Engaging stories, themes in Cinemalaya ’11

Every time the annual Cinemalaya indie film festival comes around, we watch as many of its entries as possible, to savor stories and themes that are difficult to find in mainstream cinema.

This month, we’ll be lining up especially for Loy Arcenas’ “Niño,” a nostalgic drama about the once illustrious Lopez-Aranda family, with opera and the Santo Niño at the heart of its bittersweet storytelling.

Arcenas has designed sets for many shows in the States and has won many awards, including the Obie. Relatively new to directing, this is his first feature film, so we are naturally interested to see if his talent and artistry translate to the movie screen, as well.

List

Also on our list is Lawrence Fajardo’s “Amok.” We were impressed with Fajardo’s short film when we judged Cinemalaya 2005, so we’re eager to see the filmmakers’ full-length work.

In the story of “Amok,” as a raging man’s bullets spray in different directions, the fates of various characters are sealed and determined.

“Ligo na U, Lapit na Me” has similarly attracted our attention, because we recently read the book that inspired it. The film is by Noel Ferrer, Jerry Gracio and Erick Salud.

It’s about an “ordinary” guy who falls in love with beautiful Jenny, who agrees to go to bed with him – on the condition that he won’t fall in love with her. An examination of postmodern love and relationship and the way this generation deals with love and fear.

Finally, “Cuchera,” by Joseph Laban, is about Filipino drug mules, couriers and recruiters. Laban’s documentaries have been cited by different groups, so we want to see how he handles the storytelling format of the feature film.

As for the six other official entries, they too have something meaningful to “say,” so they similarly deserve our attention and interest.

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez is a movie within a movie, a comedy about misguided ambition, the art of making art and the romanticization of poverty.

Divergence

“Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” by Alvin Yapan and Alemberg Ang “explores the intersection and divergence between feminist and gay concerns in the third world context.”

“Bahay Bata” by Eduardo Roy Jr. and Jerome Zamora is set in an overcrowded public maternity hospital.

“I-Libings” by Rommel Andreo Sales is “a coming-of-age story about a young woman’s lessons and realizations on life and death as a funeral videography intern.”

“Teoriya” by Alistair E. Chan is about a young man who’s told that his father has died – but, when he goes back home, he learns that his father has already been buried, but he doesn’t know where.

Also interesting and definitely worth viewers’ attention is Cinemalaya’s Directors’ Showcase for veteran filmmakers’ new works. This year’s entries in this sidebar category are Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Bisperas,” Auraeus Solito’s “Busong,” Adolf Alix Jr.’s “Isda” and Joel Lamangan’s “Patikul.”

Let’s all give Cinemalaya 2011 the enthusiastic support and informed patronage it deserves!

Visit www.cinemalaya.org