Box of Recollections » Films

Grandpa is Dead; Philippines; Oscar Best Foreign Film Entry 2010

neilstrauss23 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:19:49 +0000

Title: Grandpa is Dead : Ded na si Lolo

Director: Soxie H. Topacio

Cast: Manilyn Reynes, Elisabeth Oropesa, Dick Israel and Roderick Paulate.

Note: Philippine Entry for 2010 Oscar’s Best Foreign Film

Synopsis.

What happens when a member of a family suddenly dies? What if the family of the deceased is not ready for the eventual passing away of their loved ones – how does one cope with the event?

This is the story of the late Juanito Hernandez and his bereaved family. The story unfolds with the ever observant eye of Bobet, a grandson of the deceased, who, in the process also learns the various complexities of what death could bring to the living members of the family. The drama that ensues in dealing with the loss is usually the springboard of comic instances and happenings in the event. And so with the revelations of long kept secrets, pent up emotions and other bones of the skeleton in the closet.

** This is a film of how filipinos look on the side when loveones died. Of how the

family drama with the twist of comedy reason with their superstitions and beliefs.

Notes from the Hawaii International Film Festival below.

In Soxie Topacio’s hilarious opus, the Filipino funeral is born anew. Deconstructed into several ‘pamahiin’ (or folk wisdom) and structured over the course of a week-long wake, DED NA SI LOLO is the story of a family forced by circumstances to reunite and bear each other’s companies while a wake for their dead father is held. Although the Hernandezes have the tendency to be massively dramatic about their grief in public, their solidarity and care for each other are revealed in private moments interacted far from the vigilant crowd. As we get to know more about this family through their personal stories, and observing them laugh and bicker with each other, we see that in life and in death, Filipinos deal the best way they know how to: together. Brilliantly cathartic, DED NA SI LOLO shows that Filipino cinema is alive and well in this story of life’s triumph over death. – Siege Malvar

Do Começo Ao Fim (2009): From Beginning To End

neilstrauss23 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:51:19 +0000

Now a controversial film from Brazil. Directed by Aluizio Abranches. The story of two brothers, Thomas and Francisco seen from the time when they were born till the time when they grey up. And both were really close and love between them. The unconditional love…

Starring the hot brazilian actors Joao Gabriel Vasconcellos as Francisco and Rafael Cardoso as Thomas.

“I love you.” ” And why do you love me? ” I love you because you’re mine. ” “I love you because you need love.”
” I love you too. ” And why do you love me too,? I love you because.. to understand our love they’d need to turn the world upside down.”

Watch the trailer here:

The official website : Do Començo Ao Fim

14th Lesgaicinemad 2009

neilstrauss23 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:28:56 +0000

14th Festival Internacional de Cine Lesbico Gai y Transexual in Madrid is now on the road! The 14th Gay and Lesbian film festival had already their line ups this coming Oct 29, 2009 to Nov 8, 2009. For more than 105 films, from Feature length films, Short Films and Documentaries.

Here are some of the film Features:

Soundless Wind Chimes, Ander, Eating All Out, Shank, Rabioso Sol,Rabioso Cielo.

This year the festival will give award to the director Ventura Pons for his career. Pons is known for his films like Amic/ Amat, Caricias, Manjar de Amor (Food of Love), Forasters.

Have time to look at the line up and you can download the program in the website. Links and Logos are on the right side where you can check it online. You can watch also in Youtube some of the trailers.

Hope you enjoy it!! More news to come!

Brillante Mendoza wins Best Director in Cannes Film Festival 2009 “Kinatay”

neilstrauss23 — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:59:47 +0000

Brillante Mendoza recieved the award for Best Director of the Cannes Film Festival 2009 in the film ” Kinatay” . this is his third year in Cannes film Festival, last year he also compete for the film ” Serbis”. Also cast in his both film Mercedes Cabral and Coco Martin.

The Producer Ferdinand Lapuz and Didier Costet.

The cast and crew at the Gala Presentation of Kinatay with Maria Isabel Lopez, Coco Martin and Mercedes Cabral.

Kinatay synopsis courtesy of Cannes

Sid Lucero // Cannes Film Festival 2009

neilstrauss23 — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:24:58 +0000

Sid Lucero and Raya Martin attended the Photocall of their movie ” Independencia” in which the film is included at Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard.

The story of mother and son in the late 1890s hding from the American invasion of the Philippines hiding out in the forest.And at the forest, the son met a girl and ended up having a child with her too. Set at the backdraft of 1890s setting.

Mother played by Techie Agbayani. Alessandra de Rossi ( Small Voices) played the girl and Sil Lucero ( Donsol, Batanes, Selda ” The Inmates”) played the son. Sid Lucero won the Best Actor from the film ” The Inmates” tied with Emilio Garcia in Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Check our trailers here: Independencia

Piolo Pascual // Cannes Film Festival 2009

neilstrauss23 — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:01:31 +0000

Last week the film ” Manila” had its premiere in Festival de Cannes. The film was part of the section Un Certain Regard. The film co produced by Piolo Pascual and Directed by Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix Jr.

