POV: BALIK7ANAW is a celebration of the continuous growth of Philippine Cinema. the celebration will last for 4 weeks. Videos from various individuals will be showcased on their Youtube channel each week.
Here are my Top 3 For week 2:
1. IMAHE by Kristofer Ted S. Navarro
This film is about Mang Ben, an ordinary citizen who sells suman on the streets. But at night, when the sun has set, he struggles with old wounds that couldn't fully heal.
IMAHE cover photo
This film made me emotional. The first thing I thought this film was about a father who works hard for his family. The actor did a great job portraying his character to the camera.
Mang Ben preparing breakfast and giving reminders
Mang Ben Selling Suman
Mang Ben Selling Suman
But the longer I watch, the more confused I got. When Mang Ben bought the flowers, I thought maybe someone died. And someone did, which for a few minutes I felt that his wife did. The film didn't have that cool bluish filter but instead had a warmer orange color, but it was darker than the bright warm filter I thought was used in happy movies.
Mang Ben buying flowers
Mang Ben visits grave
Mang Ben visits grave
But the moment his son, daughter, and grandson showed up and disappeared! I had a hunch that they also passed with the wife, which would make sense since they didn't show them in the first bits of the film, but their voices only. That would mean that mang Ben has not yet accepted that his family was no longer there.
Mang Ben alone
When he got home, everything was dark, which meant no one was there. The plates were untouched, and even the uniform is still there. This saddened me. He made a reality, an image of a family he once had to continue in life. He carried his wounds every day after knowing his family passed.
Mang Ben arrives home from cemetery
As much as the film impressed me a lot, I wouldn't want anyone to feel this way. The actors did a great job; the scenes and the vibe were captivating. I could never forget the scene when he got home at night, and everything was untouched. It proved all my theories, and it was sad to know that I was right.
2. BJ by Donnie T. Sacueza
BJ cover photo
A film of a child who thought he'd become a famous child actor became rich and paid his father's medical bills but instead became a cast of online pornography.
Image of BJ
This film is creepy; it's sad and disappointing because it is true. I can't believe id be seeing something like this. I don't get why people let this happen to their kids. This film is short, and I'm glad it is because I feel weird watching it. I can't forget the most is one, The mother that let this even happen in the first place. And two, that scene where the deed took place.
BJ Mother
BJ in an interview
I'm not too fond of it, I hate what I saw, but this film opened my eyes to how people sell their kids to something like this. Why do they have to experience their parent's wrong decisions? And how some would even think of this as a business. And how people would pay to watch a child's innocence tainted.
Child porn site
I'm not saying id love to watch this again because I won't, but what I will say is that the team that did this did a great job at making this seem real. And I hate them for that.
3. TRIO by Christopher Cruz
TRIO cover photo
The film is about an older man reminiscing his fun memories with his childhood friends.
I like this film a lot. It showed true friendship till the end. The "memories" shown back when they were young were so vibrant and fun. It made me reminisce about my childhood as well.
I love their friendship so much. It showed only the happy part of the older man's childhood. Still, in the end, I can tell they truly appreciated, trusted, and enjoyed each other's company. Seeing that the old man disagreed on the agreement they had, he still did it anyway. And that's true friendship.
I understand he was scared to agree when he was young because the future is uncertain. Yet, the film ending up with all of them gone and buried next to each other made me emotional. The scene I love the most was when they sat on that mountain and made their agreement. It just hit differently with me to see true friendship.
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