Metro Manila (2013)
Surprised at the quality of this film.
I remember the side-story of Alfred. I remember it because I was a kid when news of that came out. There wasn't a name. Just some guy that supposedly robbed from an airplane. Some people gossiped about it. How it would have been lucky if some money flew down from the clouds. I never really knew what happened to the guy. Or it was never told. I remember he was just not found.
I was mildly surprised when this was used in this film. I may not want to admit it. But the story, overall, was believable.
It's hard not to empathize with Oscar's character. If he had done the right thing, their lives wouldn't turn. He'd go back to being an armored truck driver. His wife the same. His options still limited. But who knows, if he'd returned the box, he may have been given a reward. He'd have earned the trust of the owner. Maybe, maybe not.
The themes used in this film are quite common in let's say contemporary Filipino literature. Landlords abusing farmers. People taking advantage of newcomers. The lady spiraling into prostitution. It appears as though much of Philippine art tackles the effects and causes of poverty and corruption. Poverty porn as some current thinkers might call it.
Had this not been told as having been written by a Brit, I'd have guessed a college professor from 1970's. It would have easily blended with past Filipino writers.
Minus the crime and dark themes, I've never seen Manila encapsulated in such beautiful form. And that shot above Banaue, that was sweet.
I remember the side-story of Alfred. I remember it because I was a kid when news of that came out. There wasn't a name. Just some guy that supposedly robbed from an airplane. Some people gossiped about it. How it would have been lucky if some money flew down from the clouds. I never really knew what happened to the guy. Or it was never told. I remember he was just not found.
I was mildly surprised when this was used in this film. I may not want to admit it. But the story, overall, was believable.
It's hard not to empathize with Oscar's character. If he had done the right thing, their lives wouldn't turn. He'd go back to being an armored truck driver. His wife the same. His options still limited. But who knows, if he'd returned the box, he may have been given a reward. He'd have earned the trust of the owner. Maybe, maybe not.
The themes used in this film are quite common in let's say contemporary Filipino literature. Landlords abusing farmers. People taking advantage of newcomers. The lady spiraling into prostitution. It appears as though much of Philippine art tackles the effects and causes of poverty and corruption. Poverty porn as some current thinkers might call it.
Had this not been told as having been written by a Brit, I'd have guessed a college professor from 1970's. It would have easily blended with past Filipino writers.
Minus the crime and dark themes, I've never seen Manila encapsulated in such beautiful form. And that shot above Banaue, that was sweet.
