The Art of Music- Sheila U. Medina- 202B

                                                                         
                                                                           

The movie that I watched was entitled “Sonata” which means a music or a sound, the story was about a women who has full of grief and longings for love, she was also a retired opera famous singer her shine fades and her voice changes as time passes, an artist who loved to sing different or translated lyrical song. Sonata is also about a unique  friendship between a boy named Jon Jon and retired opera singer named Regina Cadena (Cherrie Gil). Regina Cadena was became alone she owned a farm where the mother of the boy used to work on, Regina was not untammable in fact, she’s weird she always drunk and doesn't want to socialize with others, but that was changed when he met the little boy.  At first it was not easy for the little boy because he think that Regina was crazy, but as time passes he learned to talk and wanted to get attention of Regina he also make much effort to know Regina much better. Which really changed Regina's life, he give’s meaning to the meaningless life of this women. They became friends in spite of their age and time. Regina realized everything, she started to find herself again. But one day there’s a tragic that was happened, a very dramatic part of the story a little boy died because of an accident, the boy was drowned and unfortunately he was not saved by his friends

In my own observation, this movie started a little boring when it comes in sequence of shots, it was played slowly in motion, that made you to say what does the story really mean, I think it cost an hour before I really get the essence and the point of the story, I also thought it’s just going to be not much interested since I didn’t try to watch its trailer, but as the movie getting in a half mid the story became fast where the most interested and  arousing scene begins to identify and shown. And that’s the time I realized that the story itself was really great. The shots the views and the language (bisaya) that was used. The views are refreshing in the eye that also gives attention to the place as province and most of all the traditional doings in the province was featured, that gives you an idea what kind of place is a province like, very authenticated

But 2 things that really caught to my attention was the sequence of the story, for me the director should much focus featuring a lot where in the essence and point of the story was shown, there a lots of time that was “wasted” wherein he focused more of the time showing views and random stories that was not really gives emphasis to the point of the story.

Second was It was fell short most probably where in the best scene was shown, the allotted time that was given to each scene was very short, there’s not much suspense, the scenes lay down very easily, fast and spontaneously that doesn't give much focused to the meaning of the story, though you can understand it, but it was not satisfying. the details were not used to featured completely, and it quickly jump into  another scene, even in the most dramatic part where in it supposed to be dramatic, you cannot really feel the impact and the emotions because it featured in a very short time without complete details of the scene

but I really love the concept of the story the characters made their role very well, and of course the music that was used was really amazing, smooth, elegant and hearty music even though I cannot understand it, and I don’t know what’s the meaning of the song, but still you will feel that your emotions where really plays on it.

Film Review: Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? by Bettina Catli

The National Film festival 2013 opened last September 11, 2013. The country’s best 12 directors showcase their 10 films available to the public at SM Cinemas Nationwide. Among the 12 was director Jose Javier Reyes, who directed the entry, Ano ang Kulay ng Nakalimutang Pangarap, which is a family drama. The question, “where do old things go?” was impeccably tackled by the film. The film starred Ryan Agoncillo, Jackie Lou Blanco, Bobby Andrews and Rustica Carpio. The film shows the story of Teresa (Carpio) who has served a family since she was seventeen, sacrificing her own happiness and dreams to help her family in the province. Now that Mercy (Teresa’s sen͂orita) has passed away, her three children must decide on the matters of her property and the fate of their own nanny.

            The director did a great job of prolonging the crisis of the story, which was the fate of Teresa. In the film, it was shown that the properties were settled, there were already buyers for the land and properties their mother owned. But the question of Teresa’s fate was the most important of all. It was what the audience (myself included) was waiting resolution for. What would happen to dear old Yaya Teresa after the old house has been sold? Would she be taken by her relatives, or would she be taken by one of the three children she used to care for like she truly believes? As the story unfolded, the crisis of Teresa’s situation was given much more depth. No longer was she just an old nanny. She was a beautiful woman who sacrificed her own happiness and dreams because she loves the family she serves and she likes them because they treat her like family. The director offered many options as to where Teresa might end up, making his characters compromise with the situation, much like we do when we bargain for the things we want or want to get rid of.

            The dialogue was truly Direk Joey style: Poignant, true and real. The lines delivered by Teresa were brimming with touching sadness,“Tama ka nga naman, luma na. Aanhin pa nga ninyo yun.”. The line is simple yet meant so much and described humans so effectively. And still, the writers of the film didn’t stop there. The line, “Mabait sila sayo kasi napapakinabanggan ka.” hit straight home. The lines were perfect, seamless and real. Much like the script was the transition from scene to scene, especially for the flashbacks. The setting seamlessly connects the present from the past and the ingenious character positioning helped in creating the atmosphere of reminiscing.

