The Fine Line Between a Friend and a True Friend ("Cinema Paradiso" film review)

                   Friends are everywhere, but it takes one special person to be your best friend. I just discovered a film which tells us that a best friend is not someone who goes with what you want. Rather, he is someone who leads you to what he thinks is best for you.

            “Cinema Paradiso” narrates the story of friendship between Salvatore Di Vita (portrayed by Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi and Jacques Perrin) and Alfredo (portrayed by Philippe Noiret). Salvatore discovered his passion for films at a very young age and for that, he went to Cinema Paradiso in his free time. There he developed a friendship with Alfredo, the projectionist of the theater. Salvatore learned how to do Alfredo’s job by observing him every time he went to the projection booth. When Alfredo got blinded by an accident, Salvatore became the new projectionist of the place. In his teenage years, he fell in love with Elena (portrayed by Agnese Nano and Brigitte Fossey) but unfortunately, their love did not last because of distance and some misunderstandings. Alfredo advised Salvatore to go somewhere far, look for success, and never come back. The latter followed the advice but eventually came back thirty years after because of the former’s death. In his return, he discovered secrets from the past and found a special gift from his best friend.

            Alfredo was a perfect example of a true friend. An ordinary friend may want your happiness, but Alfredo desired for what he thought was best for Salvatore though it may not necessarily mean the second’s happiness. He believed in the potentials he found in his friend and forced him to do something he did not exactly want. Salvatore then realized the dream he never thought he had and became successful in life.

            I also want a friend like Alfredo in my life. I want to have someone who will not spoil me by just putting up with what I want. I prefer someone who knows what’s best for me and who will scold me whenever there is a need of doing so.

            “Cinema Paradiso” presented several symbols and topping the list was the Cinema Paradiso itself. It symbolized the people’s common interest for film. It was also the place where people from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles got united for one special cause. Second symbol was the projection through the concrete lion’s mouth. It signified the long and difficult process that every film must undergo before it could be projected on the big screen. Another symbol is the film invoices that were scattered inside the projection room. It told us that life could sometimes be so cluttered and complicated. The demolition of Cinema Paradiso was also a symbol which implied the start of another chapter in Salvatore’s life.

            Most of the time, it’s not about what makes you happy; it isn’t about following your heart. Sometimes, you also have to listen to others. Their words may not always please us, but it could be best for us.

            I suggest that everyone must watch this film. It will really make you laugh, cry and think at the same time.

Chasing Dreams ("Billy Elliot" film review)

          “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This famous line is from the Chinese philosopher Confucius himself. This saying meant nothing to me before. But now, it made a lot of sense.

            There was also this Billy Elliot (portrayed by Jamie Bell) guy from the movie “Billy Elliot” who seemed to live his life according to this saying. He was the youngest among the family of miners. His father, Jackie Elliot (portrayed by Gary Lewis) and his brother, Tony Elliot (portrayed by Jamie Draven), both miners in UK, were on a strike. Billy’s father forced him to take up boxing lessons and he sucked at it. Then, he discovered his passion for dancing, most especially ballet, when he fortuitously stepped in Georgia Wilkinson’s (Julie Walters) ballet class. He secretly attended her class without his father knowing and without even thinking that this might make him appear like a total “poof” in front of his friends and acquaintances. Georgia saw Billy’s potential and suggested that he audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. However, when Jackie found out about Billy’s secret dancing lessons, he was told to stop. Over Christmas, while Billy was with his gay friend, Jackie discovered that his son really had a gift in dancing. He decided to do everything to be able to enrol Billy in the Royal Ballet School. With the help of their neighbors and friends, they arrived in London. Billy almost failed the audition for punching another child but the board reconsidered and sent him a letter of approval. Billy’s dream started to bear fruit and fourteen years later, he was made to perform the male lead in Matthew Bourne’s “Swan Lake.”

            Some of the many symbols that were present in the movie were Billy’s boxing gloves and ballet shoes, the letter from the Royal Ballet School, and his invalid grandmother. The boxing gloves and ballet shoes symbolized two opposite things – Jackie’s dream of Billy becoming a boxer and Billy’s dream of becoming a ballet dancer. The letter from the Royal Ballet School represented the starting point of Billy’s dream. His grandmother who also loved dancing, on the other hand, performed a special role in the film by signifying a dream that did not come true because of some circumstances.

