By Geo "Prometheus Brown" Quibuyen
We love being Filipino. We love films. So why don’t we love Filipino films?
For many, the combination of the words “Filipino” and “Film” evokes low-budget melodrama and corniness from directors recycling the same five fair-skinned actors while trying, and failing, to emulate Hollywood. A quick glance at the DVD shelves of the local Pinoy video store (if it hasn’t closed and re-opened as a remittance business yet) and this stereotype seems justified.
But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find a whole heap of gold hidden beneath the basura. Unbeknownst to many of us, there’s a rich history of quality cinema that stretches back to the beginning of the 20th century. Filmmakers and films with sharp socio-political awareness, beautifully-shot photography, masterful acting, and, most of all: people who look like us, talk like us, share much our family history and experiences.
Through the years, Filipino filmmakers have adapted with the same spirit that drove us to make Jeepneys out of war scraps. Under strict government censorship and with little resources (the average Filipino film is made for under $40,000, compared to tens of millions for a Hollywood flick), filmmakers were forced to become alchemists, creatively finding ways to say things without saying it too loudly.
There’s the country’s most prolific and renowned director Lino Brocka, whose filmography includes gripping neo-realist inspired dramas like Insiang (1975) and Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag (1975). Outside of the mainstream film industry, Kidlat Tahimik’s first two films, Perfumed Nightmare (1977) and Turumba (1982) employ a unique narrative style far different from any other Filipino films, past or present. Directors like Gerardo De Leon (1940s - 1970s), Lamberto Avellana, Mike De Leon, Ishmael Bernal, Raymond Red, Laurice Guillen, (to name a very few) and writers such as Jose “Pete” Lacaba (brother of slain revolutionary writer Emman Lacaba) and Ricardo Lee all deserve ten times the praise they’ve gotten for their work.
Growing up in the 80s in Hawaii and California, I was perhaps too young to appreciate older Filipino movies, some which litter mom’s and pop’s betamax collection (and yours too - I’ve seen those stacks hidden behind the “legit” tapes). Only recently have I decided to make the effort to find the diamonds in the shitstorm after watching Lino Brocka’s Orapronobis. With many of these films difficult to find, I wish I would’ve started this mission earlier.
Plus, contemporary Filipino cinema is on the come up. There’s current wave of fresh and innovative digital films from a core of young independent filmmakers on both sides of the Pacific, like Lav Diaz, Auraeus Solito, John Torres, and Raya Martin. Recently, Solito’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. Lav Diaz’s most recent film Melancholia (2008), clocks in at 8 hours, longer than his Batang West Side (4 hours) and less than Ebolusyonaryo ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino (10 hours).
I’m no expert on Filipino films. Just sharing what I know, hoping to hip some of you to something you’re missing out on, and maybe get schooled by those more knowledgeable. Start more conversations about our films, our politics, our cheesy sense of humor. Debate the merits of melodrama. Maybe, with enough demand, some previously unavailable films may find the light of day. Build up support and interest for our fellow Filipino filmmakers, especially independent ones, and end, once and for all, the false assumption that our movies suck. Or, worse, that we don’t even care.
Check out some great links about Philippine Cinema on Geo's Blog: The Resistance of Philippine Cinema
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Great post, it definitely has opened up a dialogue and I'm really digging this sharing of resources =) Here's my contribution:
Yet another online resource to add to this list is Criticene it covers not just Philippine cinema, but all of Southeast Asia. Not only are there film reviews, but the online publication also includes insightful interviews with various filmmakers including Lav Diaz and John Torres.
By carmel on December 12, 2008 - 4:30pm
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By John on December 11, 2008 - 1:02am
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post! Thanks so much for enlightening the critics of Philippine cinema who fail to dig deeper! It's just like Hollywood-- there's always going to be those cheesy romantic comedies or movies catering to the box office. And then there are those gems that are crafted towards a cause much greater than simple 2-hour entertainment. With the richness of the culture, I hope these movies start to get as much notice as the corny ones (which, if you're in that kind of mood, can be fun too). Thanks again! I'm definitely gonna check out your reviews so I can add to my movie palette.
By catherine on December 5, 2008 - 6:39pm
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have you seen "The Bet Collector" yet? If so, whatchu think?
By edjop (not verified) on December 4, 2008 - 9:49am
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Just saw (about half of) this last night. I dug it alot. Alot more than the director's other joint, Tuhog (without subtitles). What did you think?
By Prometheus Brown on December 5, 2008 - 2:39pm
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Yes, Philippine films has been on the cutting edge of "3rd" cinema for some time. Its amazing we can make beautiful, subversive, experimental work with the little we have. I watched that John Torres "years outside when i was a child" jawns. Went over my head, but it looked cool, and would like to get to understand it.
ya'll should check out pro browns insightful film reviews: http://prometheusbrown.com/blog/
You're our pinoy ebert.
By mv on December 3, 2008 - 9:52pm
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Next article is on Filipino filmmakers in the US. I'll holler at you soon fam, thanks for the shoutout.