            Stella (Jackie Lou) portrays the eldest among the three and displays the stereotypical personality of an eldest who was quite the only child for some time. Vincent (Bobby Andrews) was the second of the three and like the middle child, is sort of noticed just in passing. Andre (Ryan Agoncillo) being the youngest and most loved by both his mother and Teresa displays the loving, sweet and thoughtful persona of the youngest child. Their characters helped in giving the options for Teresa’s fate.

            Rustica Carpio was amazing in her role. Her acting of the deep belief that her character would be taken by one of the three children was just heartbreakingly sad. She was assured, countless times by the siblings that she would be well cared for and this she believed whole heartedly. In her mind she thinks that it was only natural that they wouldn’t leave her hanging – after all was she not the one who cared for them and their mother all her life? Did she not treat them like her own children and their mother, her dearest friend?  For her it wasn’t utang na loob. It was natural as caring for your own mother. She felt that she was treated like family and so she believes that she would be taken care of like family.

            The movie implies the nature of humans too. Do we not throw old things or give them to other people after we have finished with them because they have become too old or take up too much space? This film is truly brilliant, a film that spears the heart and chews on the conscience. 

Posing with Mall of Asia's poster of the National Film Festival

Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? - Katia Mae Dela Cruz

Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?

by Jose Javier Reyes

★★★☆☆

In cooperation with SM Cinemas, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has presented Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival 2013 which showcases films from the country's most acclaimed film directions. Veteran film directors like Mel Chionglo, Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes, Joel Lamangan and others created another collection of riveting and world-class films that every Filipino will be proud to see.

I have decided to see Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? by Jose Javier Reyes. The trailer and movie poster were both successful in enticing me to see the film. Being such a sucker for tear-jerking movie, I know I have chosen the right film to watch. Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? is about Teresa, a kasambahay who dedicated sixty years of her life being of service to the Bautista family. She raised three children namely Vince (Bobby Andrews), Stella (Jackie Lou Blanco) and Andre (Ryan Agoncillo) who all moved to another county. When the family’s matriarch passed away, the three siblings all went back to the Philippines with no choice but to sell all their properties. But now that Vince, Stella and Andre are all based abroad and are about to sell the house where Teresa is staying, where will Teresa end up? In the end, what Teresa expects from the people she took care all her life may not bound to happen.

The story of the film is moving and poignant already on its own. The choice of the characters is well-thought of. Rustica Carpio has executed her role flawlessly. Bobby Andrews, Jackie Lou Blanco and Ryan Agoncillo were all realistic and believable too. The script, as expected from Jose Javier Reyes added to the many reasons why this film is a must-see. One scene that truly tugged me at my heartstrings was when Teresa and Andre were talking about selling the old furniture because Andre said that keeping old furniture was impractical and useless. At that moment, I truly felt how Andre and the siblings saw Teresa as an old furniture gathering dust in one corner and just waiting to be thrown away. Reyes’ ability to make the audiences feel an overbearing emotion is impeccable.

The cinematography of the film is also commendable. Reyes’ told the story through pieces of flashbacks and transitions from past to present which brings audiences a realization of how Teresa’s past brought her to her current situation. The flashbacks showed two aspects in Teresa’s past. The first is her short-lived yet genuine love for the Bautistas’ chauffeur, Nato and the second is the beautiful bond she has formed with Mercy, the mother of the three siblings. The flashbacks made me established a sense of sympathy for Teresa, knowing how much she has sacrificed for the people she loves. The tragedies from her past made the story even more touching and stirring. Another element is the use of music. The musical score of the film came a bit eerie to me. But it just added to the dreadful feeling the ending has brought. As to the ending, although it came as a surprise to me, it was cinematically beautiful. The lines of the young man who approached Teresa and the way she looked at the camera in the end were the ultimate tear-jerking moments. There was a part of me wishing that Reyes has concluded the film in a clear manner. But an open ending gives the audiences an opportunity to end the film in whatever way they want to. Even though I would love to see the three characters realize how important Teresa is at the end, making that happen would not make the film heartbreaking and painful as it is.

Ano Ang Kulay Ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? not only made me cry and burst into a ball of emotions, but it also gave me a lot of realizations about the people around me. Being raised by my grandparents, I became even more appreciative and grateful because I have people behind me who are willing to give up their own lives just to look after me and not see me as a burden they are obliged to take care of. People like Teresa are rare. It is not everyday that you get to meet a person who has her whole life ahead of her but chooses to give that up for you. So when you do meet someone like that, thank her/him enough because life is too short to not spend appreciating the people who make your life a lot better. 

