double treat

Last Friday night, I went to Gateway Mall with a friend to see Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros). It tells the story of Maxie, an openly gay 12 year-old who has pickpocketers and cellphone snatchers for a father and two elder brothers. Maxie actually takes the role of her deceased mother; he cooks, washes clothes, and repairs tattered jeans of his family. But despite his homosexuality, he is accepted by his family and he acts as a calming influence to his father and brothers. The problem came when "Kuya" Victor, a rookie cop, came to town. Victor refused to be swallowed by the stinking system of Maxie's neighborhood yet he maintained his friendship with the child. From the moment Victor rescued Maxie from a rape prank from his two neighbors, the "boy" started to admire the good cop. The film ends with Maxie's father dead (he was shot by the chief of police in front of Victor and Maxie) and his brothers, instead of avenging his death, trying to lead a good life for the sake of Maxie who they believe has a great future ahead of him.



This film was actually a part of Cinemalaya 2005. It is currently the Philippines' official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2007 Academy Awards (OSCARS).

Here are the List of Awards / Recognition Received (as of July 2006) by ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS:
1. The 1st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2005
• Special Jury Award
• Special Citation for Best Performance by an Actor (Nathan Lopez)
• Best Production Design
2. Montreal World Cinema Film Festival 2005
• Winner, Golden Zenith (Best First Film)
3. imagineNative Film Fest (Toronto) 2005
• Best Picture
4. Asian Festival for First Films (Singapore) 2005
• Best Film
5. Sundance Film Festival 2006
• Official Selection - World Cinema section
6. Rotterdam Film Festival 2006
• Best Asian Film, NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury Award
7. Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2006
• Best Feature Film, Teddy Awards
• Best Picture, Kinderfilmfest
• International Jury
• Special Mention, Childrens Jury
8. 35th New Directors/New Films Festival, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Lincoln Center, New York, 2006
• Opening Film
9. Las Palmas de la Gran Canarias Film Festival (Spain) 2006
• Grand Prize, Best Picture
• Audience Award, Best Picture
• Best Actor -Nathan Lopez
10. Turin International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2006 - Best Picture

Last night, I watched Rob Marshall's adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha.

From http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/memoirsofageisha/: Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha is a sweeping romantic epic set in a mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today. The story begins in the years before WWII when a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.



My take on this film - Superb! I like the plot, the acting, and the cinematography. I also like the sacrificial love theme that spanned for more than ten years between Sayuri and the Chairman. It made me think of Jane and Mr. Rochester in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

I guess that's all for now. Until next time...