After the typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) wreaks havoc on Tacloban, Miguel (Daniel Padilla) finds himself all alone. He lost his girlfriend, Andrea (Rans Rifol), and mother, Norma (Charo Santos-Concio), during the storm. And he seems ready to give up on the hope of ever finding them.
Until Andrea shows up from nowhere. Along with her arrival is news of an incoming storm and a boat heading to Manila, docking near Tacloban port. She plans to board it and find a job as an entertainer in the big city. Miguel is convinced that it’s an opportunity for him as well. But he wants his mother to come with them too.
So they traverse the dilapidated apartment and witness odd behaviors from its tenants, like a woman dressing up her kids as saints.
Eventually, they find Norma. But unlike Andrea, she’s not enthusiastic about leaving Tacloban. At least not without first reconciling with her estranged husband.
With the impending storm, Miguel must make a choice: will he leave or will he stay?
"Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" is Carlo Francisco Manatad’s first feature film, and it compels you to watch it for its brilliant set design, surrealism, and lead performances.
Carlo Francisco Manatad is not a stranger to surreal cinema. His films "Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25" and "Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month" contain absurd and weird scenes that implicitly tell a deep story while critiquing society’s stringent ideals. The same can be said with "Kun Maupay Man It Panahon," which has thought-provoking commentaries underneath the unusual plot structure and outlandish imagery. Take, for example, the Astrodome scene in the film, which is an insinuation of the poor government response and their attempt to "happy-wash" the tragedy.
As for the performances, they are all, unsurprisingly, good. Charo Santos-Concio and Daniel Padilla delivered everything that was expected of them. But there’s someone who exceeded all expectations. It’s none other than the newcomer, Rans Rifol. Rans, a former member of the Filipino idol group MNL48, showed that she can act as well as sing. She guided her character to move and morph fluidly into the situation. And due to her natural appeal, it’s easy to feel empathetic towards her.
"Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" deserves to be watched. It's a completely different take on the disaster, which is usually tackled in straightforward, emotional, and dramatic ways. The film separates itself from others with its depiction of the eventual catharsis in tribulation and its strong opinions on our idea of resiliency, hope, and survival.
4/5