            Of all the films we’ve watched in this class, this was the most meaningful because I, too, encountered the same situation as Billy just a year and a half ago. I was an Accountancy student during my first year in Ateneo. I’ve made a lot of friends, became comfortable with my classmates and had good grades. However, after a semester of facing the calculator, worksheet, and journal, I realized that something was missing; I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Later, I discovered that this “something” had something to do with how I lived my past. I used to be so creative in elementary and high school. I was the imaginative type – I write stories, scripts, and songs. I write about anything that comes to mind. These talents seemed to be of no use in BSA. I thought that maybe I’m not on the right path; that I needed to change direction while it’s not too late. And I did. At first, my parents were doubtful of my choice, but after some time, they accepted and supported me on it.

            No matter how hard it was to leave friends behind and to start from scratch, I was still happy with the decision I made because it made me a better person. I discovered my potentials in Masscom. In fact, three of my stories got published on Sunstar. (I don’t know if it’s enough. “Enough” for me means just making my parents happy.)

             To all the dreamers out there, I highly encourage you to watch “Billy Elliot.”

What the Government Should Know ("Astig" film review)

“When the government cannot see your sufferings, let them hear it through your words.”

 I remember stating this line in my media law essay just this semester. This was referring to the freedom to express which was, again, practiced by Director Giuseppe Bede Sampedro in his indie film, “Astig.”

“Astig” is a film which, like all indie films, exposes the realities of the society. The story revolved around four different men whose lives were interconnected. Ariel Darlucio (portrayed by Dennis Trillo) was a man who lived his whole adult life deceiving people which often lead to trouble. Boy (portrayed by Edgar Allan Guzman) was a young father-to-be who entered several rackets just to save money for his future baby. Ronald Chua (portrayed by Arnold Reyes), was a half-Chinese half-Chavacano who was left by his father and neglected by his half-siblings. Baste (portrayed by Sid Lucero), on the other hand, was an overprotective brother who wanted nothing but to help and protect his family.

If there was one lesson from this movie that I would cherish the most, it would be not to trust people easily. If we try to look at how Elgine (portrayed by Glaiza de Castro) and the other ladies were deceived by Ariel, we could see a pattern. It would appear that they were cheated because all of them looked only at his physical appearance and his courteousness towards them, which is, of course, not correct. If they just tried to be more cautious, things will be a whole lot different. There was also deception in the case of Ronald which also rooted from obliviousness.

If there was deception, there was certainly a cause for it. As we observed, all the characters were victims of the abuses of the society and of corrupt government officials. Ariel and Sally, the prostitute (portrayed by Keanna Reeves), only chose the wrong path because it seemed to be their last option. Boy and Jerome, on the other hand, chose to lose their dignity for money. Now, when we look at the bigger picture, all of them were doing incorrect things for survival. If they only had the choice, do you think they would still continue to do these things? Of course not.

What the director wants the government to know through this movie was that, if they want peace, they should reach out to those who had less. If only problems of poverty and unemployment were given priority, it would be more peaceful and there would be less crime. He also wanted the leaders to understand the situation that people in squatter areas experience.

Although the movie had some flaws (It normally happens in indie films) like faulty lighting and shakiness of the camera, which was sometimes distracting, I like the political touch of the movie. Everyone should not miss this one out.

Your Soul's Other Half ("The Dreamers" film review)

             They say twins are inseparable because they share each other’s souls. But what if somebody suddenly comes in between the two souls? Would they still be inseparable?

            “The Dreamers” is a film about Matthew (portrayed by Michael Pitt), an American student who resides in Paris to learn the French language. The story starts in 1968 when Henri Langlois (portrayed by himself), founder of the French Cinematheque, gets fired. In the protest, Matthew meets Isabelle (portrayed by Eva Green) and Theo (portrayed by Louis Garrel), peculiar twins who share with him the same passion for classic films. When the twins’ parents (portrayed by Robin Renucci and Anna Chancellor) leave home for a vacation, Matthew lives with them. There they played games related to the movies they have watched. As time passes by, Matthew notices a special and unusual attraction between the two siblings and as he gets to know them better, he falls in love with both of them. They get closer and closer to each other until their “little” games elevate to sexual games which eventually confuses their minds. And when they finally get nearer and nearer to reality, the Matthew, Isabelle and Theo find themselves set apart by their beliefs.

