1. I often hear my friends rave about this movie, be it on their posts on social media or over drunken conversations with our favorite potion. Some of them have seen the movie more than once. "You have to see it twice", they would often say, "to fully appreciate and understand the movie". I had the chance to see the movie last night here in UPLB but prior to that, I did not watch the trailer (or any other clips) on purpose, not even the infectious and much-praised song by Armi Millare. I want the movie to surprise me, without having any idea on what to expect (I've had enough of disappointing movies, thank you very much). As I left the auditorium after the credits rolled and the lights were lit, I was satisfied that I made the right decision.
2. The plot of the film is simple. Actually, there isn't much to it. But the film's apocryphal stories about Baler (Filipinas providing food and information to their Spanish soldier boyfriends during the siege at the Church of Baler; how seven families survived a tsunami and built a shelter far from the shore; and how in the 70's, the crew of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now left a surfboard, which was then picked by locals, eventually turning them into surfing champs) perfectly intertwine with the manic and twisted story and flawed characters.
3.The actors were great. Sid Lucero's outburst and curses reminds me of his drunken Philosopher character in the movie "Norte" (Lav Diaz, 2013). Ana Abad Santos was the perfect mother and daughter of Baler who clings so desperately to the stories told about her. The suffering of Annicka Dolonius throughout the movie gives us a witness and spectator on all the mess that they have created. RK Bagatsing provides an enigma and an equalizer to Lucero's madness. Gwen Zamora was a revelation in her character who slowly set the whole conflict in motion. Archie Alemania provides balance and humor to these crazy characters.
4. What's great about these characters was that they are all flawed and they showed the humanity of being weak, scarred, and helpless in a tangled mess. Its impact among viewers, in my opinion, is that we were just there, as if we were also included in their problems, helplessly watching them as they fall into disarray and foolishness. We were the Fionas (Dolonius) who desperately cry towards the end of the movie, as the bus moves past Baler.
5. What makes a movie better with already a great story and actors in its helm? Great music – musical scores and songs. And what would be more perfect than having Up Dharma Down's Armi Millare do both work for you? A result so close to perfection, you may have already reached the nirvana of film making and musical scoring.
6. What's really the root of conflict between Rich and Ford? What was the real story? Who's telling the truth? Was Ford's mother really telling the truth about the identity of his father? What happened to them at the end of the movie? We may never know. It's our "What's in the briefcase?" in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. But, let's just leave it there. A great story needs to be talked about and discussed. I bet this will be studied in film schools for the future generation of filmmakers. This movie is an instant classic.
(5 Stars. You NEED to see this movie.)
2. The plot of the film is simple. Actually, there isn't much to it. But the film's apocryphal stories about Baler (Filipinas providing food and information to their Spanish soldier boyfriends during the siege at the Church of Baler; how seven families survived a tsunami and built a shelter far from the shore; and how in the 70's, the crew of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now left a surfboard, which was then picked by locals, eventually turning them into surfing champs) perfectly intertwine with the manic and twisted story and flawed characters.
3.The actors were great. Sid Lucero's outburst and curses reminds me of his drunken Philosopher character in the movie "Norte" (Lav Diaz, 2013). Ana Abad Santos was the perfect mother and daughter of Baler who clings so desperately to the stories told about her. The suffering of Annicka Dolonius throughout the movie gives us a witness and spectator on all the mess that they have created. RK Bagatsing provides an enigma and an equalizer to Lucero's madness. Gwen Zamora was a revelation in her character who slowly set the whole conflict in motion. Archie Alemania provides balance and humor to these crazy characters.
4. What's great about these characters was that they are all flawed and they showed the humanity of being weak, scarred, and helpless in a tangled mess. Its impact among viewers, in my opinion, is that we were just there, as if we were also included in their problems, helplessly watching them as they fall into disarray and foolishness. We were the Fionas (Dolonius) who desperately cry towards the end of the movie, as the bus moves past Baler.
5. What makes a movie better with already a great story and actors in its helm? Great music – musical scores and songs. And what would be more perfect than having Up Dharma Down's Armi Millare do both work for you? A result so close to perfection, you may have already reached the nirvana of film making and musical scoring.
6. What's really the root of conflict between Rich and Ford? What was the real story? Who's telling the truth? Was Ford's mother really telling the truth about the identity of his father? What happened to them at the end of the movie? We may never know. It's our "What's in the briefcase?" in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. But, let's just leave it there. A great story needs to be talked about and discussed. I bet this will be studied in film schools for the future generation of filmmakers. This movie is an instant classic.
(5 Stars. You NEED to see this movie.)