2 reviews
I saw this film at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2004.
When the film ended, I had confusing impression, but now, a week later, I give this film good rating - 8 of 10. There was a message in the beginning of the film, saying "In the Philippines, 41% of population is in poverty. This is the story of such people."
This film begins with shocking murderer scene, which I could not understand what actually happened - even now I don't know. Anyhow, it was why the brother of Basilio and Buhoy thought they could no longer live in the province of Leyte Island and decided to go to Manila. But in Manila, they could not find jobs and ended up settling at the breakwater facing Manila Bay.
Perhaps, even if I walk along the road besides the breakwater, I would not notice the world in the film. Everyone badly wants to flee from this misery life but can not. Even so, they give money without regret whenever their friends are in need. This film portrays life of the poor from the world only the poor can see.
In the film there are happenings beyond reality. In the last scene, in the province of Leyte, Basilio's son finds a letter his father threw in the Manila Bay with a bottle five years ago. This would never happen in real world, however, the message written on the letter has surely arrived to me.
When the film ended, I had confusing impression, but now, a week later, I give this film good rating - 8 of 10. There was a message in the beginning of the film, saying "In the Philippines, 41% of population is in poverty. This is the story of such people."
This film begins with shocking murderer scene, which I could not understand what actually happened - even now I don't know. Anyhow, it was why the brother of Basilio and Buhoy thought they could no longer live in the province of Leyte Island and decided to go to Manila. But in Manila, they could not find jobs and ended up settling at the breakwater facing Manila Bay.
Perhaps, even if I walk along the road besides the breakwater, I would not notice the world in the film. Everyone badly wants to flee from this misery life but can not. Even so, they give money without regret whenever their friends are in need. This film portrays life of the poor from the world only the poor can see.
In the film there are happenings beyond reality. In the last scene, in the province of Leyte, Basilio's son finds a letter his father threw in the Manila Bay with a bottle five years ago. This would never happen in real world, however, the message written on the letter has surely arrived to me.
i don't know if this flick is appropriately titled! the flick reflects a microcosm of Filipino diaspora. here we find 2 brothers who live in an island paradise who can live off the abundance of the sea, finds themselves living by Manila bay harbor which is a watery wasteland cum sewage disposal. scrapes for a living, falls in love with a prostitute harassed by a cripple who happens to be the 'don' of criminality! and both of the bros. die in the process, how anti climactic! meanwhile prostitute with baby in hand moves to the island where the two bros. come from. the movie also starts with some weird cult like characters which i don't know where it should really falls in the story. note to writer, you could have pulled the story without that chapter!
- einstein_moment
- Jan 23, 2007
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