Ded Na si Lolo

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RP Oscar Foreign Language Film bet fails to make the cut

Posted by Norman on January 22, 2010
Posted in: 6 The Movie Corner. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Another one bites the dust…that is…for the Oscar Foreign Language film derby. With all the countries submitting their respective entries to this category, just making it to the short list of movies that will eventually fight for the Top 5 nomination slots is already an achievement. Unfortunately, the Philippine submission – “Ded Na si Lolo” (Grandfather is Dead) – failed to slip past through the first cut and will just be happy thanking the screening committee for the opportunity. Every year, the competition has been extremely tough and going head-to-head with entries from perenially-nominated countries like Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and even China makes it even more of an uphill battle for smaller nations (like the Philippines) which hope to be the token surprise nominee.

So what gives? Methinks commercial viability, on top of strong technical and cinematic merits, is given strong consideration by the panel in-charge of selecting the 5 nominees. Not that Philippine movies are the least qualified to make it. Given the strong performance of local indie movies in foreign film festivals, there is no question at all in terms of qualifications. I believe it is important as well for a movie to have a decent chance of commercial appeal once exhibited in the multiplexes or art houses. Still, there is no 100% guarantee.

Just when everyone thought Spain's Broken Embraces will make the cut, it didn't.

Take for example the Spanish movie “Broken Embraces” by Almodovar and starring the beautiful and talented Penelope Cruz. It already enjoyed a long-enough commercial exhibition – albeit on a limited run – in the US market. And having been recently nominated in the counterpart category in the Golden Globe Awards further boosts its chances of increasing its earnings at the box-office. For these reasons alone, it is a shoo-in for one of the 5 nominees’ slots come Oscar night. But as things actually turned out to be, it joined “Ded na si Lolo” in the losers’ bracket and only the following 9 movies are still in the running:

1. El Secreto de sus Ojos from Argentina
2. Samson and Delilah from Australia
3. The World is Big and Salvation is right around the Corner from Bulgaria
4. Un Prophete from France
5. The White Ribbon from Germany (Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Language Film)
6. Ajami from Israel
7. Kelin from Kazakhstan
8. Winter in Wartime from the Netherlands
9. The Milk of Sorrow from Peru

Looks like Germany's "The White Ribbon" could take it all this year.

The Oscar Foreign Language race proves to be a tougher nut to crack. And from the remaining contenders, I can’t even hazard a guess on which 5 will finally make it and which of the eventual 5 will win. From the looks of it, “The White Ribbon” from Germany could be on a roll. But it won’t be easy to make an absolute prediction because this category is, language-barrier notwithstanding, kind of hard to translate into an easy win.

Anyways, I still congratulate Director Soxie Topacio for making it as the Philippine entry. This is one of the few times – if not the first – that a comedy was sent to compete. Onward to 2011 then!

“Ded Na Si Lolo” is RP bet to the Oscars

Posted by Norman on September 23, 2009
Posted in: 6 The Movie Corner. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

In a personally surprising decision made by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Oscar Committee, APT Entertainment’s “Ded Na Si Lolo” (Grandfather is Dead) was picked to represent the Philippines in the Foreign Language Film derby of the Oscars slated for the 1st quarter of next year. It outvoted other local films shortlisted for consideration such as the curiously-titled-for-comparison “Lola” (Grandmother) by Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza, Maryo delos Reyes’ “Kamoteng Kahoy” (Sweet Potato), Mark Meily’s “Baler“, Francis Pasion’s “Jay”, Mel Chionglo’s “Bente” (Twenty), Chris Martinez’ “100” and Ronaldo Bertubin’s “Last Viewing.”

"Ded Na Si Lolo" directed by Soxie Topacio

"Ded Na Si Lolo" directed by Soxie Topacio

The Soxie Topacio-written and directed flick is a comedy about a hilariously dysfunctional family dealing with the death of their father (grandfather to the son of one of the siblings) and all the odd Filipino practices and superstitions that go with the 6-day wake and burial. It stars Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa, Roderick Paulate, Manilyn Reynes, Rainier Castillo, Dick Israel, Perla Bautista and BJ Forbes as the grandson who doubled as the narrator and whose character uttered the title. It was part of the Sine Direk series which was commercially exhibited on a limited one-week run a few months back.

Here is the official trailer of “Ded Na Si Lolo“:


video courtesy of YouTube/mhaye97

Director Soxie Topacio was both tense and amused when his film was selected by the FAP. He admitted that he initially rushed completion of the script (so he can comply with the requirements of DGPI – Directors’ Guild of the Philippines – for the Sine Direk series) before principal photography started. He also added that the shoot was such a breeze since everyone had fun while doing the same.

Here’s wishing that “Ded Na Si Lolo” achieves what its predecessors failed to do, i.e., make it to the Top 5 (or at least the pre-final shortlist) of the Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Award.

The Attack of the Pinoy Indies / Part 1

Posted by Norman on July 27, 2009
Posted in: 6 The Movie Corner. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

The Philippine Indie Film scene has never had it so good. For the past number of years, it has grown in leaps and bounds and not without a worthy purpose. The country used to have one of the biggest film industries in Asia but has significantly lagged behind in the late 90s to the present that, as a result, a large chunk of movie stars have resorted to appearing in television to sustain their income. But things are looking up. Pinoy Indie movies are starting to break into the global market in a steadily progressive way. And at the rate these small filmmakers are churning out films left and right – and winning awards and recognitions in film festivals around the world – there is hope.

A scene from Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay

A scene from Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay

2009 is a significant year for Pinoy Indie Films. Last May, Brillante Mendoza graduated into the big time after claiming the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for his competition film “Kinatay” (Butchered). It is also worth noting that two other homegrown flicks – Raya Martin’s Independencia and Manila by Adolfo Alix & Raya Martin – were shown in the Un Certain Regard and Special Screening sections, respectively.

There is also a sextet of mainstream film directors who released their individual foray into indie filmmaking under the Sine Direk Masterworks series. The line-up includes Joel Lamangan’s Fuschia, Soxie Topacio’s Ded Na Si Lolo (Grandfather is Dead), Lore Reyes’ Litsonero (The Roaster), Peque Gallaga’s Agaton & Mindy, Maryo delos Reyes’ Kamoteng Kahoy (Sweet Potato) and Mel Chionglo’s Bente (Twenty). Four of the movies were rated A by the FRB (Film Ratings Board), with Litsonero getting a B.

Kamoteng Kahoy by Maryo delos Reyes

Kamoteng Kahoy by Maryo delos Reyes

Agaton & Mindy by Peque Gallaga

Agaton & Mindy by Peque Gallaga

Litsonero by Lore Reyes

Litsonero by Lore Reyes

Bente by Mel Chionglo

Bente by Mel Chionglo

Any of the six movies in the series can very easily qualify for international film festivals, with Kamoteng Kahoy and Bente possibly getting an award or two for acting. In particular, child performers Robert “Buboy” Villar and Nash Aguas are shoo-ins to become festival darlings should Kamoteng Kahoy compete abroad.

I hope people patronized these works (instead of complaining that all local indie films are always gay-themed) during their limited commercial run (one-week for each movie) because this is the only way the industry can survive. I was able to catch four (with corresponding images above) and I doff my hat to these directors.

In Part 2 of this blog, I will be writing about the recently-concluded Cinemalaya Cinco which harvested an even larger collection of excellent indie movies for everyone to enjoy.