Philippine Asian News Today Vol 18 No 18 | Page 32

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MOVIE REVIEWS

PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY September 16 - 30, 2016

Glory (PG ) ***

By Alan Samuel
By Alan Samuel

Finder’s Keepers!
Greed and mix-ups wreck havoc on a number of individuals in Glory. Part of this year’s
Vancouver Film Festival this quaint little adventure from Bulgaria scores well in the originality
department.
Timely and topical Glory revolves around a missed opportunity. Good news travels fast.
So when a hobo of a man working on the rail lines comes upon some forsaken cash it sets off
a frenzy InThe community. Always looking for a good story this act by a Good Samaritan has
popularity and populism written all over it. Leave it to a conniving television producer to track
down the noble one to get the scoop,
Quickly things spiral out of control and the fun begins. Like most of us this country bumpkin is not quite ready for prime time. Caught like a deer in the headlights what could have been
an all round feel good story gets bogged down in government bureaucracy and corporate red
tape and, in the process uncovering lots of deep dark secret .
Well acted this unconventional cultural gem could apply to any nation and ethnicity and
features solid acting in a fresh and lively round of somewhat dubious intentions gone astray,
Showtimes:
Sept 30. 4:15 pm
International Village Cinemas
Oct. 9.
6:00 pm. International Village Cinemas
Oct. 14. 11:00 am. SFU Goldcorp Theatre
Running time: 98 minutes

The Trap

One thing the Vancouver Film Festival does is open an eye to the film. Unconventional
foreign films can connect with discerning open-minded audiences. That quest for discovery is on
tap with The Trap. Here a simple life reveals all sorts of truths about family and success.
Wonderful performances that are free flowing and genuine show the special bond between
a loving grandfather and young boy. Together the two live in a remote village in Indiaand the old
man makes a living raising ducks. Poor yet happy the family knows the boy’s desire to learn and
the young lad attends a school where he befriends a richer boy.
That new bond is out to the test as friction develops between the families. As illness hits home
the boy becomes orphaned and efforts are made to continue with his education. What follows is
a tale of despair as to survive the child is placed in a new school where the hard lessons of greed
and hope are dashed with catastrophe results.
Hard hitting The Trap takes on some tough issues including the scourge of child labour. It
will open your eyes.

Higher Learning!

Showtimes:
Sept. 30.
6:30 PM. International Village Theatre
Oct. 4.
10:45 AM International Village Theatre
Running time: 81 minutes

Golden Lion awardee film, now showing nationwide…
FILIPINO DIRECTORS AND ACTORS SUPPORT
“ANG BABAENG HUMAYO” PREMIERE
Philippine movie industry’s
respected directors and actors
gathered to support the premiere
night of Lav Diaz’s newest film
“Ang Babaeng Humayo” held
last Tuesday (Sep 27) at the UP
Town Center.
Led by ABS-CBN chief
content officer and actress Charo Santos, the premiere of Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion
award-winning film was attended
by directors Mae Cruz-Alviar, Don
Cuaresma, Brillante Mendoza,
Mac Alejandre, Mel Chionglo,
and Olivia Lamasan, scriptwriter
Ricky Lee, and Star Creatives
COO Malou Santos.
Kapamilya stars Kaye Abad,
Nikki Valdez, Bea Alonzo, Iza Calzado, Pokwang, McCoy De Leon,
and Ellise Joson also graced the
event and showed their support
for the movie.
“’Ang Babaeng Humayo’ is
a film experience you shouldn’t
miss. Our generation is fortunate
to experience Director Lav Diaz’s

art. Hats off to Ms. Charo Santos.
What a comeback!” said director
Mae Cruz-Alviar on her Instagram
post.
“Congratulations Ma’am
Charo for your brilliant performance in the movie! It is not an
easy task to carry a four-hour
film but you did it so effortlessly. Amazing performances
from John Lloyd Cruz, Nonie
Buencamino, Michael De Mesa,
Shamaine Buencamino, Cacai
Bautista, and everyone else in
the cast. Lastly, congratulations
to Lav Diaz. It is my first time to
watch your work in its entirety.
No wonder you’ve been winning
all these awards. Mabuhay Ang
pelikulang Pilipino,” said Iza also
on her Instagram account.
“It was brilliant. They were
all excellent. Engaging,” Bea
quipped.
“Ang Babaeng Humayo,”
with the international title “The
Woman Who Left,” tells the story
of Horacia (Charo Santos), a

woman seeking revenge after being imprisoned for decades for a
crime she didn’t commit.
In her guesting on morning show “Magandang Buhay”
recently, Charo shared how
she prepared for her role in her
much-awaited comeback movie.
“I went to the correctional
(institution) for women. I interviewed a few inmates there so
that I know what it feels like for
a person to be imprisoned and
how it feels like when your whole
life stops. I also disguised myself
here as a tomboy so I also studied how to do that,” she said.
Charo added that it was a
nostalgic journey for her since
the movie was mostly shot in her
hometown, Calapan, Mindoro.
“Ang Babaeng Humayo,”
produced by ABS-CBN’s Cinema One Originals and Lav Diaz’
Sine Olivia, is distributed by Star
Cinema. The movie opens in cinemas nationwide today.(abs-cbn.
com)

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