Review: Cinemalaya 2022 Short Film Features Set B

 

 

Itan, a 12-year-old Aeta, is told to quit school and help his father in planting mountain crops so they can save up for the delivery of his pregnant mother. The young boy finds a flicker of hope when he learns about a scholarship opportunity that he could possibly receive on two crucial conditions: one, he has to learn how to operate a computer and two, he has to convince his father to allow him to return to school — only then he would be able to realize his long-time goal to read through all the documents the Aeta community had been receiving. Only then he could understand why they were being forced to give up ancestral lands up in the mountain to give way for mining.

 

A heartwarming tale that embraces the reality of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the country.

 

 

My Verdict: 4/5

 

 

Living in isolation and yearning for human connection, a woman afflicted with a dark curse develops an obsession with her new neighbors, a young couple with a secret of their own. As the days pass, she begins to witness things between them that ultimately force her to confront her nature, and perhaps save a life in the process. Loosely based on a lost silent film by Jose Nepomuceno, Dikit reimagines classic Philippine folklore into a contemporary diptych of feminine bodies, rage, and freedom.

 

 

Brilliant take on women empowerment, isolation and loneliness. The unique storytelling standout with effective visuals and choice of interpretation.

 

 

My Verdict: 4/5

 

 

After working overseas for seven years, a mother returns home to her son. The abrupt reunion forces the pair to face up to their estranged relationship.

Lovely and Touching

My Verdict: 3.5/5

 

 

In need of money for an operation, Lilian comes home and asks her mother for money. After receiving a scolding from her mother, she steals her mother’s rooster. Her mother frantically searches for her lost rooster until she finds it on the hill, with Lilian standing beside it. The daughter confesses her real situation and unexpectedly receives the reassurance that she never would have thought of earlier.

Glad to see a funny tale from regional short films.

My Verdict: 3/5

While the Philippines is now slowly recovering from the global health crisis, a group of hospital workers commemorates the life of a “fallen” colleague through a virtual necrological service. The solemn gathering suddenly turns into a recollection of dark and haunting memories.

A timely homage and love letter to our beloved frontliners in time of pandemic.

My Verdict: 3/5

After asking for an additional delivery to pay for his mother’s medical needs, delivery rider Oddie ends up looking for an oddly unlocatable customer named Trisha Lopez. Along the way, Oddie encounters several people related to her until he crosses paths with someone who will change his day-to-day life as a delivery rider.

Another timely story to tell and love letter to our beloved frontliners in time of pandemic.

 

 

My Verdict: 3/5