Fascinating Cinemalaya experience- Sheila U. Medina

                                                     

                                               Cinemalaya

It was my first time to enter cultural center of the Philippines (CCP) and watch Cinemalaya films. So I really felt excited about this event. We are present on the opening of cinemalaya. On the first day; they announced and gave us glimpse or trailer of all Indie film entries, and the creative directors behind each film, many of them comprises as young filmmakers. Young as like they “just graduated from college” and if you’ll judge them through their physical appearance, it looks like that they cannot create this kind of great films. That’s why I really appreciated all films entries, now I know why indie films are really different from mainstream movies. They were all did their job well

I really amazed to those young filmmakers because I can really say now, that age doesn’t matter, it’s not a hindrance to be recognize in such enthusiastic work. We don’t always need deep experience; all just you just need to have is a creative imagination that would put those things in realities and into action. I also admired them even I was not able to watch all film. But the trailer itself speaks that it was really a good choice of story and an overall good production. It was really overwhelming as director to be part of cinemalaya film festival and to present your work behind of your sweat and efforts to make the film standout and the best, a turning point that knock for better days and opportunity

But when do Cinemalaya all started “The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Its aim is the development and promotion of Filipino independent films” 

Indie films contributed a lot in Philippine film history; it was also different from main stream movies, because indie film itself focused on similar true to life stories and realistic action. They also have different content, style and a way of forming artistic vision, contrast in mainstream movies because it focused more on cinematic effect. Mainstream cinema refers to films that have a wide release and play in their first run. They are mainly sold at popular stores or  general stores, and have a higher budget of production. Indie film usually but not always are made in lower film budget. But you can compare now how Cinemalaya film being overpowering in Philippine film industry

                                             Opening of Cinemalaya

The movies that we watched are “BABAGWA”, “AMOR Y MUERTE” and 

“SANA DATI”.

I cannot choose between these three films because they had different scoop of a great, sensible and interesting film. Every film that I watched leaves an impression to me

“Amor y Muerte” it was really new for me, because it’s not the kind of film or movie that I used to watch, so I have a lot of thoughts in mind on how I would react on this kind of film. It was a completely nude, vulgar and daring film; I don’t imagine how the characters portray their role very well professional. You can also see in this film the way back life and tradition of the late era or in Spanish time, and the differences between Indio’s and Spaniards. I admit it was exciting, not just because of the love scenes, but because of the love story that was portray, the manners, experiences and the traditions built in this late era that we didn’t try to experience in our modern days. We can also see how the Catholicism our powerful and pedestalized by people then and now

This story was about the an Indio women (Althea Vega) who married an Spaniard man (Markki Streom) it seems that they had really big differences in their grown up culture and tradition that makes to the Indio women very difficult, she needs to be gentle, slowly, forced to wear Spanish dresses the she’s not comfortable, and to act differently from her grown up life. She needs to adopt the Spaniards manner as well. when her husband leave to fight for the planning revolt, as usual the Indio women should be in their house always, she’s not allowed to go and hang out with her friends, that’s  how her Spaniard husband being so strict to her. 

But Amor ends up cheating on his hubby with her soulmate, an orphan who lives in the forest.

 That soon after that when her husband came back. Her husband known all what happened when he’s not around. The priest speaks to him all about what the orphan confesses. And that’s why her husband started to become rude, violent and out of his mind, that leads to tragedy of death.

 The title was AMOR means

“LOVE” describing the different love that was offered for one another.  MUERTE means Spanish term for “DEATH” a tragic that happens when he killed her husband in the end.

It was very well deliver and portray by the characters. The unique love story with the twist of Spanish adaptation to makes the film very interesting. It also more provoking because of people curiosity about the life during the late time

The film takes 1 and half hour, and we had still an hour to break and watch another film. The second film that we watched was “BABAGWA” “the spider’s laire” the title was weird but the movie was so exciting and amazing. I thought it was just going to be another "let's find out about ourselves" it’s a domestic drama, but it was engrossing from the start. The characters are realistic; each reacting to the other in believable ways. It creates a believable world where fantasy and reality are immediately interchangeable. This was really great style of delivering the stories where the suspense and excitement our built. It was not easily predictable that’s why this story was very innovative. But it ends up with mostly hilarious outcomes.