            Symbols are present in various parts of the film. The first one is the house where the three live. It serves as a shell – a comfort zone. It separates them from the reality waiting for them outside. Isabelle’s room is also a symbol. It represents her inner child and her innocence. Like what Matthew said, it is a side of Isabelle he has never seen before. Another symbolism is the birthmark on Isabelle and Theo’s arm. It signifies the bond between the siblings. It shows that although they don’t look exactly alike, they are still identical and inseparable.

            The movie is quite disturbing because of the unusual bond between Isabelle and Theo. Though it is expected for twins or siblings to be affectionate with each other, their situation seems to be different. They are comfortable – excessively comfortable – with each other. In fact, it was the first time I saw siblings who sleep next to each other without any clothes on. In the normal world, it will be scandalous and it will go against the morals of the Church because they were not anymore kids to do that kind of thing.

            Despite this, I still admire the kind of relationship between them. Isabelle loves Theo so much that she chooses to forget how she feels for Matthew. I also admire her for saying that she wants Theo to be with her forever because this rarely happens nowadays.

            I don’t relate much to this movie because I don’t have a brother though I think it’s cool to have one. But I do have a not-so-little sister whom I love so much no matter how many quarrels we’ve had. She’s a little bit hot-tempered but I’m really trying my best to get along with her and to be the best sister she could ever have.

            The film is not that bad, but it’s also not that good either. I think it takes a great critic to really understand the film well.

Behind Every Piano Key ("The Piano" film review)

              “Silence is not necessarily the absence of both sound and words. For sometimes words can be heard even without sound.” This maxim was proven true in the movie “The Piano.”

            “The Piano” was about a mute petite woman named Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter) who did not consider herself silent because of her piano. She considered it as one of her most valuable possessions. Then one day, her father married him to Alistair Stewart (Sam Neill), a man she did not know. Ada and her daughter, Flora McGrath (Anna Paquin), were shipped to an island near a beach in New Zealand. Because of the hugeness of the piano, Alistair did not allow her to bring it with them. That’s why George Baines (Harvey Keitel) took the advantage of giving his piece of land to Alistair in exchange of Ada’s piano to make her fall in love with him. And she really did. And Alistair had nothing to do about it.

            Honestly, I was expecting so much from this movie. I heard a lot of positive feedbacks about it from various people. But when I had the chance to finally watch it, it seems like my expectations were violated. First of all, I think the characters were misrepresented. If they appointed younger-looking actors and actresses for the roles of Ada, George and Alistair, the love triangle could be more appealing. My classmate was also right by saying that she didn’t get the point of the story. I saw the plot as something ordinary. I was looking for something more, a twist maybe, but didn’t see one even at the end of the film.

            However, I found the technical aspects of the movie beautiful. It was as if the movie was really made during the time depicted in the film. There was no indication of 1993, the year when it was actually presented on the big screen. The costumes were excellent. They were intricately made and really matched the personalities of each character, most especially Ada. The lighting also made the movie even more realistic.

            Since the movie was not an allegory, it contained less symbols. Topping the list was the piano, of course. Because Ada couldn’t speak, she used the piano instead to communicate her emotions. Anyone who watched the film may have noticed that every song Ada played was parallel to what she felt inside. The keys of the piano, on the other hand, were a symbol of Ada and George’s love for each other. In the earlier parts of the film, we saw how George used the black key to make Ada love him. And the latter, in return, accepted and gave back the love former’s love by sending him one key with a note written on it stating, “Dear George you have my heart. Ada McGrath.” The ocean (or the sea or whatever it’s called) was also a symbol. It represented the kind of silence that made Ada choose life over death. She described the water surface below as having the kind of “silence that no sound may be.”

            As a whole, “The Piano,” for me, was really lacking something. But I also recognize the fact that people have different interpretations and views about certain things. For this reason, I’m still encouraging everyone to watch this film.

Living a Million Yen Life ("One Million Yen Girl" film review)

            In life, you need to have a priority. It’s either you choose one over another, or not to choose anything at all and live a chaotic life. This principle was present in “One Million Yen Girl” in the life of the main character, Suzuko Sato.

            Suzuko is an ex-convict charged by a criminal offense. She felt ashamed to stay home so she decided to leave and worked in towns where nobody knew her. Everytime she saved up one million yen, she transferred to another town. She had odd jobs. She sold shaved ice near the beach, became a “peach girl, and worked at a flower shop. She touched lives and had her life touched by a love she found in the person of Ryohei Nakajima.

