Filipino Cinema

Let us explore some movies from the motherland!

After a clicking spree I discovered that Filipina Actress Jaclyn Jose won Best Actress at this year's Cannes for her lead performance in move Ma'Rosa.  That's pretty cool to have her talent given some exposure on a global stage.  I haven't seen the film but I have seen the trailer and I will definitely give it a watch.

The premise from what I can gather centres around nothing new in movies that make international impact from the Philippines.  Poverty, drugs, police corruption, prostitution etc which is the same from other popular Filipino story Metro Manila which was actually written and Directed by Briton Sean Ellis.  The production of Metro Manila definitely had a western sheen all over it, maybe that's why I enjoyed it, making it more palatable to western audiences.  Most reviews had been good for this film but one not so complimentary said it picked too many parts from 70s classic Manila in the Claws of light aka Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, which looking at the trailer alone and the costuming makes this top of the list to check out myself.  The film backed by numerous film trusts and funds based in the UK and America including Martin Scorsese’s invaluable World Cinema Foundation, I imagine this film being heralded as one of the Philippine's main classics to those outside the country. 

Domestically the movie industry is not stale, with the production of Rom Coms (starring the darlings of the moment) churned out frequently, or Sci Fi movies with questionable CGI popping up too but unfortunately the snob in the me doesn't take notice unless I read about them in nomination news for festivals like Sundance and Cannes. Shame on me.

This final film I am going to mention is the ultimate in my Filipino film selection snobbery.  Selected for Toronto, New York and Cannes Festivals and nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film in 2015 is 4 HOUR Norte: the End of History.  This film is currently sitting on my bookshelf and awaiting a situation when 4 hours of heavy drama about moral dilemma is the only cure.

Considering I have only watched one of these films in this post I will follow up with my reviews of them once I get round to it.  I would love Filipino cinema to be up there with Chinese, Japanese and South Korean films or even competing with my favourite of all French Cinema.  To be able to tell stories with a wider depth, revealing the different people of Philippines and the dramas that they face.  I would also love to see Filipino cinema explore fiction in the same weight given to their dramas.  Ideally I also want to break through my snobby ways in regard to Filipino film so I am up for suggestions of things to watch.  Even the Rom Coms and bad aliens...however if you suggest anything starring John Lloyd Cruz you can just get out of here now.