I've been looking for this movie ever since it got submitted to Oscars and glad it came out in Netflix. It was a joy to watch Chito Roño doing a splendid job portraying island life WITHOUT anyone being stereotyped as oppressed or succumbing to gay scenes. Also a realistic and a decent ending.
4 Reviews
A must-see fictional drama not just for Filipinos.
Ron_Solina22 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Stories about the abuse being suffered by the Filipina diaspora at the hands of non-Filipino men could have had more potency had it been presented in a non-fiction news-and-public-affairs format, or if these fictionalizations have instead followed by the cue set by documentaries, just like Soderberg's Traffic. But Filipina-sploitation films have it's roots from Gil Portes' movie Miss X one done in the '80s that is set and filmed in Amsterdam. Though I must say that the blue-eyed Fil-Am comedian Rob Schneider has since made (what I consider) penance for that with his Razzie-honored trash that is Deuce Bigalow Part 2. I salute him for such stupid bravery.
Traversing the route of fictionalizion or melodramatizations of such narrative is justfied by the two scenes shot in the film: the wedding reception party hosted by the protagonist Intoy for the interracial May-December couple and his family's rushed meeting with the Finnish government official. The characterizations might be tad too theatrical given Rono is a veteran and a stalwart of Filipino motion pic industry, he's definitely in his element here but the thing that remains deliberately unspoken manifests in its most subtlest of forms, such thing that would have been harder to capture in a non-fiction setting. Although it could not have hurt if the filmmakers borrowed some characters from the Euro-auteur Lars von Trier. There's no shame in doing so I should stress. All in good intentions paved in beach sand.
A few words to describe what this movie is about, it's a sort of pyramid scheme where monies only play secondary role and one that focuses on those unfortunate who are relegated to the bottom. Though the paths traversed to commit fraud is detailed, such are unimportant given permutations are always a plenty for one to arrive to the intended result. Also one could view this as a flip-side of Ulrich Seidl's Paradise: Love though one that opted for a tad sweeter ending, and missed the opportunityin showcasing the gravity of the situation, a much more needed despair to keep this cinematic work grounded.
A gamma.
Traversing the route of fictionalizion or melodramatizations of such narrative is justfied by the two scenes shot in the film: the wedding reception party hosted by the protagonist Intoy for the interracial May-December couple and his family's rushed meeting with the Finnish government official. The characterizations might be tad too theatrical given Rono is a veteran and a stalwart of Filipino motion pic industry, he's definitely in his element here but the thing that remains deliberately unspoken manifests in its most subtlest of forms, such thing that would have been harder to capture in a non-fiction setting. Although it could not have hurt if the filmmakers borrowed some characters from the Euro-auteur Lars von Trier. There's no shame in doing so I should stress. All in good intentions paved in beach sand.
A few words to describe what this movie is about, it's a sort of pyramid scheme where monies only play secondary role and one that focuses on those unfortunate who are relegated to the bottom. Though the paths traversed to commit fraud is detailed, such are unimportant given permutations are always a plenty for one to arrive to the intended result. Also one could view this as a flip-side of Ulrich Seidl's Paradise: Love though one that opted for a tad sweeter ending, and missed the opportunityin showcasing the gravity of the situation, a much more needed despair to keep this cinematic work grounded.
A gamma.
Immersive film on the realities of Filipino island life
autumnsolace-5894820 August 2018
This masterpiece really draws upon the viewer to be immersed into the multi-faceted lives of the Filipino community in the context of a far-flung island with little access to even telecommunications. The film is able to string together the ensemble cast, with every character playing a part in the unfolding story and the ever present portrayal of the Filipino quality of "bayanihan".
This is so damn good!
jetraine882 January 2022
We need this kind of movie in Philippine cinema, a must watch movie . A big salute to all cast and people behind it well executed . I hope theres even a part 2. Worth watching lets support Indie Films , I really like this kind of movie everything is new to me .
Walang tapon s pelikula ni kahit isang scene at acting . I recently watch it on netflix . This movie is a win win!!!!
Walang tapon s pelikula ni kahit isang scene at acting . I recently watch it on netflix . This movie is a win win!!!!
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