I
made a mental note that if ever I do get the time, I will indulge in
watching
indie films. I always thought these kinds of movies were
more than their
picture of violence, sex and Philippine poverty. It
was a wake-up call that
there are more pressing matters out there
that are rarely addressed other than
mistresses, rich chicks slapping
each other really hard and men in swords living
in magical worlds. In
all honesty, I first thought indie films were doomed for
gloom. But
hooray for Jun Robles Lana's Bwakaw. It challenged the stereotype
that independent films are all about negatives. I saw the trailer of
the film in
Cinema One and knew instantly that I HAVE to watch it.
Movie Review:
Bwakaw
is a story about Rene, an old gay man who came out late in his life.
He thinks it is now too late for love and that life has already
passed by him. He finds companionship on Bwakaw, a stray dog that
hangs around his house. Throughout the movie, he is seen preparing
for his death- buying a coffin and writing his last will. But in a
sudden twist of irony, Bwakaw suffers cancer and dies first. The
whole scenario, although tragic, has led to a bigger realizations and
understanding. Rene eventually finds solace in his new-found meaning
of life and enjoys the little things it has to offer.
The
mix of melodrama and comedy was something to look forward to in this
film. As easy as it is a tear-jerker, it can tickle funnybones as
well. It can be noted that Director Jun Lana wanted the mood of the
movie to be light and accessible to any audience, but at the same
time he aimed to expose some of human's vulnerabilities- topics about
growing old and finding oneself.
As
genius as its plot, the cinematography of the movie was not one to be
left out. The seemingly sepia effect they did gave a sad vintage feel
to the film making the scenes surrender into the same boring routines
the protagonist, Rene, underwent. The colors were brought up as soon
as the movie enters into the more positive events. There were barely
musical accompaniments to the film. But it can be agreed that the
lack of which only adds to the piercing sadness and silence in the
old man's life. All in all, the experience of watching the movie was
like scouring through a bunch of old timeless photographs and finding
a beautiful story behind it.
Casting
Eddie Garcia as Rene was a perfect puzzle fit. Six decades of
experience in the business coupled with numerous awards and
recognition, you would think the 83 year-old has had every role
bagged. But the FAMAS (Filipino
Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) Hall of Famer still has plenty of
tricks up his sleeves as he delivers yet another breathtaking
portrayal. The shift from playing villains in the '50s to a lonely
gay man in his twilight years, Garcia proves to be a driving force of
the movie scene and constantly keeps the people guessing what is next
for the renowned actor-director. Along with other great artists like
Rez Cortez, Bibeth Orteza, Armida Siguion-Reyna, the film becomes a
buffet of talents engaging various critics here and abroad.
Since
its premiere at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last July
2012, Bwakaw received positive reviews and both local and
international praises. The movie has then been getting a large
following that bids for it to become the first Filipino film to be
nominated in the Oscars Best Foreign Language category- a pretty big
leap for a film whose director had very simple expectations for it.
I
do hope more films like this get produced and shown. It would be a
shame to think that a beautifully-crafted work like Bwakaw is being
celebrated in other cities around the world meanwhile here in the
country, only few people have seen it. As much as John Lloyd movies
make us swoon, it's no crime either to go gaga over films that
showcase everyday conflicts and scenarios. Be it as controversial as
sexuality, as emotional as aging and death or as hilarious as
slapstick comedy, life is there for art to imitate. Are we to be so
focused on clichéd
happy endings and computer generated special effects? Independent
films await your response.
