Cinemalaya 2012

Cinemalaya used to be a by-word for those artsy films you only get to see for that critique in Humanities. To watch it in a leisurely manner and deconstruct its plot without anyone's command tells of one's artistic leanings - a taste that lays dormant in me - until some higher being wakes me up from slumber to see these films in cinema.

The first time I get to watch a full-length movie was in 2008. Dr. Wendell Capili, Diliman's patron of the arts and languages made it a requirement to watch Jay and write a paper about it.

Jay, which is a story of a TV producer sent to do an investigative report in Pampanga about a gay teacher butchered by his lover, was a plot out of the ordinary. Baron Geisler's performance as the gay TV producer was exceptional, so as Coco Martin's role as the teacher's ex-lover made him the pin-up boy of indie films. I won't be surprised if his work in Cinemalaya had catapulted him to telenovela roles he plays today.

I cannot recall what I wrote in my paper. But suffice to say, I went out of Cine Adarna enlightened after seeing the film.

Four years later, JC asked me to watch a movie. And unlike the foreign flicks we usually see in Greenbelt, he asked me this time if I'm interested to attend the Cinemalaya Festival.

I said yes.

Earlier that week, mom's friends were already raving about the entries. One even bought passes for the CCP premiere while another, a family friend who works with celebrities asked everyone to watch Isda, since his talents played major roles there. Including Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa and Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, last year's festival cemented my love for indie films that it spilled over to non-Cinemalaya features such as Zombadings and Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay.

Gone is the notion that indie films masquerade as Pinoy soft porn.

Cinemalaya 2012 has already been tainted by a controversy. A travesty that has no place in such prestigious showcase. And while it somehow diminished my resolve to see this year's entries, the movie trailers below had sparked my interest.

Kamera Obskura

1930's-inspired courtroom drama with a steam punk twist.

Kalayaan

Story takes place in Spratlys at a time when the military seizes control of the civilian government in Manila.

Bwakaw

A heartwarming story about an old but strong and healthy man waiting for his death to come. 

MNL 143

An FX driver waiting for love that would never come. MNL 143 was the disqualified entry because of the director's choice of main characters. So far, the production team was able to run its own show without any help from Cinemalaya.

These are the films I am looking forward to see, savor and deconstruct to my mind's delight. The start of the festival is this Saturday with three cinemas opening their doors to patrons like me. While I haven't made up the three films I'll be seeing first, plans are underway for me to be absent at work.


Schedule:


MNL143 Schedule