Rescue Cinema: Films for a Cause

I am not much of a movie buff, and I do not call myself as a hardcore movie goer. I don't even know some of the independent films in this country - the latest of which I participated was for this year, when this barista friend invited me to go and watch "films with substance" in the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

That date is another story though, but I can note one filmmaker my bookish friend introduced me to - Alvin Yapan - the director behind the film Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, which we both recognized as a work of art.

Dalawang Kaliwang Paa is an independent film premiered at 2011 Cinemalaya Film Festival starring Paulo Avelino, Rocco Nacino and Jean Garcia; directed by Alvin Yapan and produced by Alem Ang, of which the two latter are Filipino Professors in different Universities. The tale of subtlety, of feminist poetry and of LGBT-ish epic, the film have had its encore premiere in the Basement U-view Cinema of Fully Booked High Street, as part of the Caritas Manila's advocacy to support the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Fully Booked, Caritas Manila and Seventh Films created a film festival featuring a roster of independent films for people who wished to watch for free, and to donate (in any amount they can) to support the advocacy.

And with that, I watched the film for the first time - and IT WAS, really, A WORK OF ART.

I cannot elaborate much on the film, or give a justified review. What I remembered as an audience is this "Kinukumutan ka ng aking titig" - an opening of a poem by Ruth Mabanglo - and just like that, Mam Karen simply enunciated the opening sequence of a movie goer, fully focused to what is the central plot or what will happen to these characters.

Every minute in the film is fleeting, you see characters speaking, but singing or dancing in the way they move. Combined with powerful literature and music, the movie is so interesting that you want to play it on an infinite repeat. It won't let you rest, it will let you keep on feeling that feels of after reading an interesting poem, or singing the last tunes of an intimate song... 

Yet at the end, it left you hanging.

As I see the young man in gold makeup shed a tear, I was to assume the ending, but I can't. Or I want another twist, but I can't. I simply cannot continue to what Vim Yapan established. At the end of the day, we wanted simply that - left that hanging, leaving the resolution to every audience's imagination.

It was a worthwhile watch. And knowing that you are able to help by simply watching these quality movies, it gave me a feel-good-Friday. :)

I hope that in the future - there will be these film showings that would not only give quality flicks, but also be able to influence the people around us. Kudos for the people behind this drive for a successful event!