Let this thread be about GOOOOOD Pinoy films... what's the latest you saw?... What's your fave?... Which movies are you dying to see?, etc, etc.

One of the latest movies I saw are Kubrador [about jueteng---->an illegal gambling activity prevalent here in the Phils.] and Tulad ng Dati----> a movie-documentary about The Dawn, a good Pinoy band.

Both are good and are making rounds of film festivals abroad.

The first one was screened locally packed with diplomats because according to them, they will learn a lot about the current [messy] situation. Yes, very embarrassing.

I don't watch Filipino movies, mainly because I prefer to watch American movies and that most of them are in Tagalog which I am not very fluent at. I've been waiting to watch a Cebuano movie since I've never seen one in my entire life.

^ Panag'hoy sa Suba

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uHZPZJB3FIo

^I've seen that movie and it's gooood. The movie made of use the characters' main native language and the actors are all brown-skinned-----> very, very wonderful, I say.

"Minsan Pa" is in Cebuano and it's got English subtitles. It was also filmed in Cebu and it stars Ara Mina and Jomari Yllana. Pretty decent, too.

Really? Panaghoy is good? I'll look for it in video stores then.... btw I watched Kubrador and it's not so fine. Gina Pareno was the only good actor there. The rest were obvious, you know, halatang umaarte lang.... i was disappointed, considering it was an internationally acclaimed film....

^I think that if you're in tune with "high-quality" films you won't find anything significant or note-worthy about "Kubrador" SINCE the film is simple in terms of the technical stuff. But this is the Philippines and people are used to seeing junk movies so the said movie is a welcome change [for our kind, at least]. As for "halatang umaarte lang," I didn't notice that at all. Maybe it was my uncritical eye but, yeah, didn't notice it.

The subject is special because it truly shows how deeply-embedded "jueteng" is in our society, that even the Church pala MAY be a part of it.

Just got back from watching Pisay. Very good. Pinoy independent movie.

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My Memories of PISAY

By Auraeus Solito [the director], Special to The Times

I’m a proud member of Batch 86 of the Philippine Science High School, PISAY for short. We were the first batch to graduate after the People Power of EDSA which ousted the dictatorship. It was a time full of hope and idealism. But my film is more about lost dreams, a homecoming film of sorts. Let me share my thoughts on how this film came about.

One of the main character inspirations was a classmate of mine who just disappeared when we reached senior high school. I’ ve always wondered what happened to her. Then after many years, I got a surprise email from her, telling me that she was planning to watch my film debut, The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. She also shared the reason why she had to be in the Netherlands â€â€� her family had to go on exile for political reasons.

Mike Almazan, another batchmate, died suddenly in 1986. He was a friend to everyone, and he had a truly good heart. His story is the light upon which this movie was able to be made. I dedicate this film to Mike.

I was inspired and reckoned that writing a story inspired by the lives of my batchmates could be intersting. I emailed many of them and a few wrote back and shared their stories. The final draft was completed after 4 years of compiling all their stories and anecdotes.

I also thought that it might be interesting to incorporate high school life, a phase that is most memorable for most students. I remember growing up with all these local movies based on Hollywood and European high school flicks. How can we forget the French movie Ready for Love starring Sophie Marceau!.

As a director, my aim is to capture the interest of my audience so I should show them something familiar. I feel that bringing back the memories of high school life can be interesting and the theme is universal, something everyone can relate to. The next step is to weave all the stories and tell these in a manner wherein the characters can look real, the plots and subplots unpredictable and engaging.

I thought that I am able to move and affect people, then I can be happy. I guess I am now.

PISAY just won the Grand Prix du Jury (Grand Prize of the International Jury) at the 14th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France. It was also bestowed the Prix du Public (Audience Prize). The jury members wrote, and I quote, “PISAY is being honored for its very high positive energy level, confirming the authenticity of Filipino cinema style and for the remarkable performance of its young actors.�

Emmanuel Burdeau, a member of the elite Cahiers Du Cinema, a critics’ group based France, wrote in his review: “Pisay is a beautiful film, simple and sophisticated, direct and campy, one that gets better and better as it goes along. From the evidence gathered, the praise is valid for Filipino cinema as a whole, which is undergoing something of a renaissance.�

It has declared that Filipino cinema is on the verge of a renaissance. But in order to reach this goal, Philippine independent cinema needs an audience.

While the entire world is celebrating the best of the American Academy Awards, there is a small Filipino film that needs our support. PISAY is currently showing in selected theaters in Metro Manila.

Don't miss Magnifiko. Watch it before you die.

Watch "100." It's an independent film and I was able to catch it this afternoon at Cinemalaya at CCP. Good thing 'cause tickets were selling like hotcakes. Very good movie. The 3 lead actresses were great.

try niyo yung tuli...