SUBSCRIBEHarassment during the premiere of Tribu
It was rather unfortunate that even at the recent Cinemalaya, a true celebration of independent Philippine cinema at the CCP, the cast and director of Tribu has been harassed by (some) snotty CCP people. Unlike the rest of the competing films shown last Sunday where the director will introduce his film, his cast and production staff, that was not given to Jim Libiran, the director. I found it odd at first and didn’t mind it later thinking that the director might have begged off but when he went up the stage after the movie was shown, he cried of discrimination. In fact, the gang members who were in the cast were supposed to present an entertainment number but was not able to. Even during their practice at the venue, the director continued, they were approached by security and told to keep quite.
Forgive the exuberance of the youth. Libiran is making a positive change into the lives of these people and the last thing that snotty CCP personnel can do is continue the myth that the masa has no place in such a venue. Let them savor their victory. Let them enjoy what they have achieved in such a hallowed place. They have come a long way in making the movie, their movie, a reality.
Think of shades of City of God (but not quite) transplanted in the underbelly of Manila that is Tondo and you have a forceful film by Jim Libiran that would make anyone who cares about good movies take notice. But this is not your usual poverty film that has been showcased since Lino Brocka et al made their political commentary and has made it a trademark of the Philippines. It is about the often hushed and not so seen underworld that Tondo is portrayed to be, often associated to be, often heard to be but not quite seen to be. It is just powerful, moving and raw.
