STAR CINEMA THRU SKYLIGHT OFFERS A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRIP ON A ROAD NOT USUALLY TAKEN BY MAINSTREAM GIANTS.
In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, Star Cinema's second offering thru its Indie arm Sky Light is definitely a ride you will never forget.
If you are an internet surfer or a tv addict, you will always hear and read from the promo that it talks about life, that you will exit the cinemas with a smile. Hell no. Its actually more than that.
I came out of the cinema thinking about my life. The smiling comes after. More than it talks about life, it inspires you to understand life, and how you make the most of it.
I am quite familiar when it comes to Indie films because I usually watch some when its Cinemalaya Season, Cinema One Season and the likes. I am used to the structure, the story-telling, the realness of the visuals and the truthfullness of the way it is presented.
What I am curious about is how will they unite Indie fans and Mainstream moviegoers and not upset any of them after.
With all the tweets, reviews and comments, I am fascinated that it covered both markets. Indie lovers or not.
TUHOG showed a painful take on a situation that can happen to any one of us, at any given moment, at any given time.
The story is about three individuals who got into a freak bus accident -- a pole skewered across them three.
TONIO - THE DREAMER
Time passed him by and he just realized he is already old, left out, uncontented, unhappy and at a bitter state of his old life.
Tonio has always dreamed of being a baker, to be able to make the most delicious pandesal he has always imagined to be -- malutong sa labas, malambot sa loob, madaling nguyain, hindi matamis..
Baking seems to be like heaven for him, his happiness. And with the help of his friends, he is about to pursue this long time dream.
Direk Leo Martinez' portrayal as Tonio is very relatable, I can't hide the tears in his dramatic scenes. It hits me everytime. Part of me screams of recognition of the feeling, of the frustration that you wasted enough time trying to pursue your dreams yet until now you are unsure if it is worth pursuing at all.
These lines struck me, the first pole that skewered my emo heart.
Dreams are not limited to the young. Everybody has the right to dream. There is always one thing you want to pursue in life regardless of how successful or how old you might be. Unless you are already living the life that you have dreamed of.
We give less value on time to make this dream come true, until one moment we just realize that time is no longer on our side.
I love Direk Roni's attack on Tonio's pusoy dos scene with the friends while sharing his fear on betting too much for his dreams because his last card is already at stake. Sugal sa sugal.
Tonio's life is the loneliest in my opinion. But his hope gives me so much hope that it is not too late to do what you can to achieve your dreams. There is no age... because there is no limit in making all your dreams come true.
FIESTA - THE UNHAPPY PERSON
One thing you can think of in the story of Fiesta Dacanay is it is full of irony, starting from the name.
Fiesta is a hardcore kundoktora of Janus Express whose everyday seems to be in total opposite of her name. Walang buhay, parang Araw ng mga Patay. She lives, breathe, eat, but no life.
She was left alone by her Mother when she was 5 and took care of her alcoholic Father, until love comes her way in the person of Nato.
Nato too is a lonely man, left by his wife and daughter. Finding new love might be complicated but at least he learned to move on, unlike Fiesta, who was surprisingly weak and vulnerable.
Fiesta's love story came in different but full of kilig. In this life, most of us wish to have a knight in shining armor, ready to sweep us off our feet and save us from all the hardships this cruel world brings. But Fiesta gave it up so easily. Nato's past scared her away amidst of the love he offered.
THE Eugene Domingo (in a very Babae Sa Septic Tank kind of tone) nailed it yet again with a very truthful, heart-breaking performance. Very in-your-face, painfully straight-forward. The Fiesta character you see is another irony - very tough but very weak. She gives up on happiness like she doesn't deserve it at all.
Hands down to Mr. Noel Trinidad for his great portrayal. I too felt desperate to take care of a father like him. Nakakawalang pag-asa.
"Yan, yan ang buhay mo.. Mag-isa ka.. Ginawa mo yan sa sarili mo.."
These lines felt like Nato was telling it to me not to Fiesta. Impaled my heart once again. Huhuhu. Because there is no one to blame of your loneliness, bitterness but you.
Fiesta's life made me realize that whatever situation I am in, I must find happiness in every thing, i must fight for it and stick to it until the end.
Fiesta lacks positivity. Or maybe she grew up feeling like that because of her desperate father who simply can't move on.
And when she found love, and encountered conflict, she quickly gave up the possibility of a happy ever after.
Her character taught me to welcome love, entertain love the moment it comes my way. Happiness is a choice and to be eaten up by loneliness is also a choice. Love is everywhere and all you need to do is embrace it with no doubts, no questions, no fear. Make yourself happy simply because you deserve it. Huwag ka nang maging choosy. :)
CALOY - THE LOVER BOY
When we are young it seems like love is all that matters (familiar song, hehehe) who cares about the future? We have plenty of time for it. But now we must enjoy, be adventurous, fall in love and taste the sweetness of life.
