Movie Review: The Hearing

 

Embroiled in a legal battle against a powerful figure, a deaf boy, with the support of his parents, crosses paths with a court sign language interpreter who can speak but is voiceless in her own home.

Lucas, a deaf boy from a small fishing village, is sexually abused by Fr. Mejor, an influential priest. After his parents Madonna and Dante discover the truth, they decide to file a court case against the priest despite the obstacles in their way. In their pursuit of justice, they cross paths with sign language interpreter Maya, who has also witnessed powerful people manipulate the results of cases. In a society where few choose to listen, how can they win against forces that silence those who cannot speak and break the souls of those who can?

Movie Review: Kantil

The discovery of a mysterious alien shell in a trench transforms the lives of two star crossed lovers – Paleng and Eliong – and their threatened coastal village in Davao City, unearthing secrets deeper than the surrounding perilous waters.

Star-crossed lovers Paleng and Eliong bid farewell as their love is threatened by the imminent demolition of Paleng’s coastal village. However, when a fisherman discovers a mysterious alien shell lurking in a trench, the community is confronted with a wave of hope and intrigue, jealousy and fear. As tensions surge like an incoming tide, their tangled lives unravel secrets on how to navigate the turbulent waters ahead, their ultimate survival depends on hidden truths that need to be retrieved from the depths of the trench.

Movie Review: Kono Basho

As two estranged half-sisters reunite at their father’s funeral, they mend their differences, find solace in shared grief, and become instrumental in the city’s ongoing recovery.

Ella, a 28-year-old Filipina anthropologist, travels to Rikuzentakata City for her estranged father Emman's funeral, where she navigates the cultural and emotional complexities of his second family, including her Japanese half-sister, Reina. As they confront their intertwined histories, Ella and Reina find solace and connection, each reevaluating their perceptions of their father. Their journey of self-discovery intersects with Rikuzentakata's post-2011 earthquake and tsunami recovery. Discovering their father's photographs propels them on a path of rediscovery, exploring their relationships and individual identities. This poignant narrative explores themes of family, loss, identity, and renewal, reflecting deeply on the Filipino diaspora amid a backdrop of historical trauma.

Movie Review: Alipato at Muog

A filmmaker uncovers the hard truths surrounding the enforced disappearance of his older brother.

The abduction of Jonas Burgos in 2007 was brazen – done at noontime in a crowded mall. As his family launched their search, a car plate brought them face to face with powerful forces. Despite insurmountable barriers, anonymous informants have dropped leads and even provided the last known photo of Jonas in captivity. Edita, the 80-year old mother, and her filmmaker son lead the long and arduous fight for justice. Presented through testimonials of their lawyer, a reporter, a former Justice Secretary and Human Rights Commission Chair, and witnesses who agreed to appear on condition of anonymity, combined with animation and never-before-seen footage of the family’s relentless search, the documentary film weaves the stories together to uncover the truths, however painful, about the brother’s disappearance.

Movie Review: Tumandok

Unveil the untold saga of the Ati, a courageous Negrito ethnic group living in Boracay, Guimaras, Panay, and Negros islands in the Philippines. For the first time on screen, witness their impassioned battle to reclaim their ancestral lands in this groundbreaking docu-fiction film.

Despite contentions from historians, legend has it that in ancient times, an Ati chieftain traded their land to Bornean datus for a golden necklace and a wide-brimmed hat. The mountains were left to the Atis, while the plains and rivers went to the Malays. Today, even the mountains are under threat, sometimes violently taken from the Atis. Featuring an all-Ati non-professional acting ensemble, speaking in their own language, Inati, the film reveals the relentless struggle of these indigenous people to reclaim their land. As one Ati once said, “Tell us where the end of the earth is, and we will go there to live in peace, untouched.”

Movie Review: Balota

A teacher pays an increasingly steep price for defending the democratic process of the election.

During the 2007 elections, a former sexy star and a land-grabbing tycoon are in a tight race for mayor. Emmy, a strict yet popular teacher in a small town, is assigned to the Board of Election Inspectors for her local precinct. When violence erupts, she runs into the forest with a ballot box containing the last copy of the election results. Armed only with her resourcefulness, courage and wit, she tries to outmaneuver the goons who want the elections to fail. Her loved ones and community are caught in the crossfire as she pays an increasingly steep price for defending the democratic process.

Movie Review: The Wedding Dance

The love between a Kalinga couple is torn asunder by their patriarchal warrior community, whose harsh judgment falls on a woman’s infertility.

Following the Japanese invasion in the 1940s, Awiyao comes home to his wife Lumnay to ask her to attend the wedding dance, an invitation that stirs memories of joy, pain, and emptiness. It is an invitation to celebrate his new wedding dance.

Movie Review: An Errand

As a driver travels from Baguio to Manila on an absurd errand from his boss, his car transforms into an echo chamber of memories, spanning the chasms of time, class, and character.

Moroy, a driver, is jolted awake in the dead of night by an urgent call from SIR, his middle-aged boss, demanding he fetch his Viagra. Speeding off from Baguio to Manila, Moroy's mind drifts between reality and fantasy, unveiling SIR's secrets and reflecting on his interactions with fellow drivers and Brenda, SIR's office mistress. As the long journey unfolds, Moroy undergoes a profound transformation. Upon his return, Moroy finds himself forever changed.

Review: Cinemalaya 2024 Short Film Features Set B

Review: Cinemalaya 2024 Short Film Features Set A

 

Movie Review: The Gospel of the Beast

Headlined by actors Jansen Magpusao and Ronnie Lazaro, The Gospel of the Beast is a coming-of-age film about Mateo, a 15-year-old boy known for being a troublemaker in school but possessing a genuine heart for his two siblings. He assumed the role of man of the house after his father went missing, doing his best to care for them. However, a confrontation with his schoolmate escalates into violence when Mateo accidentally takes the life of his rival. With nowhere else to turn, Mateo seeks help from a man he barely knows, Berto, who persuades him to run away and introduces him to the world of the syndicate. 

Over time, Berto evolves into a father figure for Mateo, and as their unique father-son relationship grows, Mateo gradually learns the harsh realities of life. But when his best friend is slayed and the secret of his father’s passing is revealed, Mateo finally loses himself to violence and despair, falling into a trap on his ultimate journey into beasthood.