By Prometheus Brown on December 5, 2008 - 2:40pm
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I'm a film student right now, and I feel like this article hit the nail on the head. We all watch those cheesy movies, and complain about how no one is making anything different. Finally, someone is saying, heck yeah, there is something different, there are Pilipino filmmakers out there making something beautiful and special and meaningful.
All I can say is, HOLLAH!
By maureen on December 2, 2008 - 10:29pm
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Cheesy Pinoy movies also have a cult following. Check out this Australian critic's blog:
http://andrewleavold.blogspot.com/
By Pete Lacaba (not verified) on December 24, 2008 - 3:04am
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Comments
This post made me finally sign up and comment. Thanks for the inspiration and great insight, Geo.
I feel like I have a wide appreciation of cinema. I've been charmed by Keaton's pratfalls and Miyazaki's spirit, enchanted by a waitress named Amelie and a Princess named Giselle, in awe of a large black obelisk and a small blue box, deathly afraid of perched birds and projectile pea soup, and put in stitches by Riki-Oh's mighty blows and lines like "Don't nobody go in the bathroom for about 35, 45 minutes."
So, why has it taken me so long to watch a Filipino film?
Growing up here in SoCal in the 90's, I had never really watched a movie from the Philippines. Honest to goodness. My family and I's most daring cinematic foray was waiting in a tyrannically-long line for tickets to Jurassic Park. Or perhaps it was my father's graciousness in sitting with me through Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Either way, while growing up, I had never heard of Lino Brocka.
Furthermore, I dismissed the cheesy melodramas and slapsticks that my parents viewed on TFC. When my cousins would visit stateside, we always went to the latest box office smash. Even my trips to the motherland yielded similar results. In mall cineplexes, past the Hollywood imports, the handful of actual Filipino films showing were in Tagalog sans English subtitles, so a non-speaker like me was out of luck. Might as well settle for a pirated version of Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley anyways.
For too long, I remained ignorant towards Philippine cinema. Even after I became a student of film and a self-proclaimed cinephile, I had little knowledge of the country's movies nor its industry. Not until a few years ago did I start to really feel like something was missing. I started coming across an exciting new wave of Asian movies, not necessarily from cinematic giants like Japan and China, but from less established countries like Thailand and Korea. Vengeance Trilogy, anyone? These countries were developing styles all their own, and started gaining international recognition. This got me wondering about the Philippines.
Strangely enough, my perception of the Philippines' lack of cinema left me not just naive, but a little embarrassed . Were we really just about conventional stories, overacting, and trendy Hollywood knockoffs? Some simple googling started to unearth repeated names, Gerardo de Leon, Lino Brocka, and others. Sources also kept referring to a "Golden Age of Philippine Films" What?!?
How could I have missed this?
The truth is, I had bought into that false assumption. I had grown up disregarding the hokey movies, and failed to dig deeper.
On a trip to a Filipino Arts Festival about a year ago, I stumbled upon a booth selling DVD's, and there they were.... Filipino classics, (w/ English subs no less!) by Brocka, and others I had yet to hear about. With enough money for one purchase, I went with "Manila By Night" by Ishmael Bernal upon recommendation by the kind lady vendor that it was "gritty." When I got home and popped it into the DVD player, it was a revelation!
The movie was indeed gritty; and it was also youthful, seductive, psychedelic, suspenseful, and hilarious. It had characters that looked like my friends and family. It had a language that I've heard spoken around me my whole life. Half the world away, and practically three decades apart, It felt so real. There was no doubt that I had discovered a masterpiece.
This one film proved how wrong I had been. The Philippines has prolific directors, a famous industry history, and works that deserve more recognition in the canon of international clnema. But one has to find it. More research, more sifting, and I'm learning with each new viewing. I've since seen Brocka's Shakespearean masterpiece, "Insiang," but have yet to climb his mountain of work. I've watched de Leon's B-horror vampire classic "The Blood Drinkers," and am yearning for more.
The good thing is that I'm starting to notice recent Filipino films too. Brillante Mendoza's "Foster Child" is one film that had me in tears. With more good work being created, it can lead others towards finding the films of the past, and then it's just a matter of time before the Philippines gets the acclaim it deserves.
Looking back at it, my awakening to Philippine Cinema has been a growing process. I wouldn't have cared much if I hadn't become a fan of cinema. I wouldn't have looked towards our country if I hadn't cared to learn about my Filipino identity. The films, new and old, are still under the radar and hard to find, but they are very much worth the effort. It's a journey, and I know each of us has and will arrive at the destination differently.
Here are some guideposts along the way:
http://criticafterdark.blogspot.com/ -> Noel Vera is an amazing scholar and critic of Filipino films, and cinema in general. He's great for recommendations ("100 Best Filipino Films") and reviews. The only one I knew interested in doing this, until....
http://prometheusbrown.com/blog/ -> I just bookmarked this, Geo. Just thought I'd reiterate. Keep up the good work.
http://www.cinefilipino.com/ -> Major DVD producer. A library of classics and newer works. Always expanding, so I'd check back often.
http://www.netflix.com/ -> If you can't purchase, then rent. You can find the cinefilipino DVD's and more here.