Quezon's Game

The visuals were really well done. You can really see that the film was visually driven from props to other set pieces but as a biopic compared to other recent historical biopics, it lacks the oomph that sets Heneral Luna or Jose Rizal movies apart.

Greetings again from the darkness. I've stated it many times before, and it's proven true again here ... WWII continues to be a source for stories big and small. Stories of heroes, and stories of victims. Some of these stories are very personal, and some have historical significance - even if we may only know fragments of the full events. The first feature film from Matthew Rosen combines these elements as he brings to the screen the fascinating role of Philippines President Manuel Quezon in providing asylum to Jewish refugees.

The film is bookended with an ailing President Quezon (played by Raymond Bagatsing) watching a Holocaust newsreel with his wife Aurora (Rachel Alejandro) as he convalesces at Saranac Cove Cottage in 1944. He turns to her and asks, "Could I have done more?" We then flashback six years to 1938. The screen explodes with vibrant colors as we land in Manila, the Capital city of The Philippines.

Jewish-American Ambassador Alex Frieder (Billy Ray Gallion) receives a telegram warning from Germany, and what follows is a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes political maneuverings, rather than a direct focus on the atrocities of concentration camps. President Quezon (and his wife) are presented as compassionate and empathetic towards the plight of the Jews in Germany. They are committed to helping even if it's not a prudent political approach and it goes against their advisors. Someone does mention that Germany is "technically not our enemy" ... "no matter how much we hate the SOBs."

It's especially interesting (and probably unknown to the majority of Americans) that U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines, Paul McNutt (James Paoeli), played a key role in what basically amounted to going against the orders of the U.S. Government in arranging safe passage for the Jewish refugees. McNutt had seen himself as a successor to FDR as President of the United States - a dream that ended when FDR ran for a third and fourth term. Also playing a key role was Dwight Eisenhower (David Bianco), who was a military adviser, and even offered the position of Philippines Chief of Police by Quezon. Of course, after the war, Eisenhower went on to serve two terms as President of the United States.

Co-writers Janice Y Perez and Dean Rosen, along with director Rosen, have uncovered a terrific piece of history, and with the steady stream of white suits, fat cigars, and clinking cocktail glasses, the film has the right look for a historical drama. It's really the dialogue and execution that come up short. We never quite believe these situations are anything but staged, which results in a negative impact on the drama and tension. The Philippines were under U.S. control from 1898-1946, and Quezon was fighting for his country's independence at the same time he faced other challenges internal to the country, his own health issues (tuberculosis), and possible ramifications for defying the U.S. The obvious comparison here is to SCHINDLER'S LIST, and while not at that level, Quezon's actions provided asylum for 1200 Jews and make for a story that deserves to be told. The closing credits are filled with clips of survivors telling their stories ... the perfect ending.

In 1938 Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon was faced with a dilemma. News has reached him of the Nazi extermination of the Jews and the further troubling news that thousands of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany were turned down by the United States and Canada and had nowhere to go. A Jewish acquaintance begged him to take the people in but the president was faced by the political ramifications of this. "Quezon's Game" is the stellar depiction of this little known act of humanity that saved the lives of over a thousand people. In bright and crisp colors the verdant and colorful setting of pre-war Manila is the attractive backdrop to the intense diplomatic and political wrangling that occurred to get the act of humanity done. With the full outstanding Hollywood treatment the film delivers with impressive directing, acting, script and music. Raymond Bagatsing gives a dignified and elegant portrayal of the Philippine leader while Rachel Alejandro compliments him as the pushy and doting first lady. The supporting cast all shine in this striking period piece. The only flaws of the film are slow parts peppered throughout the film and the pc that usually rears in such subject matter. Bagatsing doesn't portray the less flattering side of Quezon, and he looks a little too young to accurately look like the 60 year old president in 1938. One of the best films of recent times "Quezon's Game" is a triumph of art in highlighting man's defiance in the face of adversity and darkness and a memorial to a simpler time when people's souls had more chance to shine.

Greetings again from the darkness. I've stated it many times before, and it's proven true again here ... WWII continues to be a source for stories big and small. Stories of heroes, and stories of victims. Some of these stories are very personal, and some have historical significance - even if we may only know fragments of the full events. The first feature film from Matthew Rosen combines these elements as he brings to the screen the fascinating role of Philippines President Manuel Quezon in providing asylum to Jewish refugees.

The film is bookended with an ailing President Quezon (played by Raymond Bagatsing) watching a Holocaust newsreel with his wife Aurora (Rachel Alejandro) as he convalesces at Saranac Cove Cottage in 1944. He turns to her and asks, "Could I have done more?" We then flashback six years to 1938. The screen explodes with vibrant colors as we land in Manila, the Capital city of The Philippines.

Jewish-American Ambassador Alex Frieder (Billy Ray Gallion) receives a telegram warning from Germany, and what follows is a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes political maneuverings, rather than a direct focus on the atrocities of concentration camps. President Quezon (and his wife) are presented as compassionate and empathetic towards the plight of the Jews in Germany. They are committed to helping even if it's not a prudent political approach and it goes against their advisors. Someone does mention that Germany is "technically not our enemy" ... "no matter how much we hate the S*Bs."

It's especially interesting (and probably unknown to the majority of Americans) that U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines, Paul McNutt (James Paoeli), played a key role in what basically amounted to going against the orders of the U.S. Government in arranging safe passage for the Jewish refugees. McNutt had seen himself as a successor to FDR as President of the United States - a dream that ended when FDR ran for a third and fourth term. Also playing a key role was Dwight Eisenhower (David Bianco), who was a military adviser, and even offered the position of Philippines Chief of Police by Quezon. Of course, after the war, Eisenhower went on to serve two terms as President of the United States.

Co-writers Janice Y Perez and Dean Rosen, along with director Rosen, have uncovered a terrific piece of history, and with the steady stream of white suits, fat cigars, and clinking cocktail glasses, the film has the right look for a historical drama. It's really the dialogue and execution that come up short. We never quite believe these situations are anything but staged, which results in a negative impact on the drama and tension. The Philippines were under U.S. control from 1898-1946, and Quezon was fighting for his country's independence at the same time he faced other challenges internal to the country, his own health issues (tuberculosis), and possible ramifications for defying the U.S. The obvious comparison here is to SCHINDLER'S LIST, and while not at that level, Quezon's actions provided asylum for 1200 Jews and make for a story that deserves to be told. The closing credits are filled with clips of survivors telling their stories ... the perfect ending.

This aspect about Quezon was not written in history books. Though I found out about this 10 years ago, it's amazing how the movie showed Quezon's political will to help the Jews. Brilliantly done. Very good story-line.