Rough Groove

Disappointing Cinemanila

I was expecting the promise of almost a hundred films to be screened in the ongoing 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival but was very much disappointed. What was sure about the films are the independent Filipino digitals including the much talked about Ilusyon (Illusion). The foreign films that I’ve been raring to watch? Just a handful and, as in the case at Robinsons Place - Ermita, only one cinema was devoted to it. Add to the fact that even until now, the sixth day of the festival, no schedule have yet been released. I would have been willing to travel all the way to Manila (two rides by bus and LRT), devote my weekends there as well as pay the high ticket price of P100.00 but it just really fall short of its intentions.

What a shame. It would have been a film lover’s event but it failed, for now. However, the festival is still upto the 25th. I just hope that it will change for the better.

Pelicula - Pelikula, The 4th Spanish Film Festival, 3

La flaqueza del bolchevique (The Weakness of the Bolshevik) - Manuel Martin Cuenca
Hmm, a rather interesting film that at first would make you think that its kind of sleazy and perverted what with the borderline pedophilia of a middle aged, bitter banker falling for an angelic 15 year old girl (maybe a Lolita in the offing). But then, it is a psychological film that tries , and somewhat succeeds in exploring the feelings of two disparate people but somehow find a connection together.

Te Doy Mis Ojos (Take My Eyes) - Iciar Bollain
A good film about marital violence and should be a must see for couples. The director, Bollain, takes great care in presenting the issues, the denial by most perpetrators (usually the husband) and the victims (usually the wife), the promises of change for the better, ways to get help and if everything fails, then , its just time to move on.

Three faces were a bit familiar: Luis Tosar as the husband also played the bitter banker in La Flaqueza de Bolchevique; Candela Pena as the wife who also starred in Torremolinos 73 as the sex siren and Candela’s mother in the film who was also in Todo sobre mi madre.

Nadie hablara de nosotras cuando hayamos muerto (No One Will Speak About Us When We’re Dead) - Agustin Diaz Yanes
Some parts were a bit violent and gory but then, its the struggle of a wife, who, despite being an alcoholic (but changing for the better) strived to get back her life.

Extranjeras - Helena Taberna
Story of women immigrants in Spain who see the country as a land of promise, a land of hope. While some of the women, especially in those patriarchal society are happy with the equality of men and women, racism is also an issue that they have to contend: from the constant raids of Ecuadorian’s during their weekend assemblies to insults thrown at women who wear a scarf or speak Arabic. A good documentary and a showcase of women’s issues that are not only relevant in Spain but anywhere in the world.

Noviembre (November) - Achero Manas
Wow. Its a wonderful film that tells the story about an independent theater group that has the street for its stage doing it for free in order for the ordinary citizen to be a part of the performance, not the usual theatre goers. From skits and acts involving the funny and simple, it has evolved into social documentary theatre that unfortunately, went out of hand. A powerful take on Art, politics, and idealism.

El abrazo partido (Lost Embrace) - Daniel Burman
Its the first Argentinian film that I have watched with a couple of stalls in a mall for a set and involves the people’s lives tending these stores. Its about family, love and learning and accepting the past that makes one complete.

Cinemanila International Film Festival opens

The much awaited 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be opened tonight at the Manila Hotel and the opening film, Hidden Blade by Yoji Yamada will be screened at SM Manila 0930H.

The festival will run until 25 October and almost a hundred films will be screened from different countries and of course, from the country with digital shorts and full feature films. Cesar Montano’s Cebuano Panaghoy sa Suba is in competition, vying for the coveted Lino Brocka Award.

The festival award

Okay, a hundred films are too much given the time and my work schedule. Better that I was able to watch a few of the films when it had its advanced screenings before:

- the Belgian Film Week Cinemanila advance screenings
- the CinemaOne Originals
- Dekalog 5 & 6
- Panaghoy sa Suba
- La Visa Loca
- and others (City of God, Frozen Land, Daybreak)

I just hope I can complete the other 8 of Dekalog, watch Brokeback Mountain, and other great films especially those from Iran.

However, even if its the opening of the film fest, I was quite disappointed that they haven’t yet provided screening schedules! I called their office to inform them that they haven’t posted it at their website and I was told that they’ll check. Checking back, I just found this:

“For inquiries regarding the screening schedules, please call SM City Manila at 5239240, SM San Lazaro at 7862488, Robinson’s Place Movieworld at 5367811, and Isetann Cineworld at 7334228.”

Other than that, the venue is quite far from my workplace and with the traffic and all, its really an effort to watch these movies, except maybe during weekends.

