Chicago – Season 14 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (Apuc) continues with the Midwest Premiere of “Islands” – written and directed by Martin Edralin – streaming on Apuc’s website from April 1st-3rd, 2022, and featuring a post-film Q&a from Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com. For complete information, including “How to Watch,” click Apuc “Islands”.
Islands is a Philippines/Canada co-production about immigrants, as Filipinos living in the Great White North has carved a life for themselves, except for one lonely man. Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas) lives with his aging parents, and when his mother dies he only has his father left, and quits his job to care for him full time. Enter his cousin (Sheila Lotuaco) who volunteers her caregiving services to the duo. As the situation normalizes in the household, truths are revealed about Joshua’s life that he didn’t expect. The beauty of writer/director Martin Edralin’s story...
Islands is a Philippines/Canada co-production about immigrants, as Filipinos living in the Great White North has carved a life for themselves, except for one lonely man. Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas) lives with his aging parents, and when his mother dies he only has his father left, and quits his job to care for him full time. Enter his cousin (Sheila Lotuaco) who volunteers her caregiving services to the duo. As the situation normalizes in the household, truths are revealed about Joshua’s life that he didn’t expect. The beauty of writer/director Martin Edralin’s story...
- 3/31/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In Martin Edralin’s directorial debut Islands, the life of a shy, middle-aged Filipino man living in Canada gets a new meaning. What was once monotonous and lonely turns into a life full of hope. The man in question is Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), a janitor at a university in Ontario. Back in the Philippines he was a dentist, but couldn’t get money for a dental degree in Canada. When not working, Joshua takes his parents, mom Alma (Vangie Alcasid), and dad Reynaldo (Esteban Comilang) to a Cha-Cha dance class. Then at night before going to bed, Joshua always prays to God to send him someone to spend the rest of his life with.
If it’s obvious Joshua doesn’t want to be alone his whole life, he doesn’t exactly do anything to change that situation. When co-workers invite him to dine out, Joshua turns their offer down.
If it’s obvious Joshua doesn’t want to be alone his whole life, he doesn’t exactly do anything to change that situation. When co-workers invite him to dine out, Joshua turns their offer down.
- 11/3/2021
- by Reyzando Nawara
- The Film Stage
Filmmaker Martin Edralin’s tender debut feature Islands introduces us to Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas): a taciturn, 49-year-old Filipino immigrant who still lives with his elderly parents in Canada. Joshua is a complex case: a (mostly) devout catholic who dreads inevitable loneliness after his parents’ passing … but is too shy to accept a coworker’s invite to lunch. When Joshua’s generous-spirited cousin Marisol (Sheila Lotuaco) arrives from Manila to help care for his senile father—he gets a second chance at coming-of-age. Rather than take the obvious route, Edralin’s film favors authentic emotions, relatable conflicts and wry laughter. Subtle gestures, steady pacing, quiet compassion.…...
- 5/18/2021
- by Dylan Kai Dempsey
- IONCINEMA.com
Every so often, watching an overly tidy, ultimately sentimental indie drama that pretends to be “real” but isn’t, I’ll peer through the movie and catch a glimpse of the better, more honest, less diagrammed drama it might have been. “Islands” gave me the opposite experience. It is indeed a good movie, and quite an honest one, yet its setup is so ripe for cut corners and heartwarming chintz that I was almost surprised to see it sidestep the diagram I was expecting. I bet other viewers will have the same reaction. Written and directed by Martin Edralin, “Islands” is a feel-good movie that, in an odd way, doesn’t try to make us feel too good. That’s why there’s a little bit of art to it.
The central character, Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), is a middle-aged Filipino-Canadian man who lives with his aging parents. Each day he...
The central character, Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), is a middle-aged Filipino-Canadian man who lives with his aging parents. Each day he...
- 3/25/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – The virtual/online 2021 SXSW Festival wrapped up on March 20th, after a compacted five day run. The Award Winners were announced on March 19th, and contained themes of redemption, joy, loneliness and reckoning.
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, centered as usual in Austin, Texas, included the usual program of keynote/speeches, conference sessions, music festival showcases, film festival screenings, world-class networking, online exhibitions, and the unexpected discoveries, all taking place in a digital setting … as the pandemic hopefully wraps up as well.
’The Fallout,’ ‘Lily Topples the World’ and ‘Islands’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
Films Of SXSW: Capsule Reviews
All the films reviewed won Awards as indicated at SXSW2021. For a summary and all the award winners, click here …
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The Fallout – This involves a school shooting, experienced off screen but somehow more effective that way. The story, written and directed by Megan Park, features 16-year-old Vada (Jenna Ortega...
