An exclusive online screening of Kuya Noy by Daniel Binsted kicked off the 16th Israeli Film Festival, presented by the Embassy of Israel in Manila in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The documentary centers on Mike "Kuya Noy" Pillora Jr., one of the founders of the legendary folk band ASIN, who has since migrated to Israel around 15 years ago.
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| Mike "Kuya Noy" Pillora |
The years Noy has had living in Israel have not been easy for him. The toll the move had on him caused the break up of his family and he ends up living in the slums of Tel-Aviv giving massages in order to get by. But things begin to turn around for Noy when he embarks on a music comeback trail in Israel and then sets out for a bigger mission, to go back to the Philippines and reunite ASIN back on stage.
The documentary sees a more mellow, vulnerable, and sometimes defeated, older Noy which is a great contrast to the confident, defiant, and stubborn youth during ASIN's heyday as shown through archived footage and photographs. It also strived to give some answers to the lingering questions about ASIN's break up with Pendong Aban providing his version on Noy's expulsion from the group.
Aside from his musical endeavors, the documentary also sheds light on Noy trying to forge a stronger bond with his daughter who is also at a crossroads on whether to enlist in the military or to delay it to pursue dance. Noy candidly admits that he is a flop as a father which is just one of the frank admissions he has in the documentary.
He also confesses that he has never considered Israel as his home and that he has been through a rough patch since moving to Israel. This resonated with filmmaker Daniel Binsted who mentioned during an online conference that this mirrored the experience of his father who also migrated to Israel and yet didn't fully assimilated to the society.
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| Director Daniel Binsted |
Binsted also recalled that he came to know about Noy through the grapevine, when a friend of a friend told him about this mysterious foreigner in his class. Curiosity beckoned and Noy became a subject of their inquiries. This eventually led Binsted to discover Noy's remarkable musical past. To give a glimpse of the Filipino community in Israel through the story of Noy is what compelled Binsted to make the documentary.
The online conference also gave Noy the opportunity to voice his views regarding the upcoming 2022 elections. He mentions the needs to strengthen education and if having certain guidelines in choosing leaders. He further stressed that it is leaders that the country needs and not rulers which was applicable only during medieval times. He also reiterated that a leader should be a moral person, echoing his views that Asin was a moral group rather than a radical one that most people perceived the group to be. Noy was blunt in saying that nothing has changed, everything is still the same which is why Asin songs are still relevant.
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| Israel Embassy's MASHAV Officer Gladys Baniqued, Daniel Binsted and Noy Pillora |
Here are the films of the 16th Israeli Film Festival happening this November 2021. Check out the social media pages of the Embassy of Israel in Manila for instructions on how to view these films.
Kuya Noy (2019)
Director: Daniel Binsted
Kuya Noy is the story of Noy, a Filipino rock legend who found himself living in the slums of Tel-Aviv, barely scraping by, father to an Israeli daughter who is about to begin her military service. During the late 70's, under martial law, Noy founded ASIN, a music band that symbolized liberalism. Now, at the age of 61 and for the first time in many years, he will pick up his old guitar and dare to dream of a new future.
And Then She Arrived (2017)
Director: Roee Florentin
Cast: Michael Aloni, Chen Amsalem, Shmulik Vilogni, Miki Kam, Gidi Gov, Orna Banai
Dan Freilich (age 30), is a handsome but very easy-going nerd who is quite sure his future is organized for the next 50 years. The plan is that soon he will marry Tamar, his high school sweetheart. That’s all you need, isn’t it? Apparently not.
Dan meets Meirav Levi (age 27), a waitress from Jerusalem, and discovers that feeling of butterflies fluttering in your stomach. From here on in, the plot thickens. Dan and Tamar break up but not everything goes smoothly with Meirav. Then Dan decides not to give up and fights to win Meirav’s love.
Ben-Gurion, Epilogue (2016)
Director: Yariv Mozer
Based on a rare interview with David Ben-Gurion in 1968, this fascinating documentary offers a glimpse into the private life of one of the most important statesmen of the 20th century. Conducted five years after he resigned from public life, Ben-Gurion looks back at his youth and time in office, contemplates the future of Israel following the 1967 War and explains why he believes peace is more important than land. Ben-Gurion, Epilogue looks beyond the iconic tufts of hair to reveal a thoughtful, modest and loving man.
The Unorthodox (2018)
Director: Eliran Malka
Cast: Shuli Rand, Yakov Cohen, Yoav Levi, Tzachi Grad, Yigal Naor
When Yakov Cohen’s daughter is expelled from school because of her ethnicity, the widowed father decides to fight back. Despite having no political experience, he forms Shas, a new party whose aim is to cater for the needs of the disenfranchised Sephardi ultra-Orthodox community in Israel. It’s 1983, the Ashkenazi establishment rules everything and Cohen’s efforts seem quixotic. But he perseveres, and by doing so, changes the political landscape in Israel forever. Inspired by real events, The Unorthodox is a highly entertaining – and enlightening – tale about the beginnings of a political revolution.
The 16th Israeli Film Festival is presented by the Embassy of Israel in Manila in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
