Cover image via SAYS PHilippines
Because you loved the [first list of indie Filipino films] (http://says.com/ph/kulture/don-t-call-yourself-a-film-buff-yet-if-you-haven-t-seen-these-solid-filipino-indie-films) we've shared before, here's the part two of the series. Enjoy! 🙂
Pamilya Ordinaryo
Poverty pornography has never been this vulgar and exposed. You could almost smell the raw grit of the characters in this film making you feel like you're one/none of them. It doesn't merely address the deluge of crises overpowering the marginalized people in the country — no. It simply "in your face" slaps you reality but will never tell you to do something about it. It tests your emotional quotient and swells your sympathy as it shows you the condition of these poverty-stricken people capable of loving and receiving love, but who do not receive ample benefits and treatment that ordinary citizens, by law, deserve.
"In Eduardo Roy Jr.'s Pamilya Ordinaryo, we see people at the very bottom of the food chain, doing what they can to survive." – Kayo Jolongbayan, [Film Police Reviews] (http://www.filmpolicereviews.com/reviews/pamilya-ordinaryo)
"Judgment comes before everything when it comes to these characters… They must be addicts, or criminals, or maybe both. The boldest thing the film does is to affirm this judgment. It doesn't try to make these characters saints. It makes the case that even if all that were true, none of that negates their humanity. It doesn't make them unworthy of sympathy or aid." – Philbert Ortiz Dy, [Click The City] (http://www.clickthecity.com/movies/a/30733/movie-review-pamilya-ordinaryo-moves-through-its-viciousness)
Hasine Killip who played Jane in the film won the coveted Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival's Best Actress award beating Nora Aunor for '*Tuos*' and Judy Ann Santos for '*Kusina*' in the same category. The film [won five awards] (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5891626/) at the festival including the NETPAC award for Best Full Length Feature.
Image via Film Police Reviews
Quick Change
In this docu-drama film, '*Quick Change*' shows the unceasing struggle of the Philippines's transgender community for freedom and acceptance. Most transgenders opt to join gay beauty pageants to gain even the slightest acceptance from their community. The film's central character is "Doc" Dorina Pineda (Mimi Juareza) who performs beauty procedures on her beauty pageant friends, mainly injecting collagen to whichever body part the "patient" wants to enhance. Whether you belong to the LGBTQ or not, this is hands-down a must-see for all.
"Some audiences might initially be shocked at the sight of such a young child being completely unfazed by the company his aunt Dorina (Mimi Juareza) keeps, and even happily carrying the tools of her trade in a specially designated school bag. But within this very detailed and precisely defined environment, where rules of the "real world" do not apply, Hiro (Miggs Cuaderno) somehow fits perfectly into the tapestry. It also helps that Dorina is shown as a loving and responsible guardian in every aspect of the boy's home and school life." – Richard Kuipers, [Variety] (http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/berlin-film-review-quick-change-1201089923/)
Mimi Juareza and Miggs Cuaderno won the Best Actors awards from [Chéries-Chéris] (http://cheries-cheris.com/2015/) and Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival respectively. The film has also won the Critics Jury Award from the [Vesoul Asian Film Festival] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesoul_International_Film_Festival_of_Asian_Cinema).
Image via Variety
Sleepless
'*Sleepless*' gives us a peek into the lives of two call center agents (Glaiza De Castro and Dominic Roco) who were bound in a rut, both working on night shift and struggling with insomnia while dealing with the loneliness of singlehood. While the world is sleeping, they found themselves drawn to each other, exchanging zombie, and even love, stories until the sun goes up.
"It is the play of silence and dialogue that sets Prime Cruz's debut film effort apart from others I have seen in the last few years. Given its milieu (the urban setting where the main jobs left are BPO ones) and the film's other stars (one of the Roco twins, Dominic, who plays Barry), comparisons can be easily made to a film from two years ago, "Shift" (2013). But its producer, who heads the QCinema Film Festival monitoring committee, told me shortly before its debut that it was a far different film, and he was right." – Ren Aguila, [GMA News] (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542134/lifestyle/artandculture/almost-every-word-matters-in-qcinema-entry-sleepless)
Dominic Roco won the QCinema International Film Festival's Best Actor award for this film. '*Sleepless*' won the NETPAC award and was a Grand Prix nominee for Osaka Asian Film Festival.
Image via Notey
Ari: My Life With A King
Image via Film Police Reviews
This is story is about a young *Kapampangan* who doesn't know or want to speak their language until he runs into a compelling but weird character known as the "King of Kapampangan Poets".
"The film in no way suggests the supremacy of the *Kapampangan*, nor does it make Tagalog (or any other language) the enemy. In one scene, Dado remarks, "I keep speaking to you in *Kapampangan* and you keep answering in Tagalog, yet we understand each other, isn't that crazy?" Because there can be agreement despite differences provided that there is mutual respect." – James Espinoza, [Film Police Reviews] (http://www.filmpolicereviews.com/reviews/ari-my-life-with-a-king)
The film has won five awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 including New Wave Best Feature Film and Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Picture. It has also won Gawad Urian 2016 awards for Best Screenplay and Best Music.
Patintero: Ang Alamat Ni Meng Patalo
Image via YouTube
*Patintero* is a *Filipino* street game and has probably been played by the majority as kids. The core character of the film is 10-year-old Meng Francisco (Nafa-Hilario Cruz) who only loves one thing: *Patintero*. Despite her full awareness of her *Patintero* skills (or the lack thereof), her love for the game is her sole motivation to keep on playing it. However, she's obviously terrible at it and has been dubbed "*patalo*" (loser) by her schoolmates. But in the continuing struggle against the high school team that has one-sidedly claimed the territory of the local *sari-sari* store, Meng forms an unlikely team of fellow losers to finally challenge these high schoolers in the game of their lives. In this heroic effort to win back what was unfairly taken from her and her friends, Meng will train, bleed, and do almost anything to fight for what she wants: a good game of *Patintero* on the streets. And what she does for it will be the stuff of legend.
"At the end of the day, our goal is to create an entertaining film. But we're [also] hoping that through this movie, we can start a movement for kids to go out and play. If not, then at least we hope to create awareness that we, [their parents and older siblings], once played these games," shared Mihk Vergara, director of '*Patintero: Ang Alamat Ni Meng Patalo*', to [Cinema Bravo] (https://cinemabravo.com/2016/09/23/audience-favorite-patintero-ang-alamat-ni-meng-patalo-gets-theatrical-version/).
The film has won the Gender Sensitivity and Audience Choice awards at the QCinema International Film Festival 2015.
**P.S. WIN TICKETS AND GOODIES from** '*Patintero: Ang Alamat Ni Meng Patalo*' **by simply joining their online contest here:**
Haven't seen some or all of these films? No worries! You can watch all of them at the [Cinema '76] (https://www.facebook.com/cinema76fs/?fref=ts) until 20 October!
Screening Period: Until 20 October | [Online Reservation] (https://goo.gl/fIEbqb) | [Map to Cinema 76] (https://goo.gl/bwdQRz)
Image via Cinema '76 Film Society
What are your favorite indie Filipino films to date?
Share them in the comment section below! 🙂
Share them in the comment section below! 🙂
Image via CeleBuzz
