And God said, "That shit is cray.": August 2014

I finally got a good shot of this! :P

This is the late Cinemalaya X review. Bow.

As my dear movie buff friends would say, "It's that wonderful time of the year!", we welcome Cinemalaya with open arms. For it's tenth year, it's Cinemalaya X: A Decade of Connecting Dimensions. True enough, the festival lived up to its name for producing fresh malayang pelikulang Pilipino and it has connected different kinds of people with unique, breathtaking and kick-in-the-gut films. Happy 10th Anniversary, Cinemalaya!

Cinemalaya X Gallery.

Cinemalaya X presented 25 films in three categories: New Breed, Director's Showcase and Short feature. They also have their usual Retrospective and Philippine Premieres. I was able to watch 20 and here's my quick take on each film:

Mariquina (2014)
Directed by Milo Sogueco
This is a touching story about a father-daughter relationship with the history of Marikina being the Shoe Capital of the Philippines as its backdrop. Mariquina will make you appreciate your parents more for who they are. The script is well written (I mean Jerrold Tarog, really), and is told by the directors and actors who gave strong performances for the film. I particularly like how Imelda (Mylene Dizon) managed to have a shoe for her father. It's simple yet endearing and couldn't think of a better way to have it. Personally though, the film was a tad long for me and I felt a slight struggle to quickly close every situation presented on the film.

Shorts A (2014)
Asan Si Lolo Me? by Sari Estrada, Tiya Bening by Ralph Quijano, Mga Ligaw na Paruparo by J.E. Tiglao, The Ordinary Things We Do by David Corpuz and Padulong sa Pinuy-anan by Eden Villarba
Shorts B (2014)
Indayog ng Nayatamak by Joris Fernandez, Lola by Kevin Ang Tan, Nakabibinging Kadiliman by Paolo O'Hara, Ina-Tay by Chloe Veloso and Eyeball by Thop Nazareno

Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013)
Directed by Lav Diaz
Norte had a special screening in Cinemalaya which was good for me as I couldn't fit their Ayala Malls schedule in mine. This film showed that an idea or belief, how different it may be for people, can define oneself and the way we see the people around us; that an idea can define a human in the face of struggle. With the Philippine society as its playground, Diaz perfectly conveyed Fabian (Sid Lucero) and the rest of the characters' story in the most realistic and understandable way possible. Norte also held spectacular performances from the actors and I'm taking this opportunity to give praise to Angeli Bayani. Her acting gave me good goosebumps and scenes that are very hard to forget.

K'Na, the Dreamweaver (2014)
Directed by Ida Anita Del Mundo
I like the simpleness of K'na and it made me miss seeing movies that are given a very light treatment that will leave you feeling good. I specifically like the ending. I took it as we are the "weavers" of our own lives and who we are can affect how others weave theirs. The production design is made with such finesse and the details are intricate, just fitting anyone's expectation of watching a period film. The entire film's language is also in the T'boli dialect, and for that, even alone, major props to team K'na.

Hari ng Tondo (2014)
Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna
At first I had mixed feelings about this but now I am dead sure - I hate this film. I won't say don't watch it, in fact, if Hari ng Tondo would be shown nationwide, I'd love for you to see it and then let me know what you think. Though not the story, Hari ng Tondo came off for me as a "Rich Man's Movie", wherein bored and rich people decided "Hey, let's make a movie about the poor". I'm sure the makers of this film have the best intentions of putting Tondo and how it is there on the spotlight but for me, the way this film portrayed the place is so demeaning and offensive. Though it has its funny moments, this is a really bad script for me. Robert Arevalo and the music were the only things good in this film.

Ilo Ilo (2013)
Directed by Anthony Chen
Sadly, Ilo Ilo screened with no subtitles at all. I don't know why but I'm sure it was given to Cinemalaya with subs, just HELLO CINEMALAYA YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 10 YEARS SHIT LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HAPPENING. Anyway, despite not understanding what was being said for an hour and almost 40 minutes, Anthony Chen gave heart to everyone who was raised by a maid, who has had a maid, have been or still is a helper and of course, to his childhood, which I think is the greatest accomplishment of this film. Ilo Ilo is a story of how two different worlds finding out they aren't so different at all; the fight of people longing to be cared for. The film's cast includes Angeli Bayani (I am really in love with this woman), Chen Tianwen, Yeo Yann Yann (she was amazing!) and Koh Kia Ler as the naughty on the outside but sweet on the inside, Jiale. I am in love with the shots and the end credits music was a sweet surprise.

The Janitor (2014)
Directed by Michael Tuviera
Upon seeing the trailer for The Janitor, I had a feeling it was going to be good and I wasn't disappointed. The film is about the 2008 bank massacre in Laguna and the known probable way of how all crimes are declared solved in the Philippines. This movie's bold and gritty and not asking for more. The Janitor showcased Niccolo Manalo's acting skills astonishingly.

Sundalong Kanin (2014)
Directed by Janice O'Hara and Denise O'Hara
I guess the fact that I am struggling what to write here is a proof of how this film just blew me away. This is the best movie for me for this year's Cinemalaya. It played with so many elements: from kids, growing up, grief, the war, the oppressed, just, I seriosuly have no words. The kids and the entire cast played their roles well. I like how they came about with the title which was said in the film and one of the opening scenes where the kids we're playing old school street games and how it ended with them being on the same place, being and living the war games that they were just once playing. Can I just clap?

Death March (2013)
Directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.
I'm always nervous when I'm about to watch an Alix film and I think this is because of Kalayaan (2012) and the Huseng Batute and some of his experimental (for me) films. But after 2 months of seeing Alix's films, it dawns on me how great they are. Anyway, contrary to that notion, just like with Porno (2013), I instantly like Death March. The black and white and theater-like element took away the obvious and made it focus more on the men of Death March, their thoughts, their doings, expressions and the gravity of their situation and how they are facing it, which people nowadays tend to forget or less discussed when it comes to talking about the Death March.

Separados (2014)
Directed by GB Sampedro
Is this a music video of Erik Santos? Just kidding. The music is alright and that's the only good thing I can think of for this movie. The main character's a chef so it's quite surprising why this movie's bland. Separados is too literal and explored by GB Sampedro shallowly. Thus explains why my take on it is just like what, 3-4 sentences only.

A Thief, A Kid, And A Killer (2014)
Directed by Nathan Adolfson
Nathan Adolfson was present during the screening of A Thief, A Kid, And A Killer for Cinemalaya X's Closing Film and he mentioned that he wanted a heavy situation for a movie that is presented in the lightest way possible. Kudos to you, Mr. Adolfson, you achieved it. Though rough characters and situations were presented, it didn't need the same treatment and that's what I like about it. Also, I like the straightforwardness and the quirky relationship created by a child and a man with helpless dreams.

I shall now present you le pictures from Cinemalaya X. Bow.