Metro Manila

This year’s Oscar race for the Best Foreign Language Film category has never been this exciting for Filipinos. Aside from the Philippines’ official entry Transit, there is Singapore’s entry Ilo Ilo and also Great Britain’s Metro Manila. These two films produced abroad gained the special attention in here since both films had Filipinos and the Philippines figuring prominently in them. I was quite fortunate to be able to attend the special screening at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall that was hosted by the British Embassy, British Council Philippines and its partners. And it was indeed a very special affair for Sean Ellis, the director of the film himself was present along with his three main actors: Jake Macapagal, John Arcilla and Althea Vega.

John Arcilla and Sean Ellis

Metro Manila tells the story of Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal), a farmer from Banaue who goes to back to Manila to ensure a better future for his family. After a few initial setbacks, he eventually finds a job as an armored truck driver and is partnered with the veteran Douglas Ong (John Arcilla). With his new job, Oscar feels that the breaks are finally coming his way. But Ong, who isn’t what he seems to be, has other plans for him. Soon enough, Oscar finds himself in a worse position especially knowing that his wife Mai (Althea Vega), has to resort to working in a girly bar for them to make ends meet. The audience is left to wonder if Oscar can find his way out of the seemingly hopeless predicament he finds himself in. After a thrilling ride during the heist, the movie delivers a satisfying end although there is no happily ever after for all of the characters in the film.

Jake Macapagal and Althea Vega

The film was able to show Metro Manila as a character in itself complete with its quirky and shady characters like the pimp Charlie (Angelina Kanapi) and also its diverse landscape. I could almost feel and smell the pollution whenever the film showed scenes along Metro Manila roads. I did find it very amusing on how the Ramirez family ended up right in front of the Manila Pen (The Peninsula Manila) during one of their random strolls around the metro. They actually live in one of the tenements brimming with poor folk in Tondo which is quite far from Makati where the posh hotel is located. It is obvious and quite understandable that the inner workings of an armored truck company depicted in the film were fictitious since no company in their right frame of mind would ever divulge how they truly operate. But that didn’t hamper the excitement, the thrill and the anticipation when it came to the heist.

Althea Vega and Sean Ellis

It was only after the film when I realized that this was shot back in late 2010/early 2011. So it was no wonder that Althea’s acting was still raw, less textured and definitely more of a newbie in here compared to her more recent films like Amor y Muerte wherein she has shown vast improvement. John Arcilla was also in his element in this film. I wasn’t able to see through him and failed to see his real motives earlier on. The biggest surprise for me in this film was Jake Macapagal. I found out that he has done a lot of theater work but I couldn’t fathom why I haven’t seen him on stage before. I wondered if I was able to watch him before in any of his film/theater roles. I concluded that the roles that I’ve probably seen him portray before were either just supporting or completely unremarkable that he wasn’t able to make his mark. But Metro Manila is a different monster since I am pretty sure that everyone who has seen the film would definitely remember who Jake Macapagal is.

The special screening of Metro Manila is part of This is GREAT Britain, a five-month celebration of the best of British business and culture presented by the British Embassy Manila in cooperation with the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, British Council Philippines, British Alumni Association and Bonifacio Global City. The celebration culminates in The Great British Festival happening on March 7-9, 2014 at the Bonifacio High Street.