9/10
Filipino Romeo & Juliet
22 March 2004
Set in Negros Province of the Philippines, during Marcos martial law year continuing up to Ninoy's assasination, this Romeo & Juliet tells a story of a hacienda girl & a poor farm boy fall in love but political & social structures keep them apart. Matet's dreams of demons & kapres were metaphors of what military & people during those days have been doing in Negros.

One of Mario O'Hara's best works. The movie was good with a lot of literary texts, my favorites are the protest poems recited by Matet & her partner. In a scene where Matet secretly holds Jose (the poor boy) hands, while reciting a poem, I remember Peque gallaga's movies Oro Plata, Mata & Unfaithful Wife (esp. when Ana Marie Gutierez recited a poem). The scene was so romantic at "hindi pilit". The acting by the male newcomer was superb, he's like Nora Aunor (Filipinas actress) when he used his eyes, with no dialogue. I do not see him in the movies anymore. Matet was great. Really a product of her parents. Although the editing & sound were quite gloomy. Medyo may portions na magulo. The ending was so traumatic, sad & really unpleasant for those who'll watch it. The movie should've been given more budget. The technical aspect suffered due to the budget, but in terms of intensity & poetry, the movie was really nice. Hope to see movies with literary texts like this in the future.
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