ALL FILM REVIEWS
‘Brocka X Bernal’ REVIEW: A Love Letter to Two Legends of Philippine Cinema
Brocka X Bernal is a love letter to the titular two legends of Philippine cinema, from the stars who loved them and for the generations after who might need a reintroduction.
‘The Hearing’ REVIEW: To Be Seen and Heard
‘The Hearing’ builds upon the easy ironies and parallels of its premise to create an immersive legal drama that prioritizes victims of abuse and sexual assault above everything else.
‘Asog’ REVIEW: On the Fruits of Filipino Resistance
‘Asog’ is a transgressive docudrama that defiantly stands up in resistance against the powerful forces of oppression that dominate Filipino society. It’s a reminder of the importance of solidarity and resilience in the face of human tragedy.
‘An Errand’ REVIEW: From An Ivory Tower
‘An Errand’ is not constructed kindly. It chooses to luxuriate in a loose and unbounded form with polarizing results... It is the type of film more appropriately found in the MUBI catalog, because it isn't the friendliest for most moviegoers.
‘The Wedding Dance’ REVIEW: The pains and pressures of childlessness
The Wedding Dance might not be the best Cinemalaya film this year, but its attempt to dissect patriarchy through the lens of marriage in the Kalinga community makes it worth watching.
‘Balota’ REVIEW: Defending Philippine democracy
‘Balota’ is a story that packs in hard-hitting action, compelling drama, and witty comedy. While its performances shine, the film needed more breathing room to amplify its larger-than-life message.
‘Kantil’ REVIEW: Why you can’t separate the art from its artist
‘Kantil’ is a strong debut film by Joshua Caesar Medroso, but so much has to be said in such a limited amount of time.
‘José Rizal’ REVIEW: A Remastered Filipino Classic
‘José Rizal’ is a classic that the following generations of Filipinos will revere and remember, now in its remastered form.
‘Bona’ REVIEW: Greater than a Catharsis, More than a Woman
Through the newly restored ‘Bona,’ Lino Brocka renders water so sociopolitically volatile and cinematically iconic that even after four decades, its impact is still felt on our skin.
‘Kono Basho’ REVIEW: This must be the place (for healing)
‘Kono Basho’ excels at using quiet moments for reflection, and while it may not turn out as smoothly as I had hoped, there is promise in seeing more stories about healing and hope in Philippine cinema.
‘Tumandok’ REVIEW: Dreaming of a perfect world
‘Tumandok’ and the Ati community’s struggle to reclaim their ancestral lands transcend cinema; this is social justice.
‘Love Child’ REVIEW: What it means to love
Love Child is a film for everyone. Its bittersweet and quirky nature will surely win people’s hearts over. Its flaws are also worth noting, but they are not too grievous to the point of detesting the film.
‘Gulay Lang, Manong!’ REVIEW: I Love Farmers, Even if Everybody Else Doesn’t
‘Gulay Lang, Manong!’ ensures a chill and fun time at the cinema while also inviting us to inquire into the challenges that our farmers face.
‘Alipato at Muog’ REVIEW: On the Endless Search for Justice
‘Alipato at Muog’ is a documentary that follows the futile search for truth and justice by the families of those missing by “enforced disappearance,” focusing on the case of Jonas Burgos, a farmer-activist who has been missing since 2007.
‘The Gospel of the Beast’ REVIEW: What happens when you cage an innocent puppy
While ‘The Gospel of the Beast’s’ knife doesn’t cut as deep as it should’ve in terms of messaging, the theme and intention of the film are very clear — that economic instability creates beasts that can’t be tamed.
‘Marupok AF’ REVIEW: A cursory glance at what the Trans community goes through
Marupok AF (Where Is The Lie) comes from a sincere place of wanting to raise awareness on the struggles and difficulties that Trans people go through in our modern society, but the film doesn’t really do it justice by having Quark Henares tell the story and going with a dark comedic treatment.