            When I heard the film’s title, “One Million Yen Girl,” I thought the film would be of a romantic-comedy type. But it defied my expectations. It was not as hilarious as I thought it would be. It was actually a more serious one.

            The movie was not-your-typical love story where one always ends up with the other. Unlike others, they did not have a happy ending. In fact, their misunderstanding was still not settled even at the end of the movie. Maybe the writer and the director’s point of doing this was to emphasize that Suzuko really chose something between the two important things in her life.

            The ending clearly states that the film did not really focus on the romance between Suzuko and Ryohei. Its center was more about setting priorities in life. Suzuko was made to choose between the one million yen she was saving up and the person she loved. And it was clear that she prioritized the former when she chose to leave the guy behind.

            Suzuko is just like most of us. Instead of facing our fears, we run away from them. We find ways to take them out of our lives. But what we don’t know is that these fears are just resting in a corner, ready to haunt us anytime. We have to understand that we only overcome fears by facing them.

           

            For me, the director’s style was not so effective. He made unexpected scenes that made the story dull. This could be perceived in the end part of the story where Ryohei tried to catch up with Suzuko when she was leaving for another town. But the film ended suddenly leaving the audience puzzled about what might happen next. It was not really a good ending to a story. Well, it’s okay to keep the audience guessing, but does it have to be that way?

            As a whole, the film is just acceptable. Although the ending was not that good, “One Million Yen Girl” had an excellent storyline. Also, I did not appreciate the movie that much because there was scarcity of music which made some parts appear boring.

Un Amore del Padre (A Father's Love) ("Life is Beautiful" film review)

             “Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.” – Anonymous

            “Life is Beautiful” is basically about a young Jew, Guido Orifice (portrayed by Roberto Benigni) who arrived in Arrezo, Italy with the hopes of putting up his own bookstore. There, she met and fell in love with a school teacher named Dora (portrayed by Nicoletta Braschi). Despite the odds, they ran away to fought for their love and had a son named Giosue (portrayed by Giorgio Cantarini). During the time Jews were collected, Guido and Giosue were captured and Dora had no other choice but to suffer with them.

            What’s amazing about the film was that it showed the viewers how far a father would go for his child. Guido was not just a father. He was a dad. And he was the perfect example of what a dad should be.

            Guido was strong enough that despite the big obstacle they were facing, he was able to protect his innocent son from the violence around him. He also managed to do something for his wife no matter how hard the situation was. Guido was willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, for the welfare of his family.

            The film was also commendable because of its optimism. No matter how melancholic the events in the film were, the director presented them in a positive way. He creatively used humor to entice the audience and to make them appreciate the film not only because it made them cry, but also because it had a positive impact to them.

            I was also amazed when someone told me that the movie was actually a low-budget one. First was because it had a wonderful storyline. I even thought that the script was made by someone who was already a pro in writing. Second was because the actors, especially Giorgio Cantarini, were very convincing in portraying their roles.

            The only thing I didn’t appreciate was the last part. It was lacking something. The death of Guido was so sudden that it did not have any effect on me at all. I was like, “After all the things they had been through, the story would only end that way?”

            I could compare Guido to my Papa. He was the kind of father that always tries to make me laugh every time I have problems. I sometimes get irritated, but after a while, I realize that it was actually so sweet of him.

Papa was also Superman minus the costume. Regardless of his hectic schedule, he still ensures my safety by driving me home whenever I have 9 pm classes.

“Life is Beautiful” is a wonderful, straightforward film. This movie will absolutely make you realize the greatness of having a father.

The Worth of 1,000 Lives ("Schindler's List" film review)

                 “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” This was embedded on Schindler’s ring which the Jews gave him that was shown in the movie “Schindler’s List.”

            “Schindler’s List” is a historical movie which primarily focused on the life of Oskar Schindler (portrayed by Liam Neeson) and the Polish Jews during the Holocaust. This film showed how brutally the Jews were treated during that time. It also gave a glimpse of how Schindler acquired his ill-gotten wealth by bribing Wehrmacht and SS officials and how he changed and saved 4,000 Polish Jews’ lives by making them work for him in his factory. There was also this main antagonist named Amon Goeth (portrayed by Ralph Fiennes), who led the Operation Reinhard (murdering of Jewish people in Krakow), but was later executed after the Wehrmacht surrendered. Also, during the said capitulation, Schindler was ordered to leave before the Red Army arrived. He left regretting that he could have saved more lives. After his departure, the Jews were freed and were called the “Schindler Jews.”

