This novel of Lualhati Bautista always caught my eye whenever I find myself on a decent bookstore. Its mysterious appeal tickled my interest in one of the most dramatic eras of Philippine history, the Marcos era. The writer is one of the most respected writers of our time, and is a Palanca award winner.
It's been a big question mark why it hasn't won as the best screenplay in the Filmfest. No doubt as to say that Dekada 70 has a most heart-wrenchingly brilliant storyline. It let's us be witness to the events in the life of a simple family during the tumultuous time of the 70's. During the Marcos rule, the Martial Law, and during the struggles of the subversive fugitives. Piolo Pascual, (who deservingly won as best supporting actor) played the son who was adamant on foregoing with his leftist idealism and his nationalist struggle, despite the risk of tragedies which may strike and affect his entire family. It was particularly heart-wrenching during the scene when Piolo is seen coming out from a detention cell, damaged with marks of torture. It was far more wrenching when we see Christopher De Leon, the padre de pamilya, going berserk and screaming "Pinatay nila ang anak ko!" (they killed my child). De Leon convincingly played a father whose emotions and decisions played a large game of risk and endure. Vilma Santos, who played the mother of the children, the only woman in a family of men, is the central character of the story. It seems that she has been the only strong character among the men in his life: his husband and his children, all of which has been clouded by their own weaknesses, their emotions and how they try to desperately hide it.
Marvin Agustin, delivers a simple performance as the child who gets into writing and arts instead of being as subversive as his brother. While Danilo Barrios plays a memorable character who carries the sunshine among the family with his bubbly humor and amusing innocence. (On the other hand, I found it idiotic and was laughing at those gossip magazine critics who made a fuss and praised Carlos Agassi for his performance, when he did not really do some acting. All he did was grab his crotch, attempting phone sex. A CGI Dobey can act far more better.)
Now for the downer parts. Although the film Dekada 70 is a must see movie with impressive acting and a storyline which could go down in literary history, the direction of Chito Roño was plainly unimpressive. The director of the "Dragon Katol" commercial may have done a better job. He did not really do some extra art to beautify the film. And if he ever did some, it was so plain and overused that we did not even notice it. The welga (mass demonstration) scene was so disappointing as it was ridiculous. It was so obvious to see that the welga extras were a bunch of corny, bored, and "lack of motivation" actors, who did not really act as if they were working their way through the riot police. IF you recall the scene, there was one part when only the first row were pressing to march forward, while there was a vacant space at their back, disqualifying the effect that the crowd was really pushing forward. The sequence of the scenes and the acts was also bad and lacked style in timing. Dekada 70 was like cooking paella. You're sure you have a good recipe, and good ingredients, yet the cook you chose is somebody who cannot even make a good tinola. It was such a waste of talent. It could have been delicious. But since you're hungry for some new exotic food, you try to enjoy it as you can. But it will haunt you, wondering if it was done by somebody better.
It's been a big question mark why it hasn't won as the best screenplay in the Filmfest. No doubt as to say that Dekada 70 has a most heart-wrenchingly brilliant storyline. It let's us be witness to the events in the life of a simple family during the tumultuous time of the 70's. During the Marcos rule, the Martial Law, and during the struggles of the subversive fugitives. Piolo Pascual, (who deservingly won as best supporting actor) played the son who was adamant on foregoing with his leftist idealism and his nationalist struggle, despite the risk of tragedies which may strike and affect his entire family. It was particularly heart-wrenching during the scene when Piolo is seen coming out from a detention cell, damaged with marks of torture. It was far more wrenching when we see Christopher De Leon, the padre de pamilya, going berserk and screaming "Pinatay nila ang anak ko!" (they killed my child). De Leon convincingly played a father whose emotions and decisions played a large game of risk and endure. Vilma Santos, who played the mother of the children, the only woman in a family of men, is the central character of the story. It seems that she has been the only strong character among the men in his life: his husband and his children, all of which has been clouded by their own weaknesses, their emotions and how they try to desperately hide it.
Marvin Agustin, delivers a simple performance as the child who gets into writing and arts instead of being as subversive as his brother. While Danilo Barrios plays a memorable character who carries the sunshine among the family with his bubbly humor and amusing innocence. (On the other hand, I found it idiotic and was laughing at those gossip magazine critics who made a fuss and praised Carlos Agassi for his performance, when he did not really do some acting. All he did was grab his crotch, attempting phone sex. A CGI Dobey can act far more better.)
Now for the downer parts. Although the film Dekada 70 is a must see movie with impressive acting and a storyline which could go down in literary history, the direction of Chito Roño was plainly unimpressive. The director of the "Dragon Katol" commercial may have done a better job. He did not really do some extra art to beautify the film. And if he ever did some, it was so plain and overused that we did not even notice it. The welga (mass demonstration) scene was so disappointing as it was ridiculous. It was so obvious to see that the welga extras were a bunch of corny, bored, and "lack of motivation" actors, who did not really act as if they were working their way through the riot police. IF you recall the scene, there was one part when only the first row were pressing to march forward, while there was a vacant space at their back, disqualifying the effect that the crowd was really pushing forward. The sequence of the scenes and the acts was also bad and lacked style in timing. Dekada 70 was like cooking paella. You're sure you have a good recipe, and good ingredients, yet the cook you chose is somebody who cannot even make a good tinola. It was such a waste of talent. It could have been delicious. But since you're hungry for some new exotic food, you try to enjoy it as you can. But it will haunt you, wondering if it was done by somebody better.