#cinemalaya

[linobrocka]

Tumandok (2024)

sa direksyon nina Richard Jeroui Salvadico at Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay

[seannesruins]

28-29.08.24 | BGC

Things we planned the night we met up

Planned to watch Love Child because we were not able to catch its screening in this year's Cinemalaya run. Because I still have work to do on that day, she agreed to watch in a cinema near my place. Last full show is at 2020H in Market! Market! The movie was nice although I'd rate it a fair 2.5/5 because some of the dialogues were really cringey, add to it the ending that felt short. But as a sister of a child with CP, the story felt close to my heart. Will probably make a review on another post if sinipag ako haha.

Planned to have early dinner. Earlier that day, she asked if I want to have dinner first before the screening so I agreed but told her that I have limited time lang since my work will end at 5pm and will need an hour to get ready. We met at Central Square around 1840H and had dinner in Va Bene. I haven't been here in a while and I am pleased that the pasta remains top notch. I had Pomodoro while she had Mushroom Truffle, then we shared an arugula salad which I really liked but she was not a fan of because mapait daw lol.

Things we did not plan the night we met up

Unplanned twinning. She laughed when she saw me because we were both wearing gray long sleeved shirts and black jeans. It was a wise decision not to wear my white converse (because I know we were going to walk a lot so I wore my Nike running shoes.) otherwise, we were gonna match as well. lol.

Unplanned coffee after movie. The movie ended around 2200H and we walked a couple blocks from Market! Market! to Pocofino in 5th ave. We had Iced Pocofino Latte as it is a best seller daw. Pretty disappointed though because it was a little too sweet for our preference. Around 2am, there was less crowd so we were able to take a few photos and they came out really cute. We left after because the cafe gets busier by the hour.

Unplanned walk around BGC. We went to Mcdonald's in BGC Stopover but sat by the benches in front because we were still full from dinner and already had coffee. There was a drunk girl being ushered by her friend to a grab car and she jokingly asked if I had ever been that drunk before. Told her I was the friend that ushers people into their rides lol.

Unplanned walk in the park. The crowd is starting to fill in so we walked towards Burgos Circle because it's one of the places I know that doesn't have much people at the wee hours of the morning. There were already a few people having their morning jog as it was already past 4am. Sat there with her until the skies turned from dark to light.

Unplanned breakfast. At around 0700H we decided to walk around a bit more because we haven't finished our conversation. Luckily, the Pancake House on 31st is already open so we had breakfast.

Unplanned PDA. Idk when it started or who initiated but for the past 5x that we met up, she has always been mindful with proximity because I have stated my aversion with physical contact. However, at Pocofino our fingers were touching and when we left the cafe, our hands were clasped together. Even leaned in and hugged at Pancake House. Idk what's happening. Help.

Unplanned confession hour. As someone who overthinks and overanalyzes things, I brought up the topic of our "friendship." You see, we met online in March 2023, back when I was grieving for a recently ended relationship and while that interaction was brief, it brought comfort. A few months later, in June, she messaged me again to see how I was doing and we have been in contact since. She was there on my drunk nights, on my unemployed nights, and even when I decided to date again and got into another relationship (that one ended a month and a half ago.) We finally met in person last June, then celebrated our birthdays together. (As I was dumped a week before my birthday.) and has been talking everyday since then.

I know it's too early, too soon, and just had to open the conversation about it. She said that she had always wanted me in her life but she isn't sure if we should take our relationship to another level because it might ruin our "friendship". She did make a lot of points but I'd say it's not much of a clarity so I told her that we might need to set some boundaries. She agreed then asked if I want to watch Mula sa Buwan this Sunday, September 1st. Hahahaha. Idk. All I know is I enjoy spending time with her but I am aware that I need more time on my own, especially since I have only been single for a month. Not closing any doors, but also not pursuing anything in the meantime. I just hope she stay in my life for a long time.

[thebaronmunchausen]

[kalakian]

A House in Pieces is an incisive look into the trauma suffered by the people of Marawi, cutting through the government rhetoric and narratives to show what it takes to survive an event of that magnitude–and what parts of yourself you might lose as a consequence of it all.

