Triangle of Sadness: Movie Review

"Triangle of Sadness" is divided into three acts.

The first act focuses on two model couples, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean). The two are engaged in a "transactional" relationship to increase their respective social media influence. Although both of them admit that they liked each other for real, it is not smooth sailing. They still fight over petty things such as their dinner bill, which quickly spirals into heated discussions about gender roles.

The next act sees Carl and Yaya aboard a fancy ship with an always drunk shipmaster (Woody Harrelson). Along with them are an uber-rich yet dysfunctional group of entrepreneurs. Paula (Vicky Berlin), the strict head of staff of the mega yacht, wants to make a good impression and maybe get paid more, so she tells her people to always do whatever the guests ask. They were cruising through a heavy storm, and after a series of unfortunate events, the boat immediately fell into chaos until it capsized.

The last act happens on an unidentified island. The story now follows a ship worker named Abigail (Dolly De Leon) as she tends to the needs of the surviving guests, including Carl and Yaya. After realizing that she was the only person capable of living on the deserted island, she decided to reverse the tide and leverage her power over them.

Plan 75: Movie Review

Due to the growing opposition to elderly people in Japan, the government created a program called "Plan 75." Its goal is to make it easier for seniors aged 75 or older to kick the bucket. Even though it appears harsh and unethical, which it is, Chie Hiyakawa's vision of the future makes it all seem reasonable.

"Plan 75" is about three interconnected stories.

Michi (Baishô Chieko) is already 78 years old. Since losing her job and her apartment, she’s been trying to find a way to keep living. It is not like she can’t work anymore; people are just uninterested in entertaining her because of her age. The pressure of life soon finds her, and at one point it seems like volunteering to sign up for Plan 75 for a small compensation makes sense. She then befriends a young call center agent named Yoko (Yuumi Kawai) who helped her come into terms with her mortality.

A processing agent of the program, Hiromu (Hayato Isomura), has a very interesting encounter during one of his shifts. His widowed uncle Yukio (Takao Taka) signed up for the program for unknown reasons. He’s probably lived a good life and is ready to go, but Hiromu is still curious about it. So he pays him a visit often, and during their times together, he realized one thing: he must convince him not to push through with his decision.

Meanwhile, Filipino nurse Maria (Stefanie Arianne Akashi) is unable to provide for her daughter's surgery. One day, a co-church member offered her a job in the Plan 75 program. The compensation is good, but the work requires medical expertise and a strong heart.

These three characters will eventually cross paths, an encounter will change how one views life and death.

Return to Seoul: Movie Review

Freddie (Ji-Min Park) may look Korean, but she’s French. Well, technically, she is Korean; she was born there. But during the end of the Korean War, her parents had to put her up for adoption to survive. It was probably the most earnest thing they could do for her back then.

One look at Freddie shows that it doesn’t look like she had a hard time adjusting to life in France. She's well off. Her adoptive parents loved her. And she could be anyone's friend with her charisma and appeal. In fact, she quickly befriends Tena (Guka Han), a shy hotel worker who eventually becomes her translator and confidante. For sure, if Freddie wants something, she can easily get it.

Freddie’s detour to Seoul is both nonsensical and unexpected. She’s never really been interested in the culture, as evident by her neglecting their customs. She doesn’t speak Korean and has no intention to sightsee or learn about its history. Until someone suggests she look for her parents. Near the place she’s staying is a popular adoption center, she could start there. Even though she is reluctant, her headstrong personality and curiosity get the best of her, leading her to make the decision that will change her life forever.

Autobiography: Movie Review

The towering General Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara) comes back home after retiring from office; his housekeeper Rakib (Kevin Ardilova) welcomes him and immediately accedes to his requests. Rakib’s family has been in service to the general for four generations, and they are expected to follow him around.

General Purna wants to run for mayor of the region. Naturally, Rakib helps out during the campaign, acting as the old man’s driver, assistant, and confidant. He looks on in wonder as the old man plays his pieces so that he can easily command the people around him.

During a town meeting, a young man named Agus (Yusuf Mahardika) pleads for the consideration of the general to stop the construction of one of his projects that will surely put their farmland and livelihood on the line. Purna ridiculed the request. Rakib silently observes as he starts to notice that something is definitely wrong with his boss.

