Arlo Jayson C.

Sabuito
06581

2012A Brief History of Philippine Cinema

Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! Nasa puso nating lahat!
Who doesnt know this line? This movie, no, this artifact was created, praised,
treasured, remastered and honored. This is a tool served as a constant reminder to
us that Filipino cinema isnt all, contextually speaking, bakya. But first we must
understand and know history for from the mistakes and the success of the past
breeds anew.
Philippine cinema started with scenes in daily lives in its first few years during
the early 19th century but was ignited in as early as 1897 when foreign
entrepreneurs introduce films about the western. The 1920s gave birth to some
well known names like Manuel Silos and Carlos Vander Tolosa. It was also the birth
of Film sound and a dominating characteristic of our cinema until this very day and
the years to come, the Star System. Corporations like Sampaguita produce a great
number of films in 1930s. World War II came and changed the course of films and a
new genre emerged. During the war, stocks were used up and the Japanese
introduced films made for propaganda. After that was the 1950s when film became
a factory and films that were came to be known as bakya rose but despite this, it
was the golden age of cinema for names like Gerardo de Leon, Manuel Silos and the
likes but it quickly went down in 1960s because of labor problems and was known
as the dark age. In 1972, Martial law was implemented and Marcos tried to control
film making by censoring but at the same time, keeping it in good terms with the
public. Films were propagandist in nature but there are also defiant especially after
Ninoy Aquinos assassination. From 1980 up to now, the film industry which was
predicted to be dead by now continues to flourish in both the Indi and the
mainstream fields.
In 2005, dir. Auraeus Solito created the award winning film that got the
title Best Filipino Film of the Decade Gawad Urian Award, Ang Pagdadalaga ni
Maximo Oliveros. When we here Indi film, we have this notion that it tackles
sensitive issues or the harsh reality of life which is usually its nature since it
embarked its existence in this way. At first thought, it will be easily misjudged to
be a story entirely focused on the issues of homosexuality by the title but
although it is present, its not the main factor. The film can be viewed as a the
other side of the issue where homosexuality is accepted and valued but the
rising conflict is about the boys innocence, twisted and attuned to the bitter
way of living until his maturity or rather his affection opened his eyes. This
theme is undoubtedly attributed to films that dates back in the tenth period of
Filipino cinema when martial law was declared wherein films that emphasizes
poverty are dominant due to the opposition against Marcos rule. Aesthetically,

the film was well made when it comes to capturing the real state of the walk of
life its trying to portray and its ending was the best one Ive seen so far but
very abrupt at the same time, like just to push through a good ending. The script
was good although some parts were not believable at some point like how the
cop carried the protagonist all the way with the sole purpose of being friendly.
Overall, I think its a great film but somehow lacking in some areas.