[judebautista]

Marian, Gabby Padilla Co-Best Actresses in Cinemalaya XX

From left: Gabby Padilla (Best Actress/KONO BASHO), Marian Rivera (Best Actress/BALOTA) and Enzo Osorio (Best Actor/THE HEARING). Awards night was held at Cinema 2 of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Sunday August 11, 2024. Cinemalaya XX competition films were screened in Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Trinoma, Market Market!, U.P. Town Center and Greenbelt from August 2-11, 2024. Photo by Jude Bautista Written…

[danelloevee]

I am so looking forward to watching Balota. Somehow I have a feeling that I'm gonna cry

[jrbustamante]

Cinemalaya 2024 Deadline for Short Film Entries on March 8

Celebrating two decades of Philippine independent filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. calls for entries to the Short Film Category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2024. The deadline for submissions is on or before 6 pm on March 8, 2024. The country’s biggest independent film competition is open to all Filipino filmmakers.…

[sinethewrld]

Pamilya Ordinaryo: Mga Pinabayaan ng Panlipunan

Pagsusuri ng Cinemalaya Classic "Pamilya Ordinaryo" (2016)

Base sa kanyang pamagat “Pamilya Ordinaryo”, nais ipahayag ng pelikula na ito ang kahirapan na nangyayari sa mga lansangan ng Maynila. Napapanood dito ang sunod-sunod na mga hamon naidudulot sa batang magkasintahan na sina Jane at Ares na naninirahan sa lansangan kasama ang kanilang nag-iisang sanggol. 

Nagsimula ang trahedya ng mag-asawa nang kinidnap ang kanilang anak sa palengke. Desperado na mahanap ang kanilang anak, lumakbay sina Jane at Aries sa maalikabok na mga kalye ng Maynila at nakapag-tagpo ng iba't ibang mga katauhan at paghihirap sa kanilang pagsubok na makita ang kanilang anak. Nagbibigay ang pelikula ng hilaw at maligasgas na perspektibo sa buhay ng mga mahihirap at nagtatalakay ito ng mga isyu tulad ng kahirapan, kawalan ng tahanan, at ang malupit na katotohanan ng buhay sa urbanong Pilipinas. 

Nagustuhan ko sa pelikulang ito ang pagkuha nito na parang dokumentarya. Nakakabagabag ang sinematograpiya nito dahil nalalabas ng direktor, na si Eduardo Roy, ang pakiramdam na na sa totoong buhay ang lahat ng mga karakter at mga pangyayari. Nanginginig at parang hawak lamang sa kamay ang kamera na parang katulad sa tabingi na pag-angat ng mga paa kapag lumakad. Madalas nag-iiba ang pananaw ng pelikula sa surveillance camera tuwing may kasawian ang mangyayari. Pagpatay, pagtangay ng cellphone, at pagakaw ng isang sanggo ang iilan sa mga krimen nakikita sa perspektibo ng CCTV. Naaagaw pansin ko sa mga detalye ng pagkuha ni Roy sa mga mabibigat na eksena ng pelikula.

Ngunit maliban sa kakayahan ng pelikula talakayin ang mga isyung panlipunan sa masinang na sinematograpiya, hindi labis napakilala ng kuwento ang mga pangunahing katauhan hiwalay sa kanilang pagdudurusa. Walang makatwiran na konklusyon binigay sa mga naipon na trahedya ni Jane at Aries at nauwi lang sa wala ang lahat. Kahit na walang takot napakita ang katotohanan ng kahirapan, nagiging tanawin lamang ang mga isyung ito sa huli. 

Tanong ni Aries kay Jane sa isang eksena na “Paano kung ang buhay ni baby Arjan doon sa pamilya na iyon maaalagaan siya ng maigi, maibibigay ang mga bagay na hindi natin kayang ibigay kukunin mo pa ba siya?”. Nakapukaw ito sa aking isip nang alalahanin ang kakulangan nila sa mga bagay-bagay na dapat may karapatan sila bilang tao. Walang paninirahan, trabaho, pera, at medikal na tulong, naiiwan sila ng walang kakayahan makapagbuhay ng kanilang sarili lalo na sa kanilang anak. Sa katunayan, napapabayaan ang mga mamamayan katulad nila Aries at Jane sa Pilipinas kaya’t lumulubhang salot sa bayan ang kahirapan.

Sina Aries at Jane ang mukha ng mga mamamayan sa ating lipunan na nabubuhay sa kahirapan. Ayon sa isang UN report noong 2022, higit sa 5 milyong batang Pilipino ang naapektuhan sa sukdulan ng kahirapan. Pinipigilan nito ang mga bata na tamasahin ang kanilang mga pangunahing karapatan. Humahadlang ang kahirapan sa kanilang paglaki dahil sa impluwensiya nito sa mga oportunidad nila sa buhay. Kung walang mga panlipunang programa nagproprotekta sa mga batang ito, napapahamak ang kanilang kaligtasan, gaya sa nangyari sa “Pamilya Ordinaryo”. Nagiging lakas ng pelikula ang kaniyang kakayahan na harapin ang mga mabibigat na paksang ito upang makapukaw ng ating mga isip at damdamin. Sa pamamagitan nito, nagbibigay-liwanag sa malupit na mga katotohanan ng buhay sa Maynila ang “Pamilya Ordinaryo”.

