Monday, July 20, 2009

Addictions: Movies & Cinemalaya


Cinemalaya Cinco is underway. Due to the very timely rains we've experienced this weekend, I wasn't able to watch as much as I wanted. A whole weekend has passed, and I was only able to view only one movie. I'm planning to get to see more.

In competition this year are ten full-length films and ten shorts exhibited at six major venues of the CCP Complex. The finalists in the full length feature category are:

24K by Ana Agabin,
Ang Nerseri (The Nursery) by Vic Acedillo, Jr.;
Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin B. Yapan;
Astig (Mga Batang Kalye) by GB Sampedro;
Colorum by Jon Steffan Ballesteros;
Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. Sandejas;
Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno;
Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel;
Mangatyanan (The Blood Trail) by Jerrold Tarog and
Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco.

Of these ten, I was lucky enough to get a ticket to Engkwentro, probably because the ticket seller though I was part of a group of students she sold tickets to outside of the queue. Haha! Unfortunately, I no longer have a student ID to show anyone, which is too bad, for I might have enjoyed a 50% discount had I been a student (wishful thinking, I know, but there it is).

Engkwentro is about Richard (played by Felix Roco) and his woes with his family, his gang and its rivals, and the vigilante group that wants him dead. Tiring of his life as a petty criminal, he plans to elope with his girlfriend and try their luck in Manila. The movie was good, although the camerawork was a bit dizzying, at times whitewashed with solar glare, and at other times completely veiled in shadows, but I guess that was intentional. It sets the mood, somehow, and communicates the idea of the audience as voyeurs to the protagonists' life.

Expect to be shocked with this film's conclusion, which is, I guess, the director's intention.




Another film I'm itching to watch in this year's Cinemalaya is Alvin Yapan's "Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe" (The Rapture of Fe), about an OFW who was forced to return home due to the financial crisis to be met with an abusive husband and the attentions of other men, paranormal or otherwise.



It was unfortunate that the film had already sold out when I was about to purchase a ticket for the 9pm showing. Thankfully, there is still another weekend viewing for the film set for next Saturday. I have already contracted Eyvicat to accompany me with this one, and possibly to another film or two, if schedules (and funds) permit. Come to think of it, maybe a day pass for that day might be a good idea. :-)


For ticket information, please call the CCP Marketing Department at 551-7930 or 832-1125 local 1800 to 1808 and the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or 832-1125 local 1409.

17 comments:

  1. I wish I could watch.. Damn, Im sick. :(

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  2. @ Homer: Sayang naman! Pagaling ka kaagad. Hanggang 26 pa naman ang screenings e.

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  3. I was able to watch Mangatyanan and Sanglaan yesterday. I like Sanglaan; it's my favorite film so far this year.

    I'll be watching more films on Friday and Saturday. Let me know if Pangagahasa kay Fe is good. =)

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  4. I've watched Sanglaan and Engkwentro already.

    My favorite so far is Engkwentro. It's a bit dark. and there will be times that it'll make you a bit dizzy (but I think it's part of the way they made it. I heard from a friend that worked on the set that there's something they put in the film to make you dizzy), it's worth the watch. A real eye opener.

    Watch it!

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  5. I like Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe at Dinig sana Kita.

    Very inspiring to write a short. :)

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  6. @ Andy: Wow, good for you, that you were able to find time to watch two last Sunday. It took me too long to urge myself out of the house. Otherwise, I might have spent the whole day at the CCP. haha

    Sure, I'll let you know how Rapture fares, although the reviews I've read from other bloggers seem promising.


    @ Anton: It sure was a real eye-opener. Celso Ad Castillo's character, though not seen in the film, was such a pervasive force throughout.


    @ Acrylique: I would be watching Rapture by the weekend. I'm really considering buying a day pass for Saturday, so I can watch 5 films. hehe.

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  7. hmmm... more and more people are posting about this. i never tried watching indie films.

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  8. i love watching indies because of the uniqueness and quality of the stories. blockbusters are becoming somewhat predictable nowadays.

    too bad i have do not have the means to watch these...


    ---

    thanks for the advice. the solution will not represent itself unless you take a step to look for it.

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  9. like kuya dong, i never tried watching indie films.

    but i heard na its good. magagaling daw ang new waves of pinoy directors. superb ang imagination. that's good for us!

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  10. @ Dong: Plenty of people are talking about the Cinemalaya because the featured films are good. Way better than those churned out by mainstream production companies. Try mo manood, the festival runs until Saturday. :-)


    @ Lucas: True, mainstream cinema isn't all it's cut off to be. Most have been produced for profit, tapos wala namang quality, kaya nakaka-inis lang panoorin.

    Tickets for Cinemalaya sell for 100 only. Try mong manood! hehe.


    @ Poot: Try to watch any of the featured films this year. Winners of the Cinemalaya usually get to compete at international film festivals, so it may be an indication that the films are good. hehe

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  11. Thanks for sharing! These movies look really good. :)

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  12. Nako i'm sure mabibigat ang eksena sa movie na yan eh powerful kung umakting yang si Fe. :)Hope i can watch this or download instead? Hehehe torrent!

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  13. aweeeeeee....1st time here....

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  14. @ Angel: You're welcome, Angel! Go watch! Maraming magandang movies this festival season. hehe


    @ Tsi: Oo, galing talaga ni Irma Adlawan, very controlled ang acting. Last saw her sa Dose, from the Cinema One festival. Siya na yata ang reyna ng independent films. haha!


    @ Mark: Hi Mark, welcome sa lungga ko! :-D

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  15. panggagahasa is intelligently made. complex. i'm betting this would probably win best film although i'd be ecstatic if dinig wins.

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  16. hintayin ko na lang yung iba sa dvd kasi. wala kasi ganyan sa province lol. ingats lagi.

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  17. Sabi ni Acrylique, baka may screening daw sa UP next week. May chance ka pang humabol! ;-)

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