Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 Experience Part 3


The Closing Ceremony

All good things must come to an end and the second edition of Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now had to end as well. As expected, I wasn’t able to return to the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas after the opening of the festival due to a flurry of activities that happened during the week coupled with feeling indisposed. Fortunately, my schedule and health permitted me to catch the Closing Ceremony wherein they announced that Cesare deve morire/Caesar Must Die was the best film of the festival. The winning film was determined by the ballots filled up by the viewers who watched the seven contemporary Italian films featured in the festival. And a few of these lucky viewers won Ray-Ban sunglasses during the raffle. The ceremony also featured speeches by a pleased Dr. Piera Detassis and an emotional Vanessa Gravina who both were very satisfied by the success of the festival. Senator Goffredo Bettini also had a few words and assured the Filipino audience that Moviemov will be back again next year. Ambassador Luca Fornari then led a toast and Madame Silvana Novelli-Fornari led the distribution of the cake in which everyone inside the theater got to enjoy before viewing the film scheduled right after the ceremony.

Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 Best Film
Cesare deve morire/Caesar Must Die


Also present during the ceremonies were Italian actors Andrea Bosca, Alessio Gallo and Davide Iacopini. I found it very interesting that they even managed to visit some depressed areas during their brief stay here. I was able to ask Andrea Bosca if they had planned this visit even before they landed here. And he responded that he came from Los Angeles before arriving in Manila and had no idea whatsoever about the Philippines. And they only decided to visit those places when they got here already.

Andrea Bosca, Alessio Gallo and Davide Iacopini

Anac Ti Pating


The film Anac Ti Pating became part of the festival when it won the National Film Festival, Ikalawang Yugto that happened in Davao a week before Moviemov. This film, written and directed by Martin Masadao is a coming of age story of a young boy named Sixto Mangaoang. The film essentially shows one school year in the life of Sixto, a bright kid who excels in Math and English but is usually bullied because of his poor parents. The film has its shining moments like the brilliant acting of the actor who played Sixto, Deuel Raynon Ladia. Also impressive was Luchie Maranan who portrayed the role of Sixto’s mother, Mayette.

While the film had some great characterization, the plot left me a bit wanting. There were several subplots involving the supporting characters that didn’t get satisfying resolutions and/or were dropped altogether. The script could’ve been a lot tighter in my opinion. But then again, I have to consider that Anac Ti Pating is an independent film that probably didn’t even get a financial grant like those that are screened at the Cinemalaya. And that I should give the film a bit of leeway and not expect a highly polished one.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly


The film that officially closed Moviemov was the classic film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly which is part of the festival’s homage to film maker Sergio Leone. The movie, belonging to the genre Spaghetti Western played a huge role in sending Clint Eastwood into the Hollywood A-list. This film also has one of the most memorable movie themes ever courtesy of composer Ennio Morricone. The film starred Clint Eastwood as Blondie (the good), Lee van Cleef as Angel Eyes (the bad) and Eli Wallach (the ugly).

For a movie which is already more than four decades old, it still holds up nicely. The opening sequences were a bit hard to figure out since there wasn’t much dialogue in it. But once I got to know who the characters were and what their motivations are, it was smooth sailing from that point onwards. I marveled at how gorgeous the shots were and I felt the vastness and the desolation of the Wild West. And these wide shots were nicely contrasted and complemented by extreme close ups of the faces of the main characters.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a long film and I was hesitant to see it at first because of its length knowing that the screening would end up late at night. But I am glad that I decided to give it a go and was rewarded with a satisfying film viewing experience.

The Final Word

RAd at Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012

Once again, I wasn’t able to experience fully this year’s Moviemov. Just like last year, I was only able to watch three films: Cesare deve morire/Caesar Must Die (an Italian contemporary film), Anac Ti Pating (a Filipino film), and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (a Sergio Leone retrospective film). I also would’ve wanted to have a few words with Salvatore Striano but he had already left the country by the time that I managed to come back at the festival. I wasn’t also able to meet personally Dr. Piera Detassis, Vanessa Gravina and Jennifer Ulrich. I also wish that the Filipino celebrities from Star Magic who were at the opening cocktails took the time to watch the Italian films that were shown during the festival. Overall, despite only managing to watch just three films, I am still glad to have experienced Moviemov for the second year in a row. And since Sen. Bettini already confirmed that there will be third edition next year, it’s a surefire bet that I’ll be there as well. But it will be a bit sad knowing that Ambassador Luca Fornari and his wife Madame Silvana Novelli-Fornari will not be part of it anymore.

Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now 2012 was supported by the General Direction for Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, organized by the Embassy of Italy, Playtown, the Philippine-Italian AssociationRustan's, The Peninsula Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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