Movie Review: An Kubo Sa Kawayanan

Michelle lives in her own special world.  She has a strange love story with her house by the bamboo grave, with which she developed a language, with things functioning as words only she could understand.  Everyone is trying to convince her to abandon the house; her boyfriend trying to look for work in the city or abroad, a nosy neighbor trying to make ends meet by working as a teacher, and even a filmmaker trying to do a documentary on Michelle’s skill as a calado embroiderer, which she cling onto as strongly as she stays in the house.  

The film tells the intimate story of how Michelle’s house, along with the things around her: a river stone, a June beetle, and a can of sardines, would help her preserve the ecology of joy and peace she nurtures by the bamboo grove.  In Michelle’s world everything is interconnected, and even the smallest of things has a story to tell.

What a refreshing film to watch. The greatest asset of the film is its simplicity and rawness that stay with you until the end of the film. After watching this film you will appreciate more of our nature, look back on where we begin and appreciate more of the simple things that we have in our life. The cinematography, music, sound, production design and editing are commendable with matching subtle performance from Mercedes Cabral and good performance from RK, Marc and other supporting cast. I'm recommending everyone to watch this film as this is the best film in Filipino Section of World Premieres Film Festival.

My Verdict: 5/5