TUMANDOK (2024) Review
Directed by Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay
It’s hard to present an advocacy in a film without being preachy. It’s also hard to balance if your advocacy involves lives being at risk and being a beacon of hope to a community that’s struggling not just to have a job but also a home.
You can feel how pure the intentions are of telling their story all throughout the film. Tumandok is engaging, awe-inspiring and serves as an awareness of what’s happening to our Ati communities – their challenges may it be little or life and death situation. Their story will keep you more grounded as it touches you.
The film presents itself as something that’s made by the Atis for the Atis and true enough, it feels as though it is a community effort. Being partly documentary made the whole experience authentic. It made their sentiments and their fear feel more real. And its lead actress Jenaica Sangher shines as she walkthrough the audience of how it is to live as an Ati.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
KONO BASHO (2024) Review
Directed by Jaime Pacena II
Isn’t it ironic that we have to deal with death to talk about life?
Presenting how to process emotional baggage elegantly through beautiful cinematography and silence, ‘Kono Basho’ which directly translates this place takes you on a tranquil journey visually and emotionally which helps the audience to take in more, to notice more and to feel more. Gabby Padilla and Arisa Nakano shine as half sisters exploring their connection and reflecting on life.
Director Jaime Pacena II gives his audience a therapeutic way to deal with grief, with loss and longing, with visuals, the sounds of the waves of the ocean, the quietness of nature. Being set in Japan helped a lot in the film’s texture, mood and look.
I’m in awe with Gabby Padilla’s diction whichever language she’s speaking. It’s hard not to notice how clear she talks, it’s like you want her to voice a navigation app. But more than that, her every move looked and felt natural whenever she interacts with another person. Arisa Nakano gave justice to her character who’s in pain and someone looking for a new love after loosing a father.
‘Kono Basho’ might be a bit slow for some but once you absorb the visuals, the musical score and the characters’ emotional baggage, you’ll effortlessly be swept by the story and the experience is quite beautiful.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘Tumandok’ and ‘Kono Basho’ are now showing at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, TriNoma, Greenbelt 3, Market Market and UP Town Center cinemas.