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, centered as usual in Austin, Texas, included the usual program of keynote/speeches, conference sessions, music festival showcases, film festival screenings, world-class networking, online exhibitions, and the unexpected discoveries, all taking place in a digital setting … as the pandemic hopefully wraps up as well.
’The Fallout,’ ‘Lily Topples the World’ and ‘Islands’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
Films Of SXSW: Capsule Reviews
All the films reviewed won Awards as indicated at SXSW2021. For a summary and all the award winners, click here …
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The Fallout – This involves a school shooting, experienced off screen but somehow more effective that way. The story, written and directed by Megan Park, features 16-year-old Vada (Jenna Ortega...
- 3/21/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
SXSW — one of the largest film festivals in the US — is best known for its eclectic nature. Plopped in the heart of Austin, Texas, the festival seems as youthfully dynamic as it is just as all-encompassing; with sections in Xr, music, comedy, and even an industry conference, the festival’s energy seems to stretch at the seams.
It’s such a pleasure then, to see Martin Edralin’s “Islands” — the first Filipino-language film set to compete in the SXSW Narrative Competition — as a disruption amid the sea of noise. “Islands” follows muted life of Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), a cripplingly shy middle-aged Filipino Canadian man. His days are routine. He wakes up to his mother’s breakfast of eggs and rice; he tends to his janitorial job; and sometimes, when he comes home, he prays for a wife to ease the unending loneliness. Things drastically change for Joshua, however, when his high-spirited mother suddenly passes away.
It’s such a pleasure then, to see Martin Edralin’s “Islands” — the first Filipino-language film set to compete in the SXSW Narrative Competition — as a disruption amid the sea of noise. “Islands” follows muted life of Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), a cripplingly shy middle-aged Filipino Canadian man. His days are routine. He wakes up to his mother’s breakfast of eggs and rice; he tends to his janitorial job; and sometimes, when he comes home, he prays for a wife to ease the unending loneliness. Things drastically change for Joshua, however, when his high-spirited mother suddenly passes away.
- 3/18/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
After the last few years of a stunning Asian American cinematic success — including “Minari,” “Nomadland,” and “The Farewell,” to name a few — Martin Edralin steps into the scene with SXSW’s first Filipino-language film in Narrative Competition, “Islands.” “Islands” follows the slow life of Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas), an excruciatingly shy middle-aged Filipino man living with his parents in Toronto. When his bubbly mother suddenly passes away, however, Joshua quits his janitorial job to take care of his father. His new job is harder than it seems, however, until Marisol (Sheila Lotuaco) — a long-lost cousin — waltzes back into his life, but not without consequence.
Before SXSW, we sat down with Martin to get around to the behind-the-scenes aspects of his first feature. Martin is calm and collected; even over Zoom it’s clear to tell that he’s clear and to the point. We talked about many things — about the production details,...
Before SXSW, we sat down with Martin to get around to the behind-the-scenes aspects of his first feature. Martin is calm and collected; even over Zoom it’s clear to tell that he’s clear and to the point. We talked about many things — about the production details,...
- 3/16/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
With most festivals moving full steam ahead, such as the recently wrapped Rotterdam and Sundance, the next two major ones on the calendar are Berlinale, which just unveiled its lineup, and South by Southwest, which has also dropped theirs.
Set to take place March 16-20, the 2021 Film Festival program has 75 features including 57 World Premieres, 3 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 1 U.S. Premieres, 8 Texas Premieres and 53 films from first-time filmmakers + 84 Short Films including Music Videos, 5 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 14 Title Design entries, plus 30 Special Events.
“It’s been a year unlike any we’ve experienced, first marked by the cancellation of SXSW 2020,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “We feel privileged to have been able to pivot to SXSW Online and present a fantastic treasure trove of programming, including a pared down and wonderful selection of films that we know will delight, entertain and move our attendees. SXSW...
Set to take place March 16-20, the 2021 Film Festival program has 75 features including 57 World Premieres, 3 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 1 U.S. Premieres, 8 Texas Premieres and 53 films from first-time filmmakers + 84 Short Films including Music Videos, 5 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 14 Title Design entries, plus 30 Special Events.
“It’s been a year unlike any we’ve experienced, first marked by the cancellation of SXSW 2020,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “We feel privileged to have been able to pivot to SXSW Online and present a fantastic treasure trove of programming, including a pared down and wonderful selection of films that we know will delight, entertain and move our attendees. SXSW...
- 2/11/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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