I was not a big fan of
Brillante Mendoza's earlier works. But the last two films — Captive with French actress Isabelle
Huppert and Thy Womb with Nora Aunor
(both competed in film festivals abroad and won) — piqued an admiration for his
talent.
I attended the screening
of Thy Womb that Mendoza conducted
for the press at his Centerstage Productions Inc office recently, and found a
truly moving movie, to say the least.
Thy Womb
is about a childless couple living in the heart of Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao. Though
the setting was not Mendoza's original choice, when he visited the place during
an ocular inspection, he immediately fell in love with it and the community of
Badjaos living in it. The film successfully captures the beauty of a place that
is probably not well known to and explored by other Filipinos.
Its cinematography is an
aspect that people should watch out for as opposed to the other
commercially-driven flicks that are also in the upcoming Metro Manila Film
Festival. Brillante is indeed a master with his manipulation of the camera lens
— presenting a story about a place most Filipinos have not thought of visiting
because of misconceptions.
The Badjaos, an indigenous
ethnic group dubbed "sea gypsies" for their seaborne lifestyle, are a
peace-loving people. It is in the middle of the Badjao community that the story
of Thy Womb unfolds: A woman marries a man for whom she is willing to do
everything — just to make him happy, even to the extent that she allows him to
have a second wife (culturally allowed in their community).
Nora Aunor as Shaleha
perfectly plays the role of a barren wife to Bembol Roco’s Bangas-an. Only an actress of Aunor's
caliber can pull off the struggles of an infertile wife who also has to be the
midwife to Mersila (Lovi Poe), Bangas-an's second wife. The scene where she
carries the newborn baby is moving. If only for this scene alone, there is no
doubt that Nora Aunor is the top contender for the MMFF Best Actress trophy.
As a storyteller,
Brillante is always clever with using metaphors. Thy Womb has several
heart-wrenching scenes featuring the finest talents in Philippine cinema,
including the beautiful Mercedes Cabral in a cameo role.
While the plot’s
development is a bit dragging, as soon as it hits the high notes with its
dramatic parts, it successfully sustains the momentum, keeping the moviegoers
glued until the heart-breaking end. (JUDE CARTALABA, Rappler)
No comments:
Post a Comment