That's what we call 'Life' by Meiji Cruz

Ang Nawawala by Marie Jamora

            Ang Nawawala is a film by a local director showcased in Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last 2012. It is a story of a boy who was traumatized when his twin brother died in front of him since that day he did not speak again. After 10 years of travelling outside the country, Gibson Bonifacio who is now a 20-year-old and a charming boy find himself with his hometown and with his family. His family is still affected by the accident happened especially his mother who seems to be cold hearted when it comes to him. The relationship of his parents is also greatly affected they are not even sleeping together. Each of them is still broken by the dark past. Later on, music and love help Gibson to ease what he feels for a longest time. Until one New Year’s Eve, he finally had the courage to face his fears. As same scene when he was young, but this time at the last scene he had the guts to tell to his mother who he really is.
            A notion of broken family is when parents are physically separated and not living in together but in this film a family could be identify as a broken family when most of the family members are internally damaged caused by different conflicts of life. It shows also that sometimes silence can be an escape from reality—suppressing your thoughts by not expressing it. In the film the resolution started when each challenged character learned to accept life challenges and move on. The film used iconic soundtrack like Minsan by Eraserheads that made it relatable with the young audience. Also the film used classic OPM songs too to establish the setting of the past that emerges with the present. Moreover, the appearance of Gibson’s twin could be interpreted in different ways. As I can see it, his brother is the way of a filmmaker to create other perspective with the matter or it could be Gibson is mentally ill that he developed schizophrenia. All over, the film is beautifully written and directed aided by great actors of generation today.
           


Ilo ilo by Anthony Chen

            Ilo ilo was made by a Singaporean director last 2013 and won Camera d’or in Cannes Film Festival. This is a story of an OFW domestic helper forsaken her own family and tried her luck in different land to earn money. The film showcased the two values of two countries: Philippines and Singapore—family ties, courtesy and sacrificing for the sake of loved ones. It also represents the mundane living struggles of a family; when the father got bankrupt and had to find another job, the struggle of a pregnant mom to go to work and handling a naughty child, and adjusting in different day-to-day situations. Tere is a representation of all the domestic helper who also loves the child that she’s taking care of. As the ending song “ang pag-ibig mo sa kapwa ay tutularan ng bagong silang” If you show kindness, wherever you are, it will stay even if you left. Also the filmmaker was also successful representing the mothers all over the world that is kind and loving no matter what.

           

                                                                                                Meiji Cruz

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