MNLKID were first timers in this year's Cinemalaya. We were truly at awe with CCP, the architecture, the people and of course the art.



We started with Respeto then Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig then finished it off with Shorts B: Juana and the Sacred Shores, Maria, Nakaw, Hilom, Bawod and Nakauwi Na.

So here's a review of some of this year's Cinemalaya.


pam

"A film that told the story of two completely opposite people—a teenager and a wise old man; one who aspires to be good at fliptop and one who loves and was loved back by poetry; one who seeks for respect and one who was robbed of it, of dignity, of loved ones, and of freedom. Treb Monteras II's Respeto set the bar high not only for me, but as well as for the others who had seen it before all the other films for this year's Cinemalaya. The shots, framing, cinematography, script, and background music were all impeccable.

The actors deserve a hands down, especially Abra for delivering his lines and emotions unexpectedly real and convincing."

rica

"The truths depicted in this film are undeniable. The characters are incredible; you fall deeper and deeper in love with them in every scene – with their dreams and with their realities.

I felt possibly all the emotion there is to feel because of this film.

Cinematography is really good, screenplay is superb, the acting is refreshing and the story is remarkable. It tackled so many relevant issues in the society today while making sure to incorporate art into the movie making it more beautiful.

This movie is so unforgettable; it’s already my favorite indie movie of all time.

If I could rate this movie 10/5, I sure would. "

sophia

"The hype on this movie is truly deserved. It had everything: good cinematography, the right actors, and a relevant and exciting plot.

It was like a never ending web of issues in the Philippines.

I won’t say much because it will take away the anticipation. I’ll just say that it’s more than your typical hiphop/fliptop film.

Truly a must watch for everyone."

kate

"I came for the lit rhymes, I stayed for the violence and crimes. At its core, Respeto is a movie about the cycle of violence in our society.

The movie perfectly captures what its like to be eaten by the system and how circumstances play in a person's life.
The film blurs the line between real and plot, thanks to the impeccable screenplay and cinematography. You'll check your privileges right after watching this gem."



pam

"Almost there, but just like Ariana Grande said in her song, "almost is never enough". Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig was the second major "sayang" for me, next to the short film Nakauwi Na.

As much as there were parts of suspenseful scenes and beautiful imagery of Palawan, there were parts that failed to give attention to framing and camera angle—making the scene awkward and the shifting between the characters during dialogues confusing.

A number of scenes were also unnecessarily too lengthy to the point where the audience anticipates something to happen at the end of the scene, only to realize nothing else happened. Had the framing and angle given attention and some scenes been made a bit shorter, Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig would not disappoint."

rica

"I didn’t like the cinematography of this film because the shots were awkward. The dialogue between characters were also off, it sounded very scripted when it should sound natural.

The fire effects towards the end of the film were awful, it looked so fake and it was shown in the movie several times so that’s a major turn off.

But, I have to say that the main actors Ricky Davao and Angel Aquino portrayed their roles very well which somehow balanced the film and made it not as painful to watch."

sophia

"First thing I noticed was the square, awkward and well thought out framing of the scenes. It felt unnatural.

It felt like the director wanted every scene to be “instagrammable.”

It felt forced in a way. There were some actors that were great and some not so much.

There were scenes that were confusing and dragging.

It just wasn’t the best film."

kate

"This film is so painstakingly aesthetically pleasing to the point that it'll drive you mad. I love me some good old visual candy, but kuliglig was too creative for my taste.

The effort it exerted on its artistic palette out shined the plot of the film.
For a movie about small towns, this one fills up the boring stereotype."



pam

"A breather after a couple of intense full-length movies, Juana and the Sacred Shores offered a refreshing vibe through its whitewashed scenes of rivers and greens. This UP film thesis directed by Antonne Santiago tells the story of a maiden named Juana who lived happily and peacefully in an island, until she realized she was alone.

Figuring she wanted a companion, she danced in prayer and asked for a lover.

When the man arrived, the then-graceful and beautiful Juana changed drastically—abused and dragged through the filth. A silent film that says so much about the Philippine history, Juana and the Sacred Shores wonderfully symbolized how post-colonialism continually affects the country's political, social, and economic structure and how it has turned the Philippines still struggling for true independence."

rica

"The art depicted in this movie in itself is already a five. It’s amazing how no words are needed to be able to really grasp what message the movie wanted to get across to the viewers.

