Thursday, June 26, 2008

Barako the Movie

Ipapalabas na pala ang Barako sa Robinson's Galleria (Cineme 8) mula July 9-15. Matagal ko na ito gustong mapanood kaya hindi ko ito palalampasin. Bukod sa email na natanggap ko mula kay Jun na kasama ko sa Batanueno.Net, ay nag-post din sya ng entry tungkol dito: Barako: The Movie

Tungkol saan ang Barako?

THE MOVIE. Barako is a haunting account of a young man’s attempt to effect change in his town by gathering his friends around a kapihan called “barakuhan”. In the absence of media, it effectively becomes a venue for the townsfolk to practice their democratic rights, colliding expectedly with the elite’s political and economic interests.

The movie starts glaringly with the American occupation of Batangas (early 1900) with the valiant Gen. Malvar (Archie Adamos) and another local hero, Mateo Ilustre (Manolito Sulit) plotting its defense. It then takes us to a seemingly restive yet impoverished Batangueño community 100 years later, taking shifting points of view of the people from the grassroots, drawing them initially around one central figure, an unnamed character labeled only as the Publicist (Publisista, played by Arnold Reyes) and later on, around yet another, Mando (Carlon Matobato)—referred to in the story (by the Publicist himself) as "ang tunay na barako".

BASED ON A TRUE STORY. “Barakuhan,” a public forum over a cup of coffee organized by the Publicist with other major characters (played by the likes of Nanding Josef, a veteran actor and CCP’s artistic director, and surprisingly, poets Mike Coroza and Vim Nadera) is in actual existence in Ibaan, Batangas from 2002-2005, remembered by the locals as one that decisively confronted a relatively unknown power outage that crippled the town for six weeks in 2003—which has also become part of the movie.

Other characters (most are also unnamed) include the Politician (Pulitiko, played by Leo Martinez) and his cohorts (Behn Cervantes, Dennis Marasigan, Tots Aguila, Arthur Casanova and Raul Funilas), plus a significant portrayal of the aging Publicist by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera .

WHAT THEY SAY. Barako has been described by no less than National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera as the only movie in current circulation that “completely” tackled Philippine politics. “Like Behn Cervantes’ Sakada in the Martial Law years,” he commented, “but more complete.”

Rhod Nuncio, in a review, wrote, “Manolito Sulit, the Filipino poet cum director and scriptwriter of this film envisions a criss-crossing of time, genre, form, and narrative to bring out a contemporary reading of local/national Filipino life.”

Barako earned the title “new Noli” from the viewers in its so-called Cinemalaya “world premiere” in July 24, 2007 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, taking into account some similarities with Rizal’s novel.[Source: Barakothemovie.com]

Sa amin sa Batangas, hindi laang daw kape ang barako. Pati daw mga tao. hehe!

5 comments:

  1. Mga kapatid na barako, ma-lalake ma-babae! Pasasalamat muna sa pinsang Jun sa pag-post ng tungkol sa pelikulang "Barako".

    Personal ko kayong inaanyayahang manood ng "Barako," isang historikal indie na sinulat, dinirek at prinodyus ko sa tulong nina Emman Pascual (co-director) at Warly Guerra (exec. producer) at ng National Commission for Culture and the Arts, sa darating na Hulyo 9-15 sa IndieSine (Cinema 8), Robinsons Galleria.

    Maipagmamalaki ninyo ito bilang kauna-unahang pelikulang full-length na Batangueño, na tumalakay nang buo sa takbo ng demokrasya at pulitika sa ating bansa, ayon sa isa pang maipagmamalaking Batangueño--National Artist for Literature, Bienvenido Lumbera(tubong Lipa).

    Bagama't mabigat ang tema, magaan ang atake sa pelikula sa pamamagitan ng paglalarawan ng pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan, at paghalaw ng istorya sa mga pangyayari sa isang munting bayan (na alam kong magiging pamilyar sa lahat ng nakakaalam).

    Hindi rin mawawalan ng pang-aliw sa mga manonood dahil sa karakter, kultura at wikang Batangueño na pinagsumikapang aralin ng mga artista sa pelikula.

    Sa kalahatan, marami kayong mapupulot sa kuwento. Ayon nga sa premyadong manunulat ng kuwento at pelikulang si Fanny Garcia, maraming sinasabi ang pelikulang ito tungkol sa ating lipunan. "Masasabi kong isa itong bagong Noli!" aniya.

    Magkita-kita tayo. Naroon ang karamihang miyembro ng produksyon sa unang gabi, Hulyo 9.

    Hanggang sa muli,

    MANOLITO CASTILLO SULIT
    (tubong Rosario ang Aguila-Castillo
    at Ibaan naman ang Caringal-Sulit)

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  2. Bienvenido Lumbers? Ito ba yung tatay ni Aya Lumbera na blogger? Naging kaibigan ko din kasi siya at naka-EB nung Dec. 2002 ata. May picture pa nga kami ng EB na yun e... about the same time that I first met Mecsy.

    Wow... small world! :)

    Musta na Apol? Gusto ko yung review sa movie. Isa sa iilang mga pelikula natin na may kabuluhan. Enjoy! :)

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  3. ang "barako" parang bold na pelikula ang dating, hihihi...

    oo, bastus ang isip ko, mwehehehehe

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  4. MEdyo malalim nga yung tema ng pelikula. Noong nanood ako, wala pa yata kaming 20 na nasa loob ng sinehan. Samantalang sa labas ng sinehan, ang haba ng pila para magpapirma ng FHM Magazine don sa isang sexy star. hehe!

    ReplyDelete