Live Show

09.23.01

The film Toro (with English subtitle) far exceeds my expectation of Filipino cinema especially of this genre. It truly deserves international release. The risqué title of Manila's age-old live sex shows is catchy and tempting to even prudes like me :) to take a peek at it. Beyond its cut-to-the-chase display of a well choreographed toro scene early on, the story told in real dialog cunningly seduces its viewer to sit still to suck its juice. Unlike the typical bomba (Filipino soft porn) films that are thin in substance and fat in awkward, incoherent sex scenes, Toro unfolds as a masterpiece tale of desperate, fragile humanity and a crafty vision of dehumanizing sensuality.

One could dismiss the theme of this film as banal. However, Toro's main character begs the viewer to closely examine the plight he shares with his three torero friends and to witness their dreams to gain their dignity elude them. All the actors who are unfamiliar to me individually deliver convincing performances. The script, direction and editing are exceptional.

Two thumbs up.

When Live Show was first released in local cinemas, it created a huge controversy and it was even pulled out of cinemas (I think). It was only recently when I got the chance to watch it and I thought it's just gonna be another nonsense Filipino sexual movie. But no, the movie was actually good. It really showed how poverty is affecting our country and the dialogs and situations were so real that it's really an eye opener. R-18 scenes do not depict malice or perversion at all. I kinda sympathize with their situation and realizing how hard it must be for them doing that. If you want a break from those "tweetums" movie that the local cinemas are overflowing with and want a movie where it's in-your-face then watch this movie.

A very realistic and good movie. Dialogue is very natural of people who live in the slum area in the Philippines. Such people survive by selling their body and dignity. Although the truth is difficult to swallow and people turn a blind eye and try to avoid the issue, the plot of the movie is difficult to ignore and happens in real life.