Movie Review: Lauriana

In 1955, the residents of a small idyllic village in Quezon are jolted to discover the dark, disturbing secret of a soldier and his common-law wife. The incomprehensible act takes the protagonists on a six-decade journey to find remorse, retribution, and forgiveness.

Ang  pelikula ay umikot sa 3 pangunahin tauhan si Lauriana (Bangs),Samuel (Allen) at Carding (Adrian). Ang 3 tauhang ito ay may mapait na nakaraan na nadala nila sa kasalukuyang pamumuhay. Ipinakita ng pelikulang ito ang lakas ng isang lalaki as portray by Allen at kahinaan ng isang babae as portray by Bangs noong 1940’s. Ipinakita dito kung ano ang kayang gawin ng isang labis na pagmamahal at isang kamangmangan. Mashashock kayo sa ginawa ni Allen kay Bangs rito sa isang eksena mala human centipede ang dating it’s so grouse.

Director’s treatment of the film is just ok . Screenplay, bumagay naman for a period film. Production Design is ok but yung setting ng 70’s ay parang current time lang tapos may isang scene pa doon na nahigap ng camera iyong sticker campaign ni Erap at Binay. The 1940’s settings is good.  Bumagay yung lugar at yung color ng film. Fully utilized din ang magagandang view sa Quezon at tumawid sa akin ang lugar. DOP was good medyo detailed sa mga close up at madaming magagandang shot. Story of the film on how the conflict was resolved is just ok.

For the acting of the artist, for me there is only one na nagdala ng pelikulang ito sa husay na pagganap na ibinigay niya at iyon ay ang batang si Adrian Cabido. Napakatotoo ng kanyang pagganap at may lalim din kung minsan and for the supporting actress that I would like to commend is Angeli Bayani. Pinakafavorite scene ko at highlight ng movie for me is yung nahuli ni Angeli si Adrian na kumupit ng pera for Lauriana. That scene was so powerful kasi napakahusay nilang 2 yung emosyon at iyak nung bata nadala ako at ang luha ni Angeli on cue ang galing doon pa lang na establish na yung relasyon ng magtiyahin. The 2 deserve an acting award for this film. Bangs Garcia can act but for me in this film parang hindi bumagay yung acting niya for the character. Allen Dizon acting is just ok. Victor Basa got an awkward acting for me. Chanel Latorre is good. Only one scene as 1970’s prostitute but she’s very good with that scene with Victor Basa.

Nakakalungkot lang na para akong nagpa special screening kanina dahil mag isa lang ako sa loob ng sinehan na something creepy din pala as experience but I just focus na lang sa film. So I hope this film gets more audience along the weekend. All in all movie is worth your time naman. It shows us stories of abused woman in 1940’s that’s not usually tackle in Filipino film. This is something fresh for us audience.

My Verdict:  3/5