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.
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.
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.
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.
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