Movie Review: Cinema One Originals Short Films 2016

Trying to cope with family pressure and medical issues, Romel, a seafarer from Iloilo, faces another dilemma upon discovering what's inside the bag left by Makay, a street vendor he accidentally bumped into. Being tracked by the syndicate runners Rex and Mon, Romel and Makay struggle to survive the odds of that one unfortunate night.

My Verdict: 3.5/5

 When the whole family confronted her 14-year old daughter of a suspected pregnancy, a 50 year old woman gives birth to her 22nd child.

Effective, straight to the point, got its message.

My Verdict: 4/5

Jess a 23 year old children's book illustrator is pretty, successful, talented and never goes outside of her condo. She has agoraphobia, the fear of the outside, public spaces, and crowds. Although content with her life indoors, her feelings change when her best friend, Ashley calls her up and tell her she's engaged. Yearning for a relationship, she tries to find love the only way she knows how, which is online. After a rough start of creepy messages and dick pics, she stumbles upon the profile of Sam, a young freelance writer, and messages him while hiding the fact that she never goes outside. As their digital relationship develops, Jess learns how far she has to go for love. 

Got affected by the main character and the story. Well done short film about introvert. I loved this!


My Verdict: 5/5

 Hasa explores the very thin line between truth and illusion. The truth covers first-degree cousins and long-time childhood playmates, Greg, Lito and Reena attending their annual family reunion set at a provincial town in Laguna in the traditional mid-summer season. Typical to cousins that are closer and have established intimate relations with each other, they create a secret where it goes beyond the normal, oridnary escapade. Illusion is intertwined with reality as each character struggles and fights back to overcome the seemingly truth of lust, violence and unimaginable affair.

My Verdict: 3/5

A dialogue between a young boy and his grandmother as he demands "Tinola" (chicken stew) which his grandmother resents, deeming it inappropriate for breakfast

My Verdict: 4/5

A group of quirky girls are confined in a pseudo-sorority where violence and friendship are uncannily intertwined

Subdued and multilayered but effectively delivers the message accrooss the audience

My Verdict: 4.5/5

A young boy dreams of getting the role of Mary for their high school theater club’s annual nativity presentation, but their teacher decides to stick with the norms, giving no chance for the young boy’s dream to come true. On the verge of totally losing his faith, a divine intervention pushes him to pursue the dream.

Witty and charming

My Verdict: 4/5

A family of activists in the 1970's gets a hold of the sex tape of the president and an American actress. Their possession of this sex tape results to the abduction of the father and eventually causes division among them. The conflict of their beliefs becomes deeper and deeper until the separation becomes inevitable.

Bounded with its great cast, smooth direction and clear vision, this short film is a decent reminder of what happens to a typical family that is victim of a Martial Law.

My Verdict: 4.5/5

 A grieving father hopefully in search of the perfect shell to find his son.

My Verdict: 3/5