Movie Review: Lihis

Set in the 70s, two young male NPA warriors find themselves entangled in a web of frustrations, despair, and victory as they struggle to fight for their love in the middle of war against despotism and dictatorship. Lihis is a story of a fight for freedom and against victory. 

Isang pelikulang tumalakay sa pagmamahalan ng dalawang lalaking makakaliwa (against our government) or what we called NPA. This is the 2^nd time na nakapanood ako ng Pinoy Film na may ganitong set up first ko is yung Muli by Adolf Alix. Ang kaibahan lang nito is nasa kabundukan yung 2 actors wherein sa Muli ay namumuhay na ordinaryong tao. The movie is also a socio political film that tackles the struggles of an NPA towards the government at may statement din about sa political and current events for the last 30 years.

Director’s treatment is good. May tatak Joel Lamangan ang pelikula. Screenplay is very good. Swabe at madaling sundan ang istorya. Medyo nagulat lang ako doon sa mga biglaang halikan nina Jake and Joem na parang wala silang pakundangan na mag sex sa gubat at sa ilog so doon sa part  na iyon parang di ko na gets na bakit ganun kaagad on first meeting palang after ng arguments nila then fight scene tapos nauwi sa sex agad agad. Parand di lang malinaw for me yung establishment nung attraction nung 2 sa akin para kasing instant attraction siguro yung nangyari sa dalawa. Tapos ang nakakaloka pa ay iyong  pagiging tagong aggressiveness ni Lovi towards Joem na I am wondering kung ganoon ba sila kasabik sa kabundukan ganun kasi after ng ilog scene ni Jake at Joem biglang tuhog naman itong si Lovi na may balak din pala kay Joem but towards the end of the film it will reveal kung bakit ginawa ni Lovi yun as it is something to do with her character. So kung yung M2M scene ang inaabangan niyo rito(which is I think yes) , I think masasatisfy naman kayo and infairness naman may art naman yung mga love scene dito and well executed. I appreciate the fat butt of Joem hehe and get distracted by the sagging tummy of Jake Cuenca which I thought he is maintaining his abs.

Going back to the technicalities of the film DOP is ok as well as the Prod Design.  For the acting, hand’s up ako kay Joem Bascom. He is so damn good in this film. No acting acting very natural, yet effective to his role and may lalim din pati mga nuances as a writer when he types at typewriter kuwang kuwa niya. He deserves a Best Actor Award for this film. For me this is his best performance as an actor. For Jake’s acting, anyare? I don’t like his acting here. I am sorry. I know he can deliver but for this film he fails. To Lovi Poe as usual mahusay wala na ako masabi. Isabelle Daza was very good here. This is a good acting vehicle for her. I did not expect that she can deliver. Gloria Diaz and Raquel Villavicencio is a good support. Channel Latorre for the 2^nd time this day that I watch her as her 2^nd film on this festival, all I can say is she is a versatile actress, from portraying a 1970’s prostitute on Lauriana to a current time youth activist she delivers well on both character. Dito sa film na ito mas natural yung acting niya, very effective to her role which only proves the range of her acting capability is great.

I think the film is successful in making buzz towards the audience  kung paano ito naipromote and for me the most popular entry for this year Sineng Pambansa dahil marami kami sa loob ng sinehan when I watch this. Mayroon pang mga bunch of magbabarkada na sabay sabay nanood. So sa box office panalo ito. All in all maganda yung kwento ng pelikula hindi lang ito tungkol sa pagmamahal ng 2 lalaking NPA, this is also realization of past and  current situation between NPA and our government which is timely as well for the current situation in Zamboanga in terms of people against the government. This is a good socio political sexy gay love story to watch to.

My Verdict:  3.5/5