The cinematography and screenplay are also some things to appreciate in this film, the transitions were smooth, the directing and choreography were also commendable.

At first glance, it may seem as if they were portraying the girl-meets-boy that turned into an abusive relationship kind of a love story but when I came to know that what they wanted to show is the colonialism that happened in our country, I appreciated the movie on an entirely new level; so much art, zero dialogue, all the feels, one big message. That’s a five for me."

sophia

"BEAUTIFUL. It was simple and well thought out.

The place, the make-up, the costume and the choreography was all perfect.

Although, I didn’t get the post-colonialism reference at first, when I read about it later on, it all became very clear. At first, I thought it was romance and abuse, which is why I was confused with the ending but with post-colonialism in mind it all tied up."

kate

"I discovered a new favorite of mine: dancers in a silent film. Juana and the Sacred Shores entrances its audiences in a slow mystical dance.

For a thesis film, this one is simply mesmerizing.

From the choreography to the cinematography, I'd easily give this a 1.00 grade."



pam

"Maria proved that the quote "the more, the merrier" is not always true, especially when talking about impoverished Filipino families. Director JP Habac Jr. (also the director of I'm Drunk, I Love You) successfully mirrored the country's growing problem of uncontrolled birth while injecting just enough dose of natural humor into the film.

Albeit being screened at a previous film festival, Maria still had the same effect on first- and second-time viewers."

rica

"I cannot stress enough how realistic this short film is. A mother giving birth to her 22nd child may seem a bit exaggerated but it is a ‘thing’ in this country.

A poor but big family is actually a usual setup in many places in the Philippines.

And this movie was able to really show what goes on a day in the lives of these families. I must say that the acting in Maria was really what moved me even when I was watching it for the 2nd time.

It will make you laugh but it won’t fail to make you understand what’s really happening through the glimpses of these realities."

sophia

"I saw this film already in one of JP Habac’s talks in UP and it showed how much unplanned pregnancies could be very chaotic. It was funny as the chaos was portrayed as so but in when you think about it, that is the reality of some lives.

There were scenes that I didn’t quite understand but the reality of overpopulation did really hit me."

kate

"Overpopulation has been a problem of our country for so long that a short film about it is long overdue. Habac's signature style of storytelling speaks the truth of families living under the poverty line.

Maria has just the right amount of funny and sad, you'll definitely be rooting for this one."



pam

"Nakaw showed that not only are there sides of every story, but each story is also linked to and has something to do with another. Great cinematography coupled with intense scenes and smooth transition, this Arvin Belarmino and Noel Escondo film was able to stitch up a stolen purse, a stolen wife, and a stolen life into one short yet sensible story.

Having competed at the Cannes Film Festival, Nakaw appealed to the foreign audience and proved how the excellent portrayal of extrajudicial killings and the stories that lie behind every person killed, could impact just about everyone; regardless of the country they live in, the language that they speak, and the leadership they are under."

rica

"The film started off with a stolen wallet, continued with a stolen wife and ended with a stolen life. All these will unravel before your eyes in a span of a few minutes because the directors decided to make all these events take place in a single, continuous shot.

There is not much palabok.

It was straightforward and direct. It showed how there is always a story behind a death in this drug war.

The film just became an eye-opener that there is always more to the story than what we see on the news or on social media.

It was creative and it was effective too."

sophia

"I would say that it was my least favourite of the shorts line up. Cinematography was very dark and maybe they intended it that way but I didn’t quite like it.
It did tackle the infamous topic of “tokhang” and how everyone's lives are somewhat connected, they portrayed it very well."

kate

"To see a one shot sequence in Cinemalaya was surprising, but whats even more surprising is the plot twist in this tasteful work of cinematic art. Local audiences may not appreciate this, but the international community will surely have a feast dissecting this."



pam

"A light and innocent story of twins from Samar, Hilom or 'still' portrays a young boy finding himself liking another boy, which led him to fall apart from his twin brother. Eventually, he realizes his brother is more important than any other boy, and that brotherly love bears more weight than romantic love or infatuation.

Personally, this film by P.R. Patindol was neither underwhelming nor did it leave me awestruck.

