Every once in a while, an animated feature finds itself a part of a film festival lineup. It started back in 2008 when the first all-digital full-length animated feature film "Dayo" premiered at the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival. A few years later, "RPG Metanoia" and "Saving Sally" debut at the 36th and 42nd edition respectively. Director Carl Joseph Papa continues to celebrate Filipino-produced animated movies with “Paglisan,” which premieres at the 2018 C1 Originals.
"Paglisan" garnered success despite being the most peculiar from the lineup. At the I Am Original Awards Night the movie bagged Best Picture, Best Sound for Jess Carlos, Best Music for Teresa Barrozo, Best Screenplay for Carl Papa and Aica Ganhinhin, and the Champion Bughaw Award.
If follows the crumbling marriage of Crisanto (Ian Veneracion) and Dolores (Eula Valdez) who suffer from Alzheimer's and depression respectively. "Paglisan" chronicles the love the couple shares despite the challenges they are facing.
At first “Paglisan" appears to be an incomplete film. The color, the sketch, and the audio look and sound so chaotic and disarray. The treatment seems to limit the movie in narrating its story. But everything starts to make sense halfway. The messy animation is a reflection of the waning marriage of the couple. It also represents the deteriorating memory of Crisanto and the worsening mental condition of Dolores. The animation is used in such virtuoso, it becomes a mirror of the disposition of the characters. A marriage of form and story.
“Paglisan” is a movie too genuine not to adore. Yes, it is ambitious but it has the right to be. It's well-written accompanied by beautifully composed songs and outstanding performances from Veneracion and Valdez. Director Carl Papa cleverly uses a combination of audio and visual to immerse us into the story.
To say it simply, this movie is just unforgettable because it's beautifully-crafted, heartfelt, and sincere. It's a movie that is firmly connected to its emotional core. I highly recommend checking "Paglisan" out.
5/5