            I found the movie boring in the first half of its duration because, honestly, I’m not so fond of political films or whatever they are called. What really caught my attention and interest was during the time the elderly and incapable Jews were shot randomly. It was really eye-catching and it looked so real. After that scene, my eyes were glued on the screen.

            Steven Spielberg’s (the Director) idea of making the film black and white was effective. I didn’t have to close my eyes in every gory scene. It also made the film more believable. It was as if the film was really taken during the Holocaust.

            A lot of symbols were found in the movie. First was the little girl in red coat (as what our instructor mentioned). I saw it as a symbol of the Jews’ innocence which changed Schindler’s outlook in life. It was the kind of innocence that revealed the kindness in Schindler’s heart. Second symbol was the candle which commenced and ended the film. The ring that the Jews gave Schindler was also a symbol. It signifies that despite being a “profiteer of slave labour,” the Jews really loved him and appreciated what he did for them. Last symbol was, of course, Schindler’s list. It was not just an ordinary list. It dictated the fate of the Jews.

            The best thing about “Schindler’s List” was that it directed to the heart. Steven Spielberg really knew how to touch the emotions of the viewers. I felt pity for the Jews because I didn’t know they were treated that way. The way the event was narrated in the movie was very different from how it was written on history books. In the film, I had a clearer view of the Holocaust and it was kind of depressing. There was racism, violence and injustice. The Jews did nothing and yet, they were maltreated.

            In our society today, racism is still present. Take for example the kind of treatment our Muslim brothers and sisters receive. Most people associate the word “Muslim” to terrorists and other aggressive individuals. People oversimplify them. Even in schools, most students can’t help but stare at someone when she is wearing a veil (if that’s what it’s called).

            All in all, the movie was great. It’s worth the three hours. You have to watch it.

Love in Time of War ("Baler" film review)

             It is indeed difficult to love during the time of war. But what’s more difficult is when the person you love is considered as an enemy by the people around you.

            Another extraordinary historical-romance movie went beyond my expectations. “Baler,” starred by two of the Philippines’ most promising actors and actresses, Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis, levelled the Hollywood films we see on the big screen.

            “Baler” was basically about a young couple, Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and Celso Resurreccion (Jericho Rosales), who needed to end their affair just because of the feud between their troops. The time depicted in the story was during the late years of Spanish occupation. Feliza was a Filipina who fell in love with a half-Spanish soldier, Celso, who fought for the Spaniards’ side.

            The story was straightforward. I got its message without the need of analyzing each and every scene. The scenes, on the other hand, were chronologically ordered which made it easy to grasp the ideas conveyed and which made the storyline clear.

            I was not really amazed about how the love story of Feliza and Celso unfolded. What hooked me most was the historical touch of the film. I was amazed by how the Filipinos and the Spaniards upheld their loyalty to their respective countries by not giving up despite of everything they’d been through.

            Also, the movie gave no biases against anyone. Unlike documentaries and Philippine books about the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, the Spaniards in “Baler” were not portrayed as mean antagonists who were ready to kill anyone who blocked their way. Instead, their good side was shown. In the film, they were as sincere as the Filipinos in fighting for what they believed in. They also showed compassion in the scene where Capitan Enrique Fossi de las Morenas (Baron Geisler) and Padre Candido Gomez Carreno (Michael de Mesa) told Gabriel Reyes (Carlo Aquino), the brother of Feliza, to go back to his family for his safety. It could also be perceived that hurting people was really against their will. They were just loyal to their duties as soldiers.

            This movie also made me proud to be a Filipino; that we had a rich history and that our ancestors really fought for our independence. I think it’s a wake-up call for all Filipinos who despise their country and race because of the mountain of problems that we are dealing with. Yes, we are a bit slow in terms of progress, but we do have good qualities that cannot be weighed against wealth. Two of these are courage and patriotism which was exemplified in “Baler.”

            I found the film beautiful from beginning to end. Even though the finale was not really good for Feliza and Celso, I think it made sense. It’s just an indication that love was really difficult during war. It also pointed out the reality that during the Filipino-Spanish war, there were really Filipinos and Spaniards whose love didn’t bloom because of several incompatibilities. The son of Feliza and Celso represented the fruits of love that bloomed during that time.

            “Baler” is a wonderful movie. It can make you smile, laugh, and cry at the same time. I recommend this to everyone.

