Available at FDCP Streaming Website with hardcoded English subtitles with other Filipino Classics.
This film tells the story of Nicolas Ocampo, towards the end of the 19th century - when the Philippines was transitioning out of the Spanish Colonial period AND the Americans were about to take over. He travel and witness the rapid changes of the era AND tries his best to survive from the questionable people around him as he heads back to where he came from AND just be who he is, a Filipino.
This was such an interesting film.
For most movie buffs, Eddie Romero is more famous for his schlock American Z-Films which also where I am more familiar with. In fact Tarantino is a famed admirer of his. By the mid 70s, he shifted focus back to local production AND made more respectable FILIPINO films in terms of quality and content. It is quite frankly a defiant change in terms of scope and function - (similar to the film) a nation finding its (cinematic) footing.
Though unlike the direct and frank criticisms of Bernal and Brocka films or the hifalutin allegory of De Leon films, this film strays for its rather unobvious leaning.
In fact, I personally thought this a hopeful view of Martial Law though I could not really find any extant of Eddie Romero's politics. The only relevant knowledge I saw was his parents (and some of his relatives) were politicians and affluent at that. But again, this could just be a call to action for his fellow kababayan to change up AND just no longer be anyone's fool AND move ahead. Either interpretation can be possible to be honest.
Regardless, this is a very well made film. Firstly, there are formality in composition that really shows such a great control from Romero. I love how it looks. It does not have the staginess that hounds a lot of Filipino works. There is a sense that it is quite a large undertaking AND truly deserves the canonization from Filipino critics.
Secondly, the acting was amazing though high props to Gloria Diaz and Christopher De Leon. They both ate the film up.
Again, a rather different role to DE Leon Hot Guy roles. He shows a different facet of his AND he handles this Forrest Gump-esque role of a naive young man who happens to be in places, with such delicacy yet maturity. He tightropes in such INTERESTING ways yet never going into caricature-ish portrayal (Budoy who). He never make it seem like he is a joke - AND I applaud that. He is humble simply so.
Then you have a short BUT very noteworthy turn from Diaz, of Miss Universe fame. There is a reason she maintained her relevancy in the industry. She plays her floozy with so much detail even if she has little going on. She just plays it smartly and pointedly that you remember her. I never sought her work but let's see.
Then lastly the script. As I said, this is interesting. It never really feels political BUT still ask a very important question of finding a Nation's self. It is special in that Filipino epics are really rare AND often than not does not have this sprawling view of the Filipino sphere. There is a depth AND understanding on it. It kind of remind me of Gone with Wind (especially the ending) in how it tackles a chaotic time. Also, such an interesting ending. He posits that a stone "home" is different that actually finding his real "home" as a Filipino.
This is really good. Another discovery from the great period of Philippine Cinema. A Call for a Better Choice.
