GANGGANG (Cinemalaya 2026) Review
Directed by JL Burgos
In Ganggang, JL Burgos’ first full-length narrative film, the main message is clear and constant from the opening scene to the end credits. Burgos spends the entire movie carefully setting up the story, building tension step by step so you know something heavy is about to happen. He makes sure the audience feels every bit of that growing anticipation, giving you time to get attached to the characters and understand what is at stake. Because he takes his time with that setup, the central turn of the story hits with total force when it finally happens, landing like a sudden strike of lightning right to the heart. It is a direct and intentional approach to storytelling that keeps you locked into the experience from start to finish.
His vision is clear. He knows what he wants the audience to see and to feel. Every detail in the film will lead to something, whether it is a small gesture between friends or a quiet moment in the background. Nothing feels placed by mistake, and every pause in the conversation gives the story room to breathe. That level of control keeps the focus exactly where it needs to be, so when things finally pay off, it feels earned.
Casting newbie young artists added a more youthful vibe to the film, and how the characters were written really felt like it was taking me back when I was young, carefree, and naive, at least for me. Seeing unfamiliar faces makes the group dynamics feel fresh and natural, as if you are watching real people instead of actors reading lines. But the audience would not only get to connect and be affectionate with the three lead actors, but also with the supporting characters. Everyone in their circle adds their own weight to the story, making the whole world feel lived-in. Just a great ensemble.
The choices in the film were precise to the film’s setting, characters and situations. The local surroundings, the casual dialect, and the overall atmosphere look and feel like actual daily life. You can follow the story smoothly, exploring the lives of three students, their friends, their teachers, their families and their community. That sense of realism makes their struggles hit much closer to home, giving the film an extra layer of weight.
You can feel what the writer and director, JL Burgos, wants to convey in his film, especially if you know his previous work. It is a powerful narrative setup: centering the story on young people full of hope and big dreams, throwing them into harsh, unforgiving environments, and forcing them through an uncomfortable, painful journey. It’s an uncomfortable coming-of-age story that you wish kids would not have. What you see in the last twenty minutes of the film will stay with you long after the credits roll.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Watch ‘Ganggang‘ from August 6 – 18 at the Red Carpet Cinemas at Shangri-la Plaza, Gateway Cineplex 18 at Gateway Mall 2 and at Ayala Malls Cinemas Circuit Makati, Glorietta 4, Manila Bay, Market! Market! and TriNoma.