 |
| Bwakaw (Buwaya + Matakaw) (Voracious Eater) |
Bwakaw was one of the many international films featured in the 2013 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Fest (MSPIFF), which runs from April 11th-28th at St. Anthony Main Theater in Minneapolis, MN.
Special thanks to my friend who informed me about it. ^_^
First Film Fest Experience:
The St. Anthony Main Theater is the smallest theater compare to the ONLY 5 theaters that I've been to here in the US -- 1 in NJ and the rest in MN. The facade seems to be strategically placed in front of the Mississippi river greeting the moviegoers with a beautiful scenery of the other side of downtown Minneapolis. The surroundings reminds me of the 19th century era where men wear suits and top hats while women wear fancy dresses while strolling around the red brick roads.
Watching a Filipino film in another country made me feel nostalgic for what I missed and loved in the Philippines - family, friends, food, jeep, tricycles, Cebu, Laguna, and etc. Thus, go the saying, "You'll never know what you have until it's gone.."
 |
| St. Anthony Main Theater Photo Source |
Movie Review:
Bwakaw's Official Trailer
Synopsis
Rene is a gay man who came out of the closet at age 70. Ailing in his twilight years, he thinks it is now too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is Death. He has made a will, bequeathing his few possessions to his even fewer friends. Everything is packed and labeled, ready for distribution. He has even paid for a coffin, taking advantage of a funeral home's Summer Sale. Nowadays the only companion Rene has is Bwakaw, a stray dog that hangs around his house and follows him wherever he goes.
As Rene waits for the day of his death, he gets the surprise of his life when it is Bwakaw who suddenly falls ill and is diagnosed with cancer. Rene is surprisingly affected, and he realizes that he values Bwakaw more than he thinks. In his struggle to get Bwakaw cured, Rene finds comfort in the most unlikely person: Sol, a tricycle driver who helps him bring Bwakaw to the vet and befriends him. Buoyed by Sol's friendship, Rene starts living. Little by little he discovers simple joys. To the surprise of his friends, he even has his hair dyed to look younger. One day, he finally decides to make a move on Sol. The revelation that Rene is gay and has feelings for him surprises and disgusts Sol. He rejects Rene and leaves in anger. In the meantime, Bwakaw's condition gets worse. Not even Rene's ancient Santo Entierro (a supposedly miraculous statue of Jesus Christ) can save Bwakaw. Bwakaw dies, and Rene's neighbors help him bury the faithful dog. But Bwakaw's death, even while it was still only imminent, has made a difference. Rene has found a new appreciation for life and what is most important. He decides to unpack the things that he has already willed to other people and make his house more inhabitable. He is, after all, still alive.Though the movie mainly focuses on Rene's solitude, it also shows subtle scenarios portraying a lot of Filipino cultures and society - beliefs in saints, gay community, mode of transportations, Potlucks, funerals, etc. One of the things I liked about the movie is its captivating approach to its viewers by depicting a beautiful and typical everyday life scenarios with so much compassion and good humor that makes you think of the small things that you tend to take for granted because you thought it'll always be there.
The subtitles sometimes does not match the meaning of the Tagalog phrases specially the figure of speech used when one is surprise, mad, scared, etc. I did promised my friend that I will translate it to him but I didn't because I felt too embarrassed to tell him what it really means plus most of the Tagalog words does not have any translation to English and others.. well, I just forgot what they were. (and most of the time, I wasn't really paying attention to the subtitles :p)
The feeling is mutual for both American and Filipino audience watching the movie. Everybody responded with laughter in the funny scenes and fell silent in the emotional scenes. I remember seeing one of the audience that looked like she cried but then again I might be mistaking it for her allergies. Nevertheless, the movie made me proud of the entertainment industry in the Philippines after seeing how foreigners recognized and appreciate it as well as the other Filipinos who were watching it. Another Proud to be Pinoy moment ^_^
Though I was a bit disappointed about the ending. I was expecting it to have more than just the main actor walking on the side of road, all by himself and still being ignored by his friend. After contemplating it, I've come to accept the ending with full satisfaction. I've realized that the ending pretty much sums up everything that has happened in that simple gesture, "Life Moves On...."
"Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such."
~ Henry Miller (Source)
Casts
Meet Princess - the Real Bwakaw ^_^
Interview with the Director - Jun Lana
Links:
2013 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Fest
St. Anthony Main Theater
Cinemalaya
Wikipedia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Live life to the fullest.
(◕‿◕✿)
(◕‿◕✿)
No comments:
Post a Comment