With his father in jail and his brother abroad, Rakib has no other choice but to stay with the general. Purna eventually warms up to him, and they form a father-son bond. He took him under his wing and taught him valuable lessons in dealing with people. He sheltered him, fed him, dressed him, and played chess with him. Rakib starts to see the old man in a new light, and he’s easily drawn in by his apparent kindness.

Inspired by the general’s teachings, Rakib pays a visit to Agus. He convinced him to apologize for standing up against the general, and together they dropped by the old man’s mansion. It turns out that General Purna is far from the sympathetic person he appears to be in front of Rakib. He’s a terrifying man. A predator. And he just lured the prey into his territory.

12 Weeks: Movie Review

"My body, my decision."

Alice (Max Eigenmann) said this line over and over again to people around her as they became more persistent in convincing her to stop the abortion.

Alice is 40 years old; she struggles to balance her responsibility as the team leader of their humanitarian mission in Marawi with her delicate pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Ben (Vance Larena), is a carefree and alcoholic young man without any stable job. Even more so, he’s abusive and manipulative. Alice is right to break up with him, but he always comes back with sweet words and gestures, and she gives in again and again.

Of course, her concerned best friend Lorna (Claudia Enriquez) is not totally on board with all of her decisions. But she understands her, and she always extends a helping hand every time she needs it. In fact, she’s the one who recommended the abortion facility.

Words about Alice’s intent to abort her child quickly spread like wildfire. Her mom (Bing Pimentel) criticized her decision, but she has certain reservations about it. On the other hand, Ben continually bugs her to be involved in her pregnancy despite her repeated refusal.

Alice starts to doubt her decision with so many people having different thoughts on the situation and forcing their own beliefs on her. As time goes on, she will need to make a choice. Will she keep the baby or not?

QCShorts 2022 Competition: Movie Review

QCinema International Film Festival is back and its in10es! With it its 10th edition, the festival will showcase 58 films from all over the globe. Part of it's main competition are compelling short stories of various themes of change, acceptance, love, and longing. Here are the 6 shorts competing in the QCShorts category:

Elehiya: Movie Review

Arriving at a port, Dr. Celine de Miranda (Cherie Gil) comes out holding a big box on top of all the luggage she already has. Inside is an urn holding the ashes of her late husband, Paeng. Before his death, his final wish was to scatter his ashes on the island that he loved and lived on. Even though their relationship isn’t really great, since Celine decided to go abroad, she still honored his request.

Now on the island, Dr. Celine gets welcomed by their villa caretaker Basyon (Erlinda Villalobos), her daughter Vilma (Sue Prado), and grandson Jasper (Ross Pesigan). The family lived in the house for such a long time, and they are concerned that the de Mirandas will sell it due to Paeng’s passing. Contrastingly, Dr. Celine has no love for the house. She knows that Paeng’s cousin, Sergio (Miguel Faustmann), is already engaged in conversations about it, and all she wants is her cut of the deal. She doesn’t really care about the fate of the people there.

Until one day, Dr. Celine uncovers a secret in one of the house’s rooms that will change her mind about the house and the family.

QCShorts Competition

The QCinema International Film Festival, now in its ninth year, returns with a hybrid edition from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5, featuring theatrical screenings at Gateway Cineplex 10 and online streaming via KTX.ph.

QCinema will feature two Shorts programs this year: QCShorts and Asian Shorts.

Here is my capsule reviews on the 6 short films competing in this year's QCShorts Competition:

Hintayan ng Langit — Movie Review

Dan Villegas’s not-so-typical love story is about letting go, moving on, and finding closure.

"Hintayan ng Langit" (or Heaven's Waiting) is set in a place called "The Middle," a hotel-turned-way-station for souls awaiting their clearance to go to heaven.

The film follows Lisang (Gina Pareño), a stubborn and grumpy old woman who has lived in "The Middle" for two years already. For some reason, heaven is not opening its doors for her yet. However, she claims that her husband is already petitioning for her. 

In the meantime, she spends her time working on different community projects.

One day, a surge of new souls entered "The Middle," and one of them was Manolo (Eddie Garcia), a charming, level-headed, and nice old man.

Since almost all of the rooms in the place are full, the Tagasuri (Joel Saracho) decided to temporarily let him stay with Lisang.

As it turns out, Manolo and Lisang are ex-lovers. The two parted ways without closure a long time ago. Now they both have their own respective families, though the wounds from that relationship never healed.

As the two spend their time together, they bicker and tease each other. But most of the time they found themselves reminiscing about the love they have lost, the lives they have built, and the "what ifs" of their relationship.