Blanka (2015)

Abandoned in the shabby urban slums of Manila, the 11-year-old street urchin, Blanka, struggles for survival in a cruel world to succeed in her ultimate goal: to create the best family money can buy.

Director:

Kohki Hasei

Stars:

Don Gordon Bell, Jomar Bisuyo, Raymond Camacho

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Don Gordon Bell	...	Director / Producer
Jomar Bisuyo	...	Sebastian
Raymond Camacho	...	Raul
Cydel Gabutero	...	Blanka
Peter Millari	...	Peter
Ruby Ruiz	...	The bad woman

Storyline

Blanka (Cydel Gabutero) makes her living on the street of Manila from small thefts and tricks. She dreams of saving enough money to "buy" a mom. When she meets talented Peter (Peter Millari), a blind gambling musician, her life takes an unexpected direction. They decide to join forces in order to face everyday struggles. Thanks to Peter, Blanka discovers to be a talented singer and, more importantly, understands that money cannot buy the love of a person.

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Plot Keywords:

saving | singer | blind | musician | theft | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

Italy Philippines Japan

Language:

Tagalog

Release Date:

29 July 2017 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Μπλάνκα

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Biennale College - Cinema, Dorje Film, Simple Truth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song Blanka (Cydel Gabutero) sings is an old Spanish song. The director Kohki Hasei wrote the lyrics in Japanese. They were translated into English, then into Tagalog.

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Quotes

Blanka: Why don't chickens fly if they have wings?

User Reviews

Warm and honest portrayal that chooses laughter over tears

Blanka marks Japanese documentary director, Kohki Hasei's first feature length. It stars Filipino YouTube talent, Cydel Gabutero in her first on-screen appearance. Following the story of Blanka, an orphaned girl who make ends meet by stealing in order to save enough money to buy a 'mother'; she meets Peter, a blind musician, who teaches her to use her gift of singing to make a proper living.

Being a Filipino myself, Blanka embodies an honest portrayal of a young girl's struggles. Her situation is one of many children in the Philippines. Yet, Hasei depicts her character as neither a hero or a girl worth pitying. She carries at the same time, the innocence of a child by wanting to buy a 'mother' but the maturity of an adult by earning money through her own ways and caring for the blind Peter. Gabutero (Blanka) is a natural on screen, emphasized by Hasei's documentary background.

What makes Blanka worth the watch is, despite its rather dramatic premise, it prefers laughter over tears. Blanka and Peter are a duo that is a joy to watch on screen. Cinematographer Onishi Takeyuki captures the grim slums of Manila with vibrant colors. There are warm overtones and everything is full of sunshine.

This is an honest film that looks at finding happiness during tough times through the help of a friend, or rather, a family.