A kid had to face the world in his own animated version and conquer life's biggest monster. ANI (The Harvest) It's as if a child's imagination is a safe haven, a place where the world is a playground for all the possibilities the mind could think of. And even the tight and humble space called home, situated on a busy Metro could not hinder the inquisitive headspace of a young Mithi (played by Zyren Dela Cruz), a boy who accomplishes the day by playing with his colorful toy robots that perform a vital role in his imaginary narrative. With a loving father and a mother that sings him a self-assuring lullaby, Mithi is blissfully unaware of the harsh reality. But life decided to toy with his fate, and Mithi's perfect little world is now showing its cracks, putting his vulnerability to the test and slowly depriving him of his happiness he thought would last forever. And through his eyes, the world suddenly transforms itself into a menacing monster. Set in a lush ...
"Metro Manila" Review - A Spellbound High-Stakes Drama
A father, along with his family from the mountain province, flee to the populous city of Manila in the hopes of finding a better living, blissfully unaware of the cut-throat demands that will demolish their unbending morale.
Metro Manila is a place where one can pursue various opportunities to possibly elevate their living conditions. It is also a place festered with multiple false promises, taking advantage of unaware preys, devouring their innocence. This very factor is what drives our fellow countrymen to flee from their hometown to the mega city, with some being successful at their career, and some scrounging in desperation just to see another light of day.
This aspect inspired British director Sean Ellis, famous for his movies The Brokenand Cashback, to write, direct and produce the 2013 British-funded film, Metro Manila. The story follows an impoverished family from Banaue, Ifugao who moved to the busy and treacherous streets of Manila to gamble their chances of a better life.
With no time wasted, Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal), the persistent and righteous father, together with his wife and two kids, walked their way out into the city, briefly fazed by the intimidating tall buildings, excessively loud honking from city buses, and the semi-industrialized streets of Manila, to look for a quick-paying job.
Later on, they found themselves settling in the slums of Tondo while Oscar is still looking for a career opportunity. He luckily secured a job as a security officer for armored couriers and in there he met his senior and soon-to-be partner Ong (John Arcilla), who at first grilled his intentions before his up-and-coming interview. Under Ong's tutelage, Oscar quickly learns the ins and outs of his newfound career.
Ong, with his seasoned experiences, taught Oscar some hard-earned lessons from a tragic past that molded his tarnished perspective about the reality of living. Oscar's wife also managed to find a job as a performer in a strip club, where she was forced to do sexual deeds in desperation of earning money. As the story builds, a well-planned heist comes into play, which Oscar became involuntarily a part of and will push him and his family to the edge.
The Good
This film is an example of prime excellence in cinematography. The creative visionary of Sean Ellis became evident as he successfully managed to highlight the beauty of its setting, from the artistic shots at the provincial life of Ifugao province to the tamed environments of the Rice Terraces. The film also brings an honest perspective at poverty and the effects of it to the people dented by its unmerciful teeth.
The score is magnificent as it resonates the intimidating and suspenseful tone of the film. I also appreciate the subtle symbolism of the film, like that one scene where Oscar's daughter saw a cat fending for her newly born, a mirrored comparison to her parents' struggles and also a scene where Oscar saw a dove traversing at a low altitude symbolizing her wife who fell victim into prostitution.
The impeccable acting prowess of Jake Macapagal and the intimidating performance of John Arcilla is the highlight of the film. The back-and-forth banter between the two is effective as they both displayed their moral contradictions in a manner that is believable and relatable. The scrupulosity of the storytelling helps the film build an unrelenting suspense through and through, complemented by a a solid script to represent interpersonal relationships among its characters.
The Bad
I'm a bit nitpicking, but the film did fell for an obvious display of product advertisement at the beginning, which always took me out of any movies and was a bit distracting at one point. I also thought Althea Vega's (the wife) delivery of some of her lines was quite phonetically amateurish, as if she was just a random person reading a script rather than being that character. It's not that bad but I think it's kind of noticeable.
Should You Watch It? Metro Manila is a thriller film with a well-structured heist build-up and a compelling interpersonal cop drama, elevated by thematic nuances to convey a societal conundrum that is bold and realistic. Definitely a must-watch.
Comments
Post a Comment