematography, it is not so good for me though, but very nice concept. The concept of friendship never gets old! :)
The only problem I have with this movie is the repetition of the scenes and words, it's kind of irritating :D
The only problem I have with this movie is the repetition of the scenes and words, it's kind of irritating :D
Rating:
Figure 2: Shots before and after the filmviewing
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