MAESTRA (2017) Review
Directed by Lemuel Lorca
Usually, advocacy films tend to be too preachy. They lost the audience with giving away way too much of what message they want to deliver. But Lemuel Lorca’s Maestra gives us a more profound story, telling three individuals of their dreams, aspirations and what they sacrifice to pursue their passion.
The film tells the story of Iah, Gennie and Esperanza. Three educators who has no sign of giving up on their love for teaching. We see Anna Luna as the naive but driven Iah, a shoo-in to be one of the topnotchers of the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). And then there’s Gennie, played tremendously by the Angeli Bayani. From start to finish, Bayani plays Gennie flawlessly as the aeta teacher, not licensed yet but the drive to teach keeps her on taking the LET more than ten times. Then, here’s Miss Esperanza Bautista played by Ms. Gloria Sevilla. She should be resting, enjoying her retirement. But like what she said, “Ano kayang mangyayari sa bayan natin kung ang mga guro ay mapapagod na?”
That line struck me, educators must not tire from their work. Because without them, the world would be unlivable. Maestra is that film that will show you more than what are teachers, it will present the sacrifices they have to go through just because they have this unexplainable passion to teach not just children but people of all ages.
It’s tedious at first getting to what the story really is, on what these characters are to each other. The story of Iah, Gennie and Esperanza are inspiring and worth telling. These educators are more than just teachers, they are heroes inside and outside the walls of schools. It’s a heartwarming tribute to our second parents and its story is definitely a tearjerker.
“Maestra” will have its Cine Lokal screenings starting December 8 at SM Cinemas Mall of Asia, Megamall, North EDSA, Fairview, Southmall, Bacoor, Manila and Sta. Mesa. From Carl Balita Productions.