MYTHS, aliens, identity formation and sexual abuse were given spotlight in four regional films in this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
The four regional films utilized their native tongue: Onha of Romblon for “Huling Palabas” by Ryan Machado; Ilocano for “Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing)” by Carl Joseph Papa; and Hiligaynon for “Bulawan nga Usa” by Kenneth De la Cruz and “Gitling” by Jopy Arnaldo.
“Huling Palabas” is a coming-of-age movie that tackled themes of identity formation, abandonment, friendship, and folklore.
The film is set in the early 2000s during a time of transition from VHS to VCD, and along with it is the transformation of the sexual orientation of a young boy named Andoy (Shun Mark Gomez).
The film is about Andoy and his journey searching for his long-lost father in the town of Romblon. His reality becomes mystified when two movie-like characters appear in his hometown — Ariel, a hairdresser, and Isidro, a mysterious, long-haired man who owns a VCD player.
”It is marking the end of an era, the loss that accompanies any ending, as well as the threat of change and uncertainty by the new,” says Machado.
He said magical realism is his film’s undertone — as the forces of the engkanto, aswang and sigbin are stronger in places replete with mountains and trees.
“Iti Mapukpukaw” is the first full-length rotoscope animation film at Cinemalaya that follows the life of Eric (Carlo Aquino) as a mouth-less young animator at the intersections of grief and trauma.
Rotoscope is a method of animation that’s created by tracing over frame by frame a live-action footage.
Eric untangles memories from his childhood in the wake of his uncle’s death. An alien abducted him from Earth which left to him power as the destined ruler of the planet.
The death triggered Eric to remember his past as a victim of sexual abuse by his uncle during his childhood. He stopped talking as his uncle told him to remain silent. His co-worker Carlo (Gio Gahol) is his love interest and his shock-absorber.
“Speaking up is never too late. The film encourages others to speak up, too. I hope that in creating Eric, I create a refuge for people who suffered the same fate as he did and a safe space where giving information, fostering understanding, and initiating discourse are things we don’t have to be afraid of,” says the film director Papa.
Dolly de Leon (who plays Eric’s mother) said the film “deals on how trauma affects the ability of those who are victims to navigate the world. It is a way of healing, embracing trauma and getting over it as a young individual.”
In “Bulawan nga Usa” (Golden Deer), after his beloved grandfather’s death, Makoy (Ron Matthews Espinosa) embarks on a soul-stirring expedition to a mystical mountain in Iloilo in search of the legendary golden deer that possesses the power to grant wishes. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he befriends a spirited young mountain boy who joins him in the quest for the mythical creature and self-discovery.
“The themes of passion and aspiration resonate with anyone who has experienced uncertainty and setbacks yet refuses to surrender,” says dela Cruz. “There is something profoundly heartfelt, magical, and humble about the tales passed down from one generation to another.”
In “Gitling”, a young Filipina translator (Gabby Padilla) and a middle-aged Japanese director (Ken Yamamura) test the limits of language and understanding while creating the subtitles of a film.
Jamie just called off her engagement. Makoto ran away to the Philippines to escape the wife who cheated on him two years ago. Their paths crossed in Bacolod where they work together and create Ilonggo subtitles for Makoto’s film. Together, as they go through the filmmaking process, they found solace in a friendship they never knew they needed.
“Words are the best way to deceive and confuse people, whether intentional or not. And when you throw different languages in there, the main purpose of words, to convey meaning, becomes even harder,” says Arnaldo.
This year’s 10 full-length films include “Huling Palabas”, “Iti Mapupukaw”, “Gitling”, “Bulawan Nga Usa”, “Rookie” by Samantha Lee, “As If It’s True” by John Rogers, “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” by Dustin Celestino, “Maria” by Sheryl Rose Andes, “Tether” by Gian Arre, and “When This is All Over” by Kevin Mikhail Mayuga. The short film section also has 10 competing entries.
Cinemalaya runs from Aug. 4 to 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
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“Peyups” is the moniker of the University of the Philippines.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786./PN
