The QCinema Film Festival formally opened tonight at the Dolby Atmos Theater Cinema 5 of Gateway Mall with simple rites led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, who had originally conceived of this festival seven years ago. This year's festival boasts of more than 70 local and foreign films, new award-winning festival releases and revisted local classics.
The Asian New Wave section is the main feature film competition selection, with three Filipino entries, along with five more from other Asian neighbors (Thailand, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and Laos). Previously only a line-up of all Filipino films were in competition. There is also a separate competition for local Shorts and Documentaries.
Last year, QCinema opened with "Shoplifters" from Japan, which had won the Palm d'Or 2018. This year, in recognition of the 100th year anniversary of Philippine Cinema, the organizers decided to invite a Filipino film to be the opening film of QCinema 2019 for the first time. This is "Untrue," written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, her follow-up after her mega-hit "Kita Kita" (2016).
**********
Two Filipinos happen to meet by chance in Tbilisi, Georgia. Mara Villanueva, 35 years old, just arrived three months ago, and was now working as kitchen staff in a resto-bar. Joachim Castro, also 35 years old, had been living in Georgia for five years now, and was an investor in a vineyard for grapes used for wine. After a whirlwind 3-month courtship, they tied the knot in Sighnaghi, Georgia's "city of love". One night, Mara, with her face swollen black and blue, showed up at the local police station, looking for her missing husband.
From the very start, Bernardo never let us feel that the match of Mara and Joachim was made in heaven. Instead of being romantic, the story of how the two met in their common apartment building was executed as if it was a crime thriller, if not an outright horror film. The foreboding music, the camera angles and dim lighting all told us that something very wrong was happening and was about to happen.
Cristine Reyes and Xian Lim both looked like they were having a blast playing two extremely different versions of their characters. Lim's portrayal of Joachim's lunacy was so over-the-top, it was entertaining despite the grim story being told. Reyes's portrayal of Mara's lunacy had a more restrained style of acting, but it still was in complete contrast from how Mara was in Act 1. Rhen Escano played the key (and very daring) role of Ana, a figure from the past who haunted both Mara and Joachim.
The first act of the film was their story told in the point of view of Mara as she was being interviewed by the police officer. Unexpectedly, the second act was the same story, this time being told in the point of view of Joachim as he was being interviewed by his therapist. By this time, the whole film took the form of a major mind game, as roles and lines were switched between the two characters. This part was actually a lot of fun to watch.
All this time, I had no idea which version was the truth and which was otherwise. Then the third act unfolded to tell us what was really happened before and was happening now after the first two disparate stories we just heard. After that tense build-up of Acts 1 and 2, the momentum did sag a bit here because of a rather lengthy explanatory flashback. However, as things go back to present events, the pace would eventually pick right back up and wrap the whole film up with an effective twist. 8/10.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar