12 Friday Jul 2019
Posted in Essays
It’s that time of the year again when film buffs crowd over CCP to see the new and most-talked-about Pinoy indie films of the year.
L and I decided to have a full-on Cinemalaya experience where we blocked off our entire week to attend the entire duration of the festival. Here’s a reflection of our experience and some realizations on how we could have improved our experience.
11 Monday Jan 2016
Posted in 2015, Movie Reviews
Tags
#Walang Forever, 2015, dan villegas, Film Festival, film review, Jennylyn Mercado, Jericho Rosales, MMFF, Movie review, philippines
Ever since The Breakup Playlist, Dan Villegas has been on a short list of rom-com directors whose work exudes originality in content and structure. He made us reminisce on past romances in The Breakup Playlist and learn when to let go and love again in English Only, Please. In his 2015 MMFF entry, #WalangForever, it would seem that he still strives to achieve novelty in his narrative. The only difference of this new film from the others is that it struggles to find a consistent ambiance and a believable story that could merit itself a Best Film Award.
07 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in 2014, Movie Reviews
Tags
2014, Film Festival, Golden Leopard, independent, independent film, indie, indie film, Lav Diaz, Locarno, Movie, Movie review, Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon
Like a prophet who first gained recognition in a foreign land, Lav Diaz comes back to the Philippines with the highly-coveted Locarno’s Golden Leopard. In the international scene, his work was praised, his style applauded, and his narrative explored. Diaz’ films were treated as transcendent over those of the Western style. His work was not governed by theories and structures. But, as he presents this gleaming token to the Filipino audience, he was faced with an indifferent crowd that reeks of the West.
