Ilo Ilo (2013) which is director Anthony Chen’s first feature film, is astonishingly intimate since it is actually Chen’s own childhood experience, being raised by his maid from the Philippines since his parents were too busy working. The setting of the film is at the age of the Asian financial crisis of 1997 wherein unemployment rates and suicide rates were rising. Nine-year-old Jiale, a willful brat, was used to getting his own way, a rambunctious little child, especially in school. He’s not a bad child because of this attitude, nor is it because his parents don’t care for him, it’s that they are too absorbed in their workplaces that they don’t even have time or make time for him. This all changes when Terry, played amazingly by Angela Bayani, a Filipino maid is hired. Not happy about any of this, Jiale treats Terry as an enemy and tricks her into loads of humiliating situations. Because only Terry has the time for Jiale, they grow closer to each other. But as the two form a compact bond, unlikely circumstances will tear them apart. The performances of the actors are brilliant and authentic, the cinematography, writing, and direction were amazing as well, and all of which makes the movie even more touching and tear-jerking.
Ang Nawawala (2012) by Marie Jamora is mostly a film that speaks about our generation and for our generation. It’s for us. It’s for us who have access to the internet 24/7, the “conyo” generation, people who are addicted to Instagram and taking pictures to achieve “feed goals”. For us who dare to dream and consume and appreciate art on a daily basis whether it may be aural or visual. This movie is no love story nor a commercial rom-com. It’s definitely different to the stories or movies we usually see. Standoffish “mute” boy falls in love with misfit hipster girl, and she “falls” for him too? See? Not your typical “love story”. The movie also pays close attention and explores the Philippine music scene and how music acts as a drug to forget the past and transmit messages that matter, breaking the barriers of language and communication. It features songs and bands that are out of the mainstream such as Sandwich, Flying Ipis, Pedicab, Ang Bandang Shirley and etc. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it and you have to go give it a watch yourself. It’s like a reblog-and-Tumblr-worthy picture come to life. I’m definitely going to be watching that tons of times until I memorise the lines of each character, no regrets. Beautifully painful, yet real.
Pinoy Transkings: An Advocacy Documentary is an honest-to-god inspiring documentary about transmen. A transman, if you’re not familiar, is a transgendered person who was assigned female at birth but whose gender identity is that of a man. Some transgendered people undergo Hormone Replacement Therapy also known as “transitioning” to conform one’s physical sexual characteristics to that of their gender identity. This documentary goes into the lives of Filipino transmen, Popoy, Nil, Sid, Prince Eagle Le Andre and Aiza wherein they share their individual stories; discovery, doubt, coming out, and transitioning. I can say that I’m honestly lucky to live in a world where being yourself, or being transgendered per se, is more accepted by the people than it used to be. I hope people continue expressing themselves, and not be afraid of being who they really want to be.
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