We can also see in this film how social media become very influential and powerful in our lives’ today. I think this film would also help and guide us about proper way of using social networking sites or social media. It was very useful and efficient way in communication, but we should always put in our mind about the possible disadvantages and harmful effects that we can get from it. It’s an entertainment but not a play, Social media has become more open publicly so we cannot assure on our protection and privacy,  we should be very careful in interacting with people we don’t really know, to avoid and protect ourselves from stalkers, hackers and scammers. This was the flow of the story being portray in BABAGWA

This film was about the story of a social media scammer 

 who fronts himself online as other person as “Bam Bonifacio”

a handsome model whose sexual orientation depends on the gender of the target victim or prospect. The ruse is the brainchild of Marney who gets a sizable portion of the money earned from the swindle. Like all of his previous victims, Daisy, a wealthy and philanthropic middle-aged woman, easily falls for Greg's dashing alter-ego. Greg as the main character has a shallow and stunted romance with his girlfriend, he has a girlfriend who repeatedly asks him for a vacation that he cannot afford to give and the reams of unsatisfying paychecks gain from his dirty job with his co swindler. Suddenly he finds himself falling for Daisy

One of his prospect, he was guilty being credulous because daisy become very good to him. He needs to do it sadly for his own needs. But because his love for daisy prevails he decided to tell daisy everything about the truth behind its fantasy. At first of course daisy get mad, but afterwards she still forgive Greg. Greg decided to live his family and go to daisy, a woman he known as a wealthy and beautiful

The most interesting part was when he thought that the credulous was already done and he can leave from it. And start a normal life far from petty crime. But the women that he believe that is beautiful and wealthy was also a fake, its contrast from what he believe and expecting to. He was also scam by this old women that try to hide herself and front as a mid age beautiful women

Because of the poverty that people experiencing today, they used all the possible things to make money even if it from a dirty job. They end up the scene of the story, be very satisfying and unpredictable

In the other hand, the first movie that we watched was entitled

“SANA DATI”

For me it’s a typical love story, but what was win to it, is the realistic drama and a way of handling the sequence of time and story by which it happened into one moment. Or a mix of scenes drawn in the past present and future that looks like it occur and put together in the a same place and time, so no doubt that it takes award from cinemalaya, the intimate story built under confusion and grief that portray effectively every single moment and how does it change to build another lives, 

events and characters.

The director made good decision in choosing the characters that would portray in the story, lovi Poe is one of my favorite actress, because she can act normally and can handle to take her emotions into a character, simple yet realistic. I also admired Paolo Avellino in his natural way of portraying the role, and you can really feel how he makes it more realistic to himself

This story was about a woman (lovi poe) who cannot leave the memories of her relationship in the past. Who was hesitated to marry her partner. Her wedding thrown disarray when the mysterious videographer arrives

(Paolo Avellino) that reminds to her past relationship and to man he really loves, not knowingly that this man was the brother of her previous love. This mysterious person was also curious about her life that’s why he ask some questions about the bride’s personal life, when he is making an interview for the wedding presentation and to matter because he know how his brother love this women, actually she’s the reason why Benjamin alvez his brother that was already passed way, decided to leave his family.

They have similarities with his brother that’s why when the bride saw him, she felt the mutual feelings when the first time she met the man she loved. They took a long time to talk, shared their past experiences about their life with the same person, a brother and as a lover to both of them, which make so much delay in her wedding. The events become messy; all of them try to find where the bride is. After the long time of searching the groom (Tj Trinidad) finally find the bride at the roof top.

She’s not going to escape from it. She just wants somehow to know the videographer well. They still continue the wedding. And the girl learned to love the new man of her life, forget and moving forward in all bitter moments that happened in his life. The movie ends up

The film played emotionally and painfully but I love how its end up and made me think about the character motivation and decisions in settling the things down.

I also loved the way the scenes and shots were done. I find it how every shots makes up so much to the movie’s whole value and story. 

                     Our group decided to watched the film entitled “RECORDER”

This film was about a former camera (Ronnie Quezon) man who currently work for a movie pirate operating, he goes to cinema’s  to have his illegal recording of movie and films

One night when he was on his way home he incidentally records a crime that was happened. The video footage became viral.

For me this film was quite good, but I felt a little bored, maybe because of the sequence of scene’s or time, the story being done slowly in motion and easily predictable, there’s not much excitement that I felt. But the story itself was good. We can see how the CCTV’s, camera and other thing has big help to solve the crime.

                                    my group mate's- opening of cinemalaya

                            we made so much fun watching Cinemalaya films