Sunday, 7 April 2019

My Verdict for Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2019





Life turns riveting for Nanong when the tabloid-format reality TV show, Akin ang Korona chances upon his curious life in a sleepy seaside town in Catanauan Quezon. Nanong agrees to film his daily life drying herring, with a deal that they would help find his lost father. Nanong’s quest for a missing parent will become a search of truth, of wonder, of the self-wrapped in the direction framed for and by the TV program.


Akin ang Korona effectively depicts the harsh realities of producing a TV show.
Well-written, anchor with is clever screenplay and fine direction.  Its ensemble cast delivers an emotionally resonant performance  that are consistent with their characters from Nar Cabico, Kiray Celis, Aaron Rivera, Angel Aquino up to Philip Palmos. Easily the best film of Sinag Maynila 2019


My Verdict: 4/5





Two sex workers, a seventeen-year old boy, Gino (Oliver Aquino), and a young mother, Marie (Angela Cortez), are hired to do a pornographic film. The day before All Saints' Day, the two travels to a far-flung travel for the shooting. During the shooting, they are forced to do acts which have not been agreed upon. Feeling trapped and isolated, they are pushed to their limits, to the edge of their dignity. Jino to Mari is a morality tale set in an act judged by society as immoral. It posits the question: When you take away one's respect and dignity, what is then left of that person?

Jino to Mari held together by effective and restrained performance from it leads, Oliver Aquino and Angela Cortez. Perry Escaño's performance as exploitative assistant gay director is also noteworthy. The detailed and eye candy cinematography adds color to the storytelling and brings you not only to the beautiful town of Mauban Quezon but also to the in depth character of the cast.


My Verdict: 4/5






Bangis, a gravedigger living inside a cemetery mausoleum, is pushed to the limit when his daughter becomes critically ill. With no other means to bring her to a hospital for proper medication, he's left with one option: to steal a newly buried corpse for money, and hope everything is not too late for his beloved daughter.



Pailalim is another slice of gritty urban realism and poverty porn as its best, done in a familiar narrative and found story style film making. Joem Bascon's nuance and emphatic performance as well as the tension in the wordless steal sequence towards the end are the highlights of this film.


My Verdict: 3.5/5






A man with two personalities: one is a blind cook accused of mass poisoning that killed his older lover, and the other is the imaginary friend of his six-year-old son who is smart and jolly—his exact opposite.


The combination of magic realism, tight editing and non-linear story-telling mounted on this film are  a challenging task to accomplish that somehow decently crafted in this interesting and worth seeing Sinag Maynila 2019 entry.




My Verdict: 3.5/5





The film is about a woman named Jesusa and how she sinks into the mire. It is set in a rundown community where she leads a normal life until circumstances drag her to be swallowed by the low lives of her neighbor.

Great performance for Ms. Sylvia Sanchez

 
My Verdict: 3/5


 My Ranking for Documentary



                           1. At Home
                           2. Entablado
                           3. Hope Spots
                           4. Hyatt: Mga Kuwento, Lihim at Katotohanan
                           5. Tata Pilo
                           6. Andap





My Ranking for Short Films




                           1. Dana Jung
                           2. Panaghoy
                           3. Dude Pare Bro
                           4. Kiss
                           5. Memories of the Rising Sun
                           6. Ngiti ni Nazareno
                           7. Marian
                           8. Bisperas
                           9. Nagmamahal, Sal
                           10. Kilos
                           

FULL LENGTH FILMS


Best Sound: Pailalim

Best Editing: Persons of Interest

Best Production Design: Pailalim

Best Cinematography: Jino to Mari

Best Story: Jino to Mari

Best Screenplay: Akin ang Korona

Best Supporting Actor: Aaron Rivera - Akin ang Korona & Perry Escaño - Jino To Mari

Best Supporting Actress: Kiray Celis - Akin ang Korona

Best Actor: Oliver Aquino - Jino to Mari & Nar Cabico - Akin ang Korona

Best Actress: Angela Cortez - Jino to Mari

Best Director: Zig Dulay - Aking ang Korona

Best Picture: Akin ang Korona





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