Friday 9 August 2019

Movie Review: Shorts B - Cinemalaya 2019 Film Festival





In the midst of an ongoing siege, a reluctant child combatant finds a safe place to pray where he meets a newly orphaned, infidel boy who seeks refuge in the unknown. The city is in a state of siege. Masumah, a neophyte child combatant, tries to Outlast the day while still fulfilling one of the practices of his faith, salat al-‘isha - a prayer done before going to sleep. He finds a bombed house where he meets a newly orphaned, infidel boy who escapes from reality by reminiscing his mom’s lullaby. The two spends some time together, staring at a seemingly spectacular display of fireworks in the night sky.


I love the powerful message of the film. I like the unique story telling. It feels, atmosphere and cinematography is a lit. It is short but effective


My Verdict: 4/5



Two brothers face their impending separation when an aunt who can’t bear a child offers to adopt the younger one.   June, a 16-year-old farmer, lives with his mother Mina and his younger brother Mako near a pineapple field in Bukidnon. His aunt from Manila offers to adopt his brother Mako and let him study in a prestigious school. His mother is hesitant at first but later on agrees with the offer. Even if he is against it, June convinces Mako to go, thinking it would be best for his future. The two brothers now face their impending separation and think of ways they can spend every minute together before their aunt arrives. 



Another powerful and touching story. Well weaved and executed. The feels also came across to me.



My Verdict: 3.5/5





In a culture where designs are dreamt about and to be woven only by women, a T’boli man is challenged to face a cultural norm as the abaca goddess shows him a pattern to weave in his dreams. Grieving for the recent passing of his mother, a T’boli man from South Cotabato collects a series of patterns as an abaca goddess visits him in his dreams. He takes a journey of unearthing his history, making him disregard the consequences of defying a sanctified practice through secretly enduring the tedious process of weaving T’nalak – defining birth, life, marriage, and death, a sacred cloth only to be weaved by women. 


A decent glimpse on regional story.


My Verdict:  3/5




A gay teenager looks for a job in a world he is unaware of. Girly, an unemployed gay man, lives below poverty line with a passive mother and an abusive father. He later finds his mother being sexually harassed by her partner. His life changes when the abuses also happened to Girly and he has nothing left to do but to control his life forward. 


Excel on its strong statement and intention.


My Verdict:  3.5/5





An aging lady shoemaker gets a visit from her first love who abandoned her for three decades.  Grace, a 65-year-old widow, runs a shoe factory in Marikina, the Shoe Capital of the Philippines. One day, Elias, Grace’s first love and first heartbreak, returns to her doorstep, asking for a pair of custom-made shoes. Circumstances force Grace to make him his pair of shoes. And when she does, she starts to slowly uncover the very reason why Elias returns for her forgiveness. When heartache returns from years ago, will it heal wounds or will it lead to more cuts? 


 Love the performance of Sherry Lara and Soliman Cruz in this bitter sweet love story.


 My Verdict:  3.5/5

 





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