Mga Sanggunian:

Staff, C., & Staff, C. (2023, September 25). Filipino Children in Poverty: How to advocate for change. ChildHope Philippines. https://childhope.org.ph/children-in-poverty/#:~:text=The%20Philippine%20Statistics%20Authority's%202021,harsh%20realities%20of%20the%20country.

Social policy and governance. (n.d.). UNICEF Philippines. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/social-policy-and-governance

[kr-grace-p]

Rookie (2023), Barbie-fied version

[linobrocka]

Alipato at Muog (2024), direksyon ni JL Burgos

The abduction of Jonas Burgos in 2007 was brazen – done at noontime in a crowded mall. As his family launched their search, a car plate brought them face to face with powerful forces. Despite insurmountable barriers, anonymous informants have dropped leads and even provided the last known photo of Jonas in captivity. Edita, the 80-year old mother, and her filmmaker son lead the long and arduous fight for justice. Presented through testimonials of their lawyer, a reporter, a former Justice Secretary and Human Rights Commission Chair, and witnesses who agreed to appear on condition of anonymity, combined with animation and never-before-seen footage of the family’s relentless search, the documentary film weaves the stories together to uncover the truths, however painful, about his brother’s disappearance.

[seannesruins]

02.08.24 | Ayala Malls Manila Bay

Cinemalaya Opening Night

...And also an appreciation post to this girlie for making pila at 430P for a 7P screening of the opening film. She knows kasi I have been waiting for the Philippine release for a while now. Aside from it being direk Sheron's comeback film, it also stars Ronnie Lazaro and Jansen Magpusao!

Ayun, nalowbatt si vadeng after ng screening hahahaha.

Got to fangirl over some of my favorite directors... and I was able to see both my long-time crush, Nicco Manalo, and gay awakening Mylene Dizon hahahahaha. (I swear gay awakening ko sya from another Cinemalaya film, Rome and Juliet). Syempre wala akong pic with either of them dahil nauna ang kilig ko with the muffled screams and mini jumps that they had already left before I can compose myself and decide to lapit sa kanila hahahaha.

The crowd isn't as crazy as they used to, and while that gives me physical comfort (as a girlie who doesn't like crowds), it was also kinda sad kasi I'm so used to the CCP crowd na talagang siksikan levels every Cinemalaya szn. But I do believe that Philippine Cinema is still striving, with this year's amazing lineup as a testament.

[thebaronmunchausen]

[kalakian]

Sol follows the lives of two sisters living in a small village. Tensions have been rising ever since drugs infiltrated their lives along with the relief efforts that came after the storm. The elders lament that their patron saint, San Antonio, was able to protect them from the storm surge yet can’t protect their children from the drugs coming in after the storm. Sol struggles to cope with her family situation. She feels stuck in her little village where the neighbors all gossip about their brother in jail for drugs and her older sister who cannot seem to move on after the death of their father during the storm.

[str8upreview]

Cinemalaya 2023: As if Its True Review

Synopsis: Vlogger/influencer Gemma (Ashley Ortega) enters a pretend relationship with struggling musician James (Khalil Ramos) to regain her popularity. When I watched the trailer for As If Its True, it did not strike me as overly unique. I felt like the plotline was more in tune with the mainstream hugot movies with relationships falling apart to connect with the millenials and Gen Zs who are…

[judebautista]

Cinemalaya XX STARS: Marian, Mylene, Ina and More

Marian Rivera with Writer/Director Kip Oebanda of BALOTA. Cinemalaya XX will be screened in Ayala Cinemas of AYALA MALLS MANILA BAY from August 2-11, 2024. Photo by Jude Bautista Written and photographed by  Jude Bautista The 20th edition of Cinemalaya a.k.a XX, has the hottest stars in its roster of films. Although, through the years the premiere independent film festival of the country has…

[arkibero]

Cinemaddict: Dec 2022 Film Log

Cinemaddict: Dec 2022 Film Log

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once – ★★★★½2022 🇺🇸✍️ Dan Kwan × Daniel Scheinert Biswal na kaangkupan sa gitna ng kalabisan at kaguluhan. Patong-patong na ang labada. Paikot-ikot lang ang problema. Hindi tayo makatakas sa nagsasanga-sangang mga daan. Krisis sa eksistensya. Kailangang makahinga kahit walang pahinga.