ABOUT: Pura, who has been gone for 20 years, returns to her father's home. Her arrival reignites a bitter rivalry she has with her half- sister, Emilia, which sets the entire household astir.
REVIEW: I have been keen on watching Lino Brocka films lately because I am intrigued with their artistic quality and contained social commentary. Insiang, Manila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Cain at Abel, and Babangon Ako at Dudurugin Kita, I have already given a go and I am looking to view more from his filmography. But the main problem with his films are with the availability of good or even watchable prints. In the case of "Ina, Kapatid, Anak", I have only the chance to watch it in an heavily altered version with the frames of the film heavily cut from the side/s. The picture quality itself is okay but it really seems like it has degraded from its original look over time and is waiting to be restored.
But, given the print available was just watchable, I enjoyed the film and though I cannot thoroughly critic its technical qualities, I find