first flash of eden

And after three misses, Pinoy Indie Film has redeemed itself with KADIN and ENDO.

Trish and I watched both movies on saturday, after watching a short preview of the new Ballet in the deepest bowels of the CCP. Not really, it was just one floor down from the ground floor.


Anyways, KADIN. The cinematography was simple and beautiful. It was the best I've seen out of any Filipino film. The kids acting in it were perfect! Of course, you could tell it wasn't effortless, their acting. But it also wasn't contrived. If it were up to me, the little boy should've won as best actor. Everything about the movie was simple and unpretentious. The story, the writing, the scenery, the direction and the acting. Trish asked how much it might've took to make the movie because it looked so stripped from anything fancy or larger than life. I would watch that movie ten times over. At the end of the screening, Trish's friend introduced us to the Writer and Director (Just one guy, he produced it too.) and he was so humble and I think even a bit embarassed by Trish's gushing...which she was. It's all good...I would've gushed too if I were capable of gushing at people I don't know.


After a brief break, we watched Endo in the uncomfortable Little Theater. But the movie more than made up for the horrible seats and tight theater. Again, the movie was good because it was simple. There weren't any preachy lines or morals being hammered into your psyche. The movie wasn't trying to be the next greatest story ever told. It was a love story, but it wasn't cheesy. It was specific and still universal. BECAUSE IT WASN'T TRYING TO BE ANYTHING ELSE BUT A STORY BEING TOLD! (yes, Mr. Writer and Director of SINUNGALING NA BUWAN, I'm talking about you!)

Sadly we didn't get to watch Tribu. Friday night, I had told Trish that I was burned out by the disappointment from Pisay, Still Life and Sinungaling Na Buwan and couldn't bring myself to watch a violent movie. And thanks to Glenn and his alcoholic ways that suck you in, we didn't get up on time on sunday to watch the shorts and TUKSO. Never mind. Atleast we ended the festival on a good note and the last two that we watched were awesome. Not just good, but really damn good. Hopefully next years films will follow after KADIN and ENDO.
_______________________________________

BEST FILM Tribu
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE Endo
BEST ACTRESS Ina Fileo (ENDO)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & SOUNDTRACK Kadin
BEST DIRECTOR Pisay (I wonder if it's just because there was alot of people to direct and because they were mostly kids. Hmmm.)
BEST ACTOR Tribu Cast
BEST SCREENPLAY Tukso