SUBSCRIBETuli and Ilusyon
Tuli (Circumcision) - Auraeus Solito, 2005
It’s a movie on breaking what is considered as the conventional, against the ingrained traditions, accepted values and way of life in a small society. The setting is a small provincial barrio during Lent wherein a lass, already predisposed to her destiny, goes against the norm by going against her father’s decision on a fixed marriage, a lesbian relationship, asking for the uncut (uncircumcised) man in the town to impregnate her even without marriage and doing the tuli (circumcision) herself shocked the small community. This against the backdrop of the senakulo the traditional singing of Christ’s passion, flagellants and passion plays.
This is a digital entry by the celebrated director of “Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” that won the best local film and best local director in the 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival. It also got controversies of sorts when the director cried foul when the producers censored the movie due to some objectionable scenes that the MTRCB (censors board) found.
Ilusyon - Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, 2005
Well, after reading the raves and good ratings from the cinema board this digital movie got, I was kind of curious. While I missed it at the Cinemanila, I was happy to catch it during its regular screening. But really, when I saw the movie, my expectations were just too high, I guess. But its refreshing to see a movie that is untypically Pinoy. Untypical in a sense that it is not the usual formulaic, big name movies that didn’t achieve anything innovative or groundbreaking. If it was really done in black and white minus the animations and talking cows, it can pass off for a 50’s movie. Even the opening credits are done in those old film style. But the movie going public would be hard pressed to understand this movie.