It was shot in black and white and inspired by the work of the 2 most acclaimed filipino directors. ” Manila By Night” (1980) by Ishmael Bernal and ” “Jaguar” (1979) by Lino Brocka.

Manila

Directed by Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix Jr.

Cast: Allesandra de Rossi ( Small Voices, Independencia), Jay Manalo (Aishite Imasu: Mahal Kita 1941), Anita Linda ( Adela, Jaguar) and Jiro Manio (Magnifico, Tambolista). Ms. Rosanna Roses (Ang lalake sa Buhay ni Selya) and Jodi Sta Maria (Bagong Buwan), Baron Geisler (Jay) complete the cast.

More film details please click here. Manila

Coco Martin // Cannes Film Festival 2009

neilstrauss23 — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:38:46 +0000

From the top ( Coco Martin, Maria Isabel Lopez and Mercedes Cabral). This year second time in a row Brillante Mendoza through his film ” Kinatay: The Execution of P.” made again this year. Last year his film ” Serbis” also competes for the Palme D ‘Or in La Croisette in 2008

Coco Martin, Brillante’s fav actor in his films ( The Masseur, Serbis, Slingshot) and Mercedes Cabral posed in the Photocall for their films for Second consecutive year.

* My limelight.

Though the film Kinatay has good and bad reviews,I would say, no matter what, Cannes features films from all over the world to showcase new and aspiring talents and directors to showcase their craft. Whether you like it or not, there are no comparison, and its everyone’s view.

Russian Movies: Sokurov, Popogrebsky, Khlebnikov, Zvyagintsev

neilstrauss23 — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:43:18 +0000

Since Eurovision will be held in Moscow, Ive decided to give your the best Russian films, my favorites. From the top, Otets i syn by Alexander Sokurov. More feature here : Father and Son

Roads to Koktebel, directed Boris Khlebnikov & Alexei Popogrebsky

The Return ( Vozvrashcheniye) – Andrei Zvyagintsev

And these are the movies who stories are the relationship of father and son. I dedicate this to my late father, and also happy birthday.

Coco Martin films in Turin GLBT Film Festival 2009

neilstrauss23 — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:51:01 +0000

This year Turin GLBT film festival celebrates its 24th edition. If you want to see some of the BEST works in the GLBT community, here there are on parade.

This year Turin GLBT Film festival 2009 tagline is From Sodom to Hollywood. This year celebrate its 24th edition.

Films Featured here are:

Daybreak A married man is having an affair with another man. After some time apart, the two men spend a night together in a family vacation home in Taal Batangas. Together in such close quarters, the two are left with nothing to do but to confront the realities of their relationship.

Selda tells the story of Rommel, a young man who accidentally kills a boy, resulting in his incarceration. In prison, he befriends another inmate, Esteban, who becomes his rock and protector. Seven years later, Rommel is living in the province as a farmer together with Sita, his wife. Esteban tracks down Rommel in hopes of renewing a brewing love affair. Rommel and Sita welcome Esteban into their lives, until their intimacy crosses the limits. Selda is a sublime and disquieting portrait of a young man whose search for happiness, innocence and true love is laden with guilt and doubt.

Serbis : The Pineda family operates and lives in a run-down movie house which shows dated sexy double-feature films. As the rest of the members go about their daily activities, we get a glimpse of how they suffer and deal with each others sins and vices. Preoccupied with their personal demons, the family is unmindful that inside the movie theater, another kind of business is going on between hustlers and patrons.

Back in Turin at the “Da Sodoma a Hollywood” Glbt Film Festival, the Filipino director Auraeus Solito will present his new film (in world premiere)

Boy, which has already been in the heart of a dispute since it was censored at the last edition of the Singapore Film Festival. Solito is part of the international jury at the Festival in Turin (and also winner of the 2006 edition with The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros). His last feature tells the coming out story of a guy, who dreams to become a poet. He sells comics to afford a night out with Aries, who works in a night club, on New Year’s Day…

Infos courtesy of Turin GLBT festival site.

The Talented Mr. Ripley Scene Cover

neilstrauss23 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:02:59 +0000

I was browsing the net about my favorite film of all ” The Talented Mr. Ripley” and i stumble into this cover scene from the film. Re-edited by Tin-Yan Lee. The scene was really nice, from the music till the dialogues and objects represented from the film. You can see the icebox, the eye glasses, the pen, the postcards, the statue marbles.

Tin-Yan Lee also made a commercial of Kronenbourg 1664 beer. The actor was handsome but i don’t know his name. Tin also made Alice Dream, first short films made.

Another scene from the Talented Mr Ripley which i loves too was the ” Dark Room of the Past” where Tom Ripley visited Peter-Smith Kingsley and they played the piano and having a good dialogue.

“Don’t you just take the past, and put it in a room in the basement, and lock the door and never go in there? That’s what I do!” and then you meet someone special and all you wanna do is toss him the key, say, open up and step inside but you cant. Cause its dark and there are demons and if anybody saw how ugly it is..” ” If i had a giant eraser. and rub on everything starting myself… ”