Rough Groove

Another Unitel movie

The trailer started and Eddie Garcia, one of the Philippines’ veteran actors was doing his part in an action movie. As it unfolded, shots were fired and in a confrontation with Ricky Davao, another veteran actor, their dialogue suddenly went to talking about what they should be doing in action movies should be…

And so, the trailer for Pinoy Blonde, Peque Gallaga’s comeback film opened. “Hindi typical Pinoy film” (not your typical Filipino film), as what it says, is quite inviting. And plenty more is said at its website.

Hmmm, I just hope that it lives up to its hype and promise. Another awaited movie this July.

La Visa Loca - Mark Meilly

Unitel Pictures seemed to be churning out great movies this days and this is good. At least, I can say that with the quality of its productions, there is indeed hope for Philippine cinema under the new generation of young and talented directors. One of these directors, is Mark Meilly. His “La Visa Loca”, a second feature film after “Crying Ladies” (that also garnered awards and great reviews) presents a movie that is typically Pinoy at heart: great family ties, religion (even to the point of celebrating Lent by crucifixion and flagellation to the various pseudohealers populating the country) and a great obsession to get a visa, and what one does just to go out of the country and find work or live life abroad. In this case, a ticket to the land of flowing milk and honey: the US.

For those who are adamant on going to the US come hell or high water, this is a good film to at least laugh and maybe relive your experiences at the embassy.

Bikini Open - Jeffrey Jeturian

Boss: Do you know what your show needs?
Susan: Ano? (What?)
Boss: Dumi! (Dirt!). More dirt!

Thus the exchange between the boss and Susan Logarta, the once famous reporter who’s show’s ratings, “Isyu Ngayon” (Today’s Issues), has been on a downward trend went on and in desperation, went to great lengths to get the scoop just to up the advertising load set the tone of the movie.

“Bikini Open,” a funny and hilarious film scrutinizing the goings-on of a bikini contest in some bar in the metropolis by the director who also megged “Bridal Shower” and “Liberated” is a satire, a mockery on current trends of Philippine TV reportage that borders on sensationalization and how these reporters disrupt, interfere and do (even if its negative) just to spice up the show and up the ratings ante.

This is another good film from Jeturian.

Panaghoy sa Suba - Cesar Montano

“Marika ra! Marika! Dali!” (Come here! Come! Faster!) Nang Lahi (Caridad Sanchez) calls her niece, Iset (Juliana Palermo) voice raised, admonishing, over Iset’s riding the boat of Duroy (Cesar Montano). The elderly aunt knows that the boatman is courting the lass but she’s not really fond of him.

Panaghoy sa Suba (Call of the River) directed by Cesar Montano, a Boholano, is probably the first Cebuano film that has been produced and screened since Cebuano films had its heyday a few decades ago. It tells of the love story between Iset and Duroy during the Japanese occupation in Central Visayas, particularly Bohol and the struggles of the occupied people in overcoming their conquerors. And thus, Cebuano, my dialect, my mother tongue, was spoken fluently in this rather ground breaking film that is part of the Metro Manila Film Festival being screened in SM City here in Cebu. Its the first time that I’ve seen a full lenght film in this dialect, not as just providing comic relief and being delivered by Inday, the typical provincial house maid, that makes her appearance in most Tagalog melodramatic or slapstic comedy movies.

While the film is not perfect: some shots are blurred, sometimes, the scene is tight and the story needs to be enhanced, it does provide hope of reviving the Cebuano film industry. I’ve read that from 1938 - 1969, Cebuano films were being filmed and screened but after that, died a natural death having been overshadowed by those from Manila.

Note: The 1st Cebuano Film Festival will be held next month, 8 - 12 January 05 in time for the Sinulog Festivities.