Behind the Wholesome Image of the Catholic Church ("The Crime of Padre Amaro" film review)

              

              What do you think of when you see a swimming pool? Water, obviously. But for Sarah Morton in the movie “Swimming Pool,” it was not only made up of water. It contained something else.

            “Swimming Pool” is a character-driven film which revolves around Sarah Morton, an author who spent 20 years in writing fictional crime and mystery books. Her publisher, John Bosload, advised her to stay in his villa in France to write a fresh story without any interruption. Then she went there and found peace at first, but that peace eventually vanished when Julie, a girl who claimed to be John’s daughter arrived in the villa. Sarah and Julie really had contrasting personalities. Sarah was composed and reserved, while Julie was the wild one. The latter had one-night stands with different old men every night while the former put earplugs to fall back to sleep. But as these went on, Sarah suddenly got interested in Julie’s life and decided that her new story would be about her. In the climax of the film, Julie accidentally killed a man named Frank. The story went on, and in the end part of the film, you would find out that the real Julie was not the one she met in the villa.

            So who was the Julie in the villa? For me, Julie is the alter-ego of Sarah. She was, in the first place, staying in the villa for a reason: to find herself in order to make a good novel. And what did she find? She found the person she unconsciously long wanted to be – wild, careless and free; so unlike her – and later made her the main character of the novel. Sarah created Julie only in her mind. It should also be noted that authors like her have a good sense of imagery, so it’s not anymore surprising for her to imagine things as if they were really happening in real life.

 Her stay in the villa was like a novel in itself too. Like most novels, she started it by describing the details of the villa. Then, it had the climax wherein Julie (or Sarah) accidentally killed Frank. There was an end to the story too; the part where Julie gave the previously rejected copy of her mother’s novel to Sarah and drove away. And this part probably meant that she already finished her novel and that she is ready for John’s rejection.

Furthermore, Sarah’s concern to Julie was an unusual thing. It was impossible for a person like her to bury a dead man for another person’s sake, unless she was really the one who did the crime.

There are things in the movie that conveyed meanings. First was, of course, the villa’s swimming pool. It was a symbol of Sarah’s lustful desires. I also saw it as the place where she got most of her ideas for her story. It was there that she created Julie’s character. In the first part of the movie, we could see Sarah opening a window. It was not actually the window that she’s opening; it was the book she’s starting to write. And the sights that she saw through that window and the whole villa, including the pool mentioned earlier, was probably the setting of her story. In addition, the mirrors that appear everytime Julie had her sexual adventures signified that it was not actually Julie who was doing the action, but Sarah herself.

Every single one of us, not only Sarah or any writer, has desires that even we ourselves don’t know. Because of these secret desires, we tend to fulfil them through them through different means and sometimes these ways lead to something bad.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Diving Deep ("Swimming Pool" film review)

              What do you think of when you see a swimming pool? Water, obviously. But for Sarah Morton in the movie “Swimming Pool,” it was not only made up of water. It contained something else.

            “Swimming Pool” is a character-driven film which revolves around Sarah Morton, an author who spent 20 years in writing fictional crime and mystery books. Her publisher, John Bosload, advised her to stay in his villa in France to write a fresh story without any interruption. Then she went there and found peace at first, but that peace eventually vanished when Julie, a girl who claimed to be John’s daughter arrived in the villa. Sarah and Julie really had contrasting personalities. Sarah was composed and reserved, while Julie was the wild one. The latter had one-night stands with different old men every night while the former put earplugs to fall back to sleep. But as these went on, Sarah suddenly got interested in Julie’s life and decided that her new story would be about her. In the climax of the film, Julie accidentally killed a man named Frank. The story went on, and in the end part of the film, you would find out that the real Julie was not the one she met in the villa.

            So who was the Julie in the villa? For me, Julie is the alter-ego of Sarah. She was, in the first place, staying in the villa for a reason: to find herself in order to make a good novel. And what did she find? She found the person she unconsciously long wanted to be – wild, careless and free; so unlike her – and later made her the main character of the novel. Sarah created Julie only in her mind. It should also be noted that authors like her have a good sense of imagery, so it’s not anymore surprising for her to imagine things as if they were really happening in real life.

 Her stay in the villa was like a novel in itself too. Like most novels, she started it by describing the details of the villa. Then, it had the climax wherein Julie (or Sarah) accidentally killed Frank. There was an end to the story too; the part where Julie gave the previously rejected copy of her mother’s novel to Sarah and drove away. And this part probably meant that she already finished her novel and that she is ready for John’s rejection.

