Pagari (Mohammad Abdullah)

2013
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Teejay Marquez and Arkin Del Rosario in Pagari (Mohammad Abdullah) (2013)

Two Muslim teens fall victim to small-town prejudice and harmful gossip as their friendship is misinterpreted, forcing them to confront identity and societal judgment.Two Muslim teens fall victim to small-town prejudice and harmful gossip as their friendship is misinterpreted, forcing them to confront identity and societal judgment.Two Muslim teens fall victim to small-town prejudice and harmful gossip as their friendship is misinterpreted, forcing them to confront identity and societal judgment.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

User reviews2

Featured review

BRAVE COMING-OF-AGE INDIE MOVIE

I first saw this at SM Cinema back in 2013 and became curious to watch it again with friends. However, by the time we planned to, we discovered it had already left local theaters and was being widely screened internationally. The film boldly explores the deeply ingrained culture of chismis (GOSSIP) in the Philippines, the mistreatment of LGBT children by their Muslim parents, and the way misinformation can distort reality. It serves as a striking metaphor for FAKE NEWS before the rise of the digital age.

Written by Emille Joson before her international acclaim for Adivino, alongside the brilliant Melchor Feralca, and directed by former commercial heartthrob Robby Tarroza, the film is expertly crafted. Teejay Marquez, Mel Martinez, Bekimon, Rose Ranola, Arkin Del Rosario, Via Veloso and Mark Malana, deliver career-defining performances, supported by an equally impressive ensemble cast!

While the film could have explored the Muslim faith in greater depth, it's clear the filmmakers prioritized the tension-driven narrative fueled by gossip. The screenplay is sharp, the dialogue is clever, and the film remains a compelling and thought-provoking experience!!

Trivia
Originally slated for Emille Joson to direct following her nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival, but Joson chose to step away from the director's chair to prepare for her gender reassignment surgery. She recommended her film school batch mates instead like James Penera, Shiel Calde, and finally Bing Nellasca to direct it. Instead, Joson focused on crafting the screenplay alongside Melchor Feralca, ensuring her creative vision remained embedded in the project.