Well, I will not rush. Instead of being there at the opening night at SM Manila, I’ll continue to watch the remainder of the films on offer at the Pelicula - Pelikula at Greenbelt 1 which is just a few minutes from the office and the tickets are cheap at P31 only. On schedule: Noviembre - Achero Manas and El abrazo partido - Daniel Burman.

Alejandro Amenabar films

Alejandro Amenabar master storyteller, talented and multiawarded director and composer. His films have captivated me starting with The Others and continued with his other three full feature films. It is the exciting storyline with various twists and turns, his daringness in embarking on those that are somewhat surreal and the life that he breathes into his film just awes me.

The Others, 2001
This was my first taste of an Amenabar film, his first English film debut, and frankly, I was so taken by the mastery of this director that I watched it twice when it was screened here. This coupled with great cinematography, acting and the twist at the end of the film. Its not your usual horror film but the way the spookiness was delivered: mood, music, visuals, sound was just awesome!

Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes), 1997
Vanilla Sky, Tom Cruise’s adaptation whetted my appetite and curiousity about the original film Spanish work (and a virtual remake of Hitchcock’s Vertigo). It was months later that I was able to watch this and I should say, it was better than Cruise’s.

Tesis, 1996
A thriller and the director’s first feature film done when he was just 23 and explores violence, the media’s propensity to provide an avenue for it, and as what one of the antagonists said, directors or films should provide what the audience wants, even if this entails going beyond what is moral and normal. One of the main points that I do like in this movie though, is how Angela explores violence in media (audiovisual violence) wants to do it as her thesis not for the want of it but to expose its darker side, was, in the end experienced violence firsthand.

I admit its scary but like The Others, it keeps one on guessing who’s who.

Won the 1997 Goya Awards for Best Film and Best New Director.

Mar adentro (The Sea Inside), 2004
One of the best films that has been exhibited in the ongoing Pelicula - Pelikula, the 4th Spanish Film Festival, and again, I have really great respect for Alejandro Amenabar and of course, Javier Bardem. I just found myself transfixed to the silverscreen in great awe of this most wonderful film that captivates the moviegoer, spellbound by the weaving of Amenabar’s magic, his deft handling of the film, communicating to the viewer very well the highly controversial topic of euthanasia and the right of persons in terminal cases to wish for their death and fighting for it frame by frame, words by words.

Winner of Best Foreign Language Film in the 2005 Oscar and Golden Globe Awards as well as 14 Goyas (the Spanish Oscars) including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Nominated for 10 Goya Awards including Best Film and Best Director.

Thanx to Pelicula - Pelikula, the 4th Spanish Film Festival, I have at last watched all of Amenabar’s four outstanding films with its screening of Mar adentro and Tesis.

This is the director to watch out for.

La ley de Herodes - Luis Estrada

This is the best political satire that I’ve seen. Part of the ongoing Pelicula - Pelikula, the 4th Spanish Film Festival that was shown last Thursday for the Mexican Night, its caustic, disturbing and sears to the touch that it hurts especially to the ones being targeted: Corrupt politicians and corrupt political parties, corrupt clergymen and as always, its the people who are at the receiving end. Set in the 1940’s, it tells the story of a good man (but in Mexican politics, a stupid man who the party bosses can easily manipulate) who was assigned to be the temporary mayor of a backwater, the San Pedro de Saguaros after their elected mayor was lynched by the townspeople for corruption. Idealistic at first and overflowing with zeal to carry the town to modernity in accordance with the President’s thrusts of modernization and social justice, comes to find that it is not really that easy. Soon found himself obsessed with power and greed that he imposed unreasonable taxes to the people and establishments, asked for bribes from the lone brothel, committed murder and in the end, mad with authority, that the townspeople rebelled and was ready to lynch him only to be saved at the last minute by another party man. But in a twist of fate, from mayor he became a congressman. Such a tragedy but a seeming familiarity with the Philippine situation: Corruption and political opportunism is prevalent and

And the priest. That corrupt clergyman that always asks for money and contributions from parishioners for every church services he render from saying blessings, to asking a peso for every sin after confession to bribery, in the name of heaven’s blessings and forgiveness in order for him to buy a Packard. No wonder, in a backwater and very poor town with about 100 families, his hale as a pig.

This should be a must see film for politicians in order for them to see their true selves and reflect. Highly relevant!

On the brighter side, never have I seen a landscape so beautiful and full of saguaros (kind of cactus) that cloaks the plains to the top of the mountains. A sweeping vista!

And by the way, this won 9 Ariel Awards (Mexico’s premier film competition) including Best Direction and Best Screenplay in 2000.