Furthermore, Sarah’s concern to Julie was an unusual thing. It was impossible for a person like her to bury a dead man for another person’s sake, unless she was really the one who did the crime.

There are things in the movie that conveyed meanings. First was, of course, the villa’s swimming pool. It was a symbol of Sarah’s lustful desires. I also saw it as the place where she got most of her ideas for her story. It was there that she created Julie’s character. In the first part of the movie, we could see Sarah opening a window. It was not actually the window that she’s opening; it was the book she’s starting to write. And the sights that she saw through that window and the whole villa, including the pool mentioned earlier, was probably the setting of her story. In addition, the mirrors that appear everytime Julie had her sexual adventures signified that it was not actually Julie who was doing the action, but Sarah herself.

Every single one of us, not only Sarah or any writer, has desires that even we ourselves don’t know. Because of these secret desires, we tend to fulfil them through them through different means and sometimes these ways lead to something bad.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Looking beyond Sex and Lucia ("Sex and Lucia" film review)

             First impression lasts. This cliché works almost all the time, but not for this movie. What we see in the beginning is not the whole story. In the same manner, the title, “Sex and Lucia,” does not say it all.

            In the first part of the movie, you might be like, “What is this kind of movie? Why is it all porn and stuffs? Where’s the story now?!” Yes, I reacted that way. I found it irrelevant to see the male protagonist, Lorenzo making love to a random girl named Elena, then Elena getting pregnant and came looking after Lorenzo not knowing that the guy had already found a lover in the person of Lucia, the said-to-be main character of the film. I also thought that all the make-love scenes made no sense at all. I made a hasty generalization that it was only one of those ordinary movies that made use of sex in order to make the bland movie look interesting. But I was wrong. The latter parts were outstanding. I later found out that it was an intellectual and a psychological movie, not a pornographic one.

            Thumbs up for the director’s style. He used a style that is unknown to the minds of the viewers. It was strategic, because he used sex in the beginning just to hook up the interest of the audience and when he had already done so, the real story began. And many were pleased. According to Joe Yang in his article, “Once the plot starts thickening the tone changes so much that you might wonder if you're still watching the same film. And once that happens, the sex scenes from before start feeling out of place.” The director’s concept of the “hole,” that brings you back to the middle of the story, was also attention-grabbing, despite the fact that it only made the story confusing. It was not just a simple flashback. It was really a hole that never ended the story. In addition, the links between the characters were quite complicated and almost impossible, but the director still managed to do it.

            The use of music and sound effects was also good. There was timing in the use of it. Sound montage was used. First was the sound made by Lucia while having sex with Lorenzo, which eventually turned into the pained cry of Elena while she was giving birth. Another was the sound that Lorenzo’s mouth made which metamorphosed into the sound of seawater.

            Just like most, if not all movies, “Sex and Lucia” contained symbols and symbolisms as well. One was the seawater, which was the start of life and the end of it through death. It could be perceived in the case of Luna, the daughter of Lorenzo and Elena. She was conceived in the water and her death, although it did not happen in water, was equated to drowning. The second symbol found in the film was the literal hole itself. It served as the bridge that linked the past to the future and vice versa. Another symbol was the dog that killed Luna. It symbolized its loyalty to Belen’s order which was to “keep watch outside.”

            The film was disturbing in a good way. It will make you think even after you have finished watching it. If you’re tired of the usual films that you see in cinemas today, this is the perfect one for you. But I just have this little advice for you to remember. Be sure that your mind is mature enough when you watch this movie, because there are really scenes that will leave you speechless because of its extreme obscenity. Brace yourselves!

Love and Madness ("Mad Love" film review)

          Movies that are based on history and real life bore me most of the time. But it seems like Director Vicente Aranda took his movie, “Mad Love” to a higher level. I cannot say that I was superfluously amazed by this movie, but at least, for a film of this kind, my focus remained on the screen until the credits were being rolled.