It did not have that much impact on me, although to be fair, I loved that they didn't fail to show the beauty of Samar through the film's cinematography and the scenes' framing. The twins were adorable, too (both on- and off-screen), and the fact that they learned to speak the dialect for the movie was commendable."

rica

"Lovely and fresh. Hilom is an innocent story of Gael and Andres, young twins who are finding their way into friendships, sexuality and their relationship as brothers.

I enjoyed this film because it was shot in Samar showcasing its breathtaking rock formations.

I also came to know that the twins didn’t know how to speak the dialect but learned it specifically for this short so I guess that’s impressive. I loved how it tackled sexuality considering that the main actors are kids.

It’s not everyday that we see films addressing the fact that kids as young as Gael and Andres, experience conflicting thoughts about their sexuality and how difficult it is to really understand yourself when you are in an environment that is not as open to those things.

And, the twins are really cute and adorable so that’s a big plus, too."

sophia

"Hilom is my favourite of the shorts line up. The twins being it their first time acting and having to learn bisaya was very commendable.

The cinematography was beautiful, as was the location.
It was upsetting to see how something innocent and normal could be portrayed very differently in a small remote town. Plus, those cute twins!"

kate

"Set in the picturesque shores of Biri island, Hilom perfectly captures the macho male mentality and the pressure it puts on boys. The innocence is lost once malice sets in, often resulting to repression of one's sexuality. this, along with familial bonds, makes this short film a memorable watch."



pam

"This film showed a little girl whose grandfather treated her like a princess, but is yet to learn to live on her own. "Just like the bamboo—will bend but will not break," as her grandfather used to tell her.

 TM Malones' Bawod offered both sweet moments and ache, leaving the audience a reminder that it is always so great to have that selfless kind of love, but not everyone we love stays forever so we always have to get up and try to do things on our own—little by little, step by step; will bend, but will not break."

rica

"Bawod is a story of Thirdy and her relationship with her overprotective but loving grandfather. It Is very light at  the beginning of the movie where they exchange effective lines in their dialogues but gets really touching towards the end because grandfather dies.

But then, according to the director, that death is like a way for Thirdy to be stronger and to grow as an independent woman.

Just like the bamboo, Thirdy will only bend but not break."

sophia

"Another shorts favourite, it was funny and emotional. The lolo-apo relationship of the characters made them very likable with their banters.
Them being very likable got me very emotional on the ending scenes."

kate

"Let's face it: Filipinos don't only speak Tagalog. There are a lot of dialects out there, and it's always a joy to see stories about people living outside Luzon.

Bawod manages to encourage growth without the usual overly dramatic plot twist, giving the audience a tasteful coming of age tale."



pam

"Personally, I belive that this film by the students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran was the black horse among the films under Shorts B. Despite the bad transition, poor video and audio quality, and that creepy apparition of Mang Jerry's son at the end of the film, Nakauwi Na's emotional approach on EJK unexpectedly earned the film the loudest and longest applause in the theater—proof that it is not always about the video and audio quality, nor the impeccability of the scenes' transition, nor a great cinematography, because sometimes it's all about what story the film has to tell and the message it wants to impart to the people."

rica

"This movie had me crying ugly tears. It is another story about the infamous EJK in the country and this time it focused more on what happens after.

It showed the grief of the father, a very simple jeepney driver when he lost his innocent son who just graduated from college in this war against drugs.

You would see his hopes and dreams crumbling before your eyes just because of a mistaken gun shot. It will truly tug on your heartstrings because Filipinos are close to their families and the characters were built up and established as the movie goes on.

The technical parts of the film like the editing, transitions and audio were a bit lacking but what really made this film unforgettable is its content and the message it wanted to tell its viewers."

sophia

"The cinematography of this film was a turn off but to know that the film was made by students of Letran deserves applause. Compared to “Nakaw”, this was more of an emotional take on the topic tokhang.

The film made me tear up as it was very heartbreaking from start to finish."

kate

"Nakauwi Na is a promising tale of father and son, except it fails to establish itself among other competitors. Everything about this short film could've been done better; the screenplay, the cinematography, even the equipment used.
Good thing the story was worth watching for, or else this wouldn't even see the light of day."


movie posters photos by cinemalaya.org