Tag Archives: UP Diliman

Si Narra at ang Lihim na Silid sa Paradiso: Of sexual abuse and innocence appeal

27 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by in Movie Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Heinrich Domingo

A little girl living alone with her guardian just turned nine years old. They live in a shabby nipa hut placed in the middle of a vast rice field. On her birthday, the old gay man brings her to the city to buy ice cream. There, they met a barangay captain’s friend who was kind enough to invite them to his party. Little do they know that the man will give Narra her worst birthday present.

12715208_1155943487751528_3433086197602590479_n

Continue reading →

The Truth as Told in Lies: Of mental illness and superb acting

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Movie Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

By: Heinrich Domingo

A teenage boy is rushed to the hospital after committing suicide. Her mom, in an effort to console herself first before saving her son, conjures lies after lies for the interviewing doctor to hear. The film eventually revealed how the boy has had a miserable growing up with her mother. He lived a life that made him pay for how his father abandoned their family.

12733492_1155938861085324_7955011062270791790_n

Continue reading →

Reyna Christina (Queen Christina): Of femininity and beauty

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Movie Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

By: Heinrich Domingo

A prepubescent girl enters the ‘women’ club as she joins the annual Santacruzan (May Festival). Her mother introduces her into a Filipino long-standing tradition that weirdly dresses girls as Virgin Mary and parades them on the streets like beauty contestants. She then learns that the world measures women based on the color of their skin and the size of their breasts. And although she resists at first and affirms her own understanding of beauty, she realizes that femininity is power. It is a gift and she is precious for being a recipient of it.

12745685_1155941814418362_1494833774118454382_n

Continue reading →

Ipinanganak na Nakayapak (Born Barefoot): Of comedy and advocacy

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Movie Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

By Heinrich Domingo

A hardworking construction worker is happy and contented with his life despite his company’s low wage. With other men workers, he stays in the building that they are yet to finish. One day, he meets an accident. Because of his boss’ strict policies, he has to bring himself alone in the hospital. Yet, the hospital doesn’t want to let him in. Guards were citing a policy that does not allow patients to enter their institution wearing slippers.

12525398_1134710036541540_3407576410068859380_o

Continue reading →

Anyang Melagas ya ing Tangke king Sala (Broken from the stem of light): Of insufficiencies and copycats

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Movie Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

By Heinrich Domingo

Death, life, and hope are central in this short film’s plot. An orphaned boy begs on the street just to buy a coffin for her lifeless sister. This is a narrative with a potential to be made into a full-length film. Yet, this plot is too familiar for the crowd who has seen Magkakabaung. They are both set in Pampanga, both use a Kapampangan language and center on the life of a male living alone in his shabby little home.

12743538_1155943434418200_1075924074746096120_n

Continue reading →