As corny as it may seem, Caloy's major goal in life is to experience his first sex with the woman he loves - Angel.
Caloy defines a stage every teenager has gone through - sex-curious, tamang libog.
Compared to the other two, Caloy's story is about young love.
His desire of doing it is hindered by his love for Angel, giving value on the promise they made together. Kahit wala namang mawawala talaga sa kanya.
Enchong Dee here turned out to be more than a heartthrob, oozing with sex appeal that deserves a huge billboard at Edsa.
He showed here that he can do more challenging roles in the future. Adding up countless possibilities to his acting career.
To be lined up with THE Eugene Domingo and Direk Leo Martinez and other veteran actors in this film is enough pressure, but he proved that he can and he is worthy of the role Caloy - a new phase in his career as an actor not only worthy of swooning but also an applause for a role well portrayed. A level up indeed.
Enchong showed more skin here and his very private scenes is the buzz online specially on twitter. I for one got curious.
But after watching the movie, you get to give less attention to it, if not less distracted with his body because you were already caught up with Caloy, his desires and his frustrations in his relationship with Angel.
He might think of sex 24/7 but its his love that struck me out of nowhere. Yes the 3rd pole that strucked my heart deeply. Ouchie ouchie.
Caloy loved Angel amidst her imperfections, amidst her shortcomings.
The scenes might not be spoonfed but you get to realize that if this happened to other boys his age, Angel might end up trashed, dumped, or even humiliated. But Caloy is different, he can't stop himself from answering her video call, he can't stay forever angry. He loves Angel in whatever virginal status she's in.
Speaking of Angel, Empress is one of Kapamilya Network's actresses you can't jus ignore. She has the acting chops which she has proven for years but her sexyness here made me realize na ang tanda ko na. I am used to seeing her at Super Inggo before and their loveteam Chongpress in Abt Ur Luv. Now she's got that hot body served raw in jeans.
"Kung may tae ka sa ulo, gusto mong malaman o hindi...?"
Napaisip ako dito. I never experienced something like that before in my one and only short-lived relationship (boardering to TMI sorry!) but if I am to answer that question, I'd rather not. Or if I'm the one who betrayed, I won't let him know either.
In any relationship its always trust that is easily destroyed. I am more of the lesser I know the lesser conflict. But if ever you are faced with it, what will you do?
Only love counts. And mostly it is the heart who decides whether to move on, let go or continue. Because if love is still alive, it can forgive.. It may not fully forget but it forgives.. move on and live some more.
With Caloy's story I learned that if you love, it must be regardless of any imperfections you see in the person. Pulis man yan, mahirap man yan, may pagka-bobo man yan kadalasan.
Because everyone has the right to love and everyone deserves to be loved. Kung mahal mo, mahal mo, walang kasi-kasi, walang pero-pero. (I think I heard that lines from I Do, Direk Roni's first at Star Cinema with Ms. Jinky Laurel )
HISTORY OF THE BLANK
Caloy's story is a fresh take from the hundreds of teen sexual awakening movies we usually see. We got to see a snipet of his classroom starting with Ms. Blank. I love this scene :) you must watch it to know why.
The script was furnished to the extent that it has the indie feel but with mainstream appeal. Kudos to Ms. Jinky Laurel and Direk Veronica Velasco.
In a typical indie film you get to hear lots of cuss words, mura which you usually hear everyday (well depending on your environment) here you are satisfied with just pucha. The scenes went okay with it, sakto lang. Not too much and not too being safe.
Tuhog's lessons hit you by surprise that you were caught off guard in the middle of the joyride.
I have my own expectations but this movie showed me more than I have expected. It let me ride with it, taught me, entertained me with the comedy and irony, and skewered me of the lessons that made me ponder on the life that I am living now. I felt tired about the ride but full with lessons and insights about life, like I came from a buffet, busog na busog.
LIFE IS FAIR BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR TO EVERYONE.
I always post this statement again and again on my social accounts to remind me that whenever you think that your life is unfair, it is too for everyone else. God has a great way of balancing everything.
You might get all the riches in the world but you are loveless or you might be the poorest of the poor but you have a complete intact family. All the plus and the minuses where all placed in a well justified equation of God.
All you have to do is to live the life that you deserve. Live with contentment. Because with contentment comes happiness and with happiness you get to appreciate love. Pursue your dreams and if in vain, love the things that surround you. These are the things that helped you get to where you are now. Appreciate things that come your way. Death might always be in disguise and so are blessings. Embrace it. So whenever death comes your way, you lived a life that is happy. :)
Tuhog is now showing on its 2nd Week.
Special thanks to Mr. Lord Dennis Joplin Acuña.