            Like what I have said, “Mad Love” is a film based on real-life. It revolves around Queen Joanna of Castile, third daughter of Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. For political purposes, she was forced to leave her childhood friend, Alvar, to marry Philip, the Archduke of Austria whom she had not seen yet. Upon her arrival in Flanders, she was easily captivated by Philip’s good looks and “expertise in bed.” They were married right away and had children. Then, Queen Isabella died which caused them to become king and queen. In conjunction with the death of her mother, she caught her husband in bed with one of her court ladies. This incident started the obsession of Queen Joan, which later worsened because of another girl; this time, the Moorish prostitute, Aixa, who knew black magic and who pretended to be one of her new court ladies to be near King Philip. Queen Joan was later known as “Joan the Mad.” Her said-to-be madness caused her almost dethronement. Good thing, she spoke up before this happened. Shortly after, her husband fell ill and died. Although she remained queen, she was locked up as a mad woman in the Castle of Tordesillas for the rest of her life, and still waiting for the time that she and King Philip would again reunite. (Wikipedia)

            This movie is not merely about sex and madness. It is also about how a woman could give up power for love, and how a woman could regain that power if she really wanted to. I could also say that this movie is the opposite of “Malena.” If in “Malena,” beauty is disadvantageous, in “Mad Love,” beauty is shown to be a means of getting one’s motives, which is exemplified by Ines, the court lady, and Aixa.

            A lot of symbols were shown in the movie. First was the top, a symbol of Joan and Alvar’s friendship. In fact, he took this top in order to use the latter, to make King Philip jealous. A black dress was also worn by Queen Joanna many times in the story implying that she was mourning for something. The scissors she used in cutting Ines’ hair symbolized her “madness” and obsession. “Mad,” the word which was repeated several times is a symbol too, that emphasized Joan’s so-called “madness.” I also noticed the somewhat amulet which was used by Aixa which symbolized wickedness. And finally, in the last part of the movie, Queen Joan was wearing a new wardrobe which meant that she was willing to change.

            The movie location was breathtaking. It seemed like the film was really made during the 1400’s-1500’s. Music, too, was utilized properly. It is one of the things that saved the movie (because as I’ve said, historical movies usually bore me). Director’s style was not that evident. There were flashbacks, familiar twists – things I always see in other movies. But it’s okay. It did not make the movie boring anyway.

            For those who like historical and biographical movies, this one might suit you. I also recommend this to all women, especially the feminists, so that they may be inspired by Queen Joanna’s life.

The Beauty Within ("Malena" film review)

           

           Some stories show what they really want to show. Some stories don’t. The movie, “Malena,” is of a different kind. It looked like a story, within a story, within another story. So, what’s with “Malena?”

            In the movie “Malena,” if you don’t watch it detail by detail, it might appear that the whole story only revolves around Malena, and Renato, the boy who’s very obsessed with her. He always followed her and knew almost every detail in her life. He watched her mourn over her husband’s death, saw her taking care of his deaf father, and apart from that, knew that Malena was innocent of the women’s accusation of her being a woman who sleeps with every man in the town. He also witnessed her becoming a prostitute (because of hunger) and saw her suffer from public humiliation. But if you look closely, the movie was not only about them. It also revealed the political issues present not only in Sicily, Italy, but also, in the whole world. Malena is a victim of the abuses made by those who are in power and authority. She is a perfect picture of suffering. The Germans, the lawyer, and the other powerful men took advantage of her vulnerability. She had no other choice but to agree with them because she had nothing to financially support herself.

            The location where the film was taken was just right for the mood of the movie. The place looked dry and dark, an indication of melancholy. The dull colors added emotion and it was just appropriate for the time (World War II) in which the story took place. Obscene scenes were also carried out properly. Yes, it contained parts in which Malena or some other guy or girl is naked, but they were not that intense. There was still censorship, especially when the scene includes young actors, like Giuseppe Sulfaro (a.k.a. Renato). And besides, the film was not meant for young viewers; hence, obscenity is acceptable. I also appreciate the twists in the story, like the coming back of Niño Scordia, the thought-to-be deceased husband of Malena. It gave excitement and made the audience curious about what might happen next. The use of motifs was also effective. Two of the motifs I found in the story were the music, which was played every time Renato saw Malena; and the length of pants, which was one indication of manhood during that time. In addition, the musicality was superior. There was a good choice of music for each scene, depending on the mood.

            I also noticed some flaws in the film. The transition of scenes during the earlier parts of the film was not clear. You won’t know whether it’s present time or just a flashback. It was not also emphasized whether Malena’s husband was still living or was already dead in the very first part of the movie. I thought he was dead, but when the announcement of his death came only in the latter part, I felt like I was suddenly lost. But all these did not make it less of a movie. Still, the exquisiteness of the film is a way above its flaws.    

     

            Generally speaking, the film is great. It is worth watching if you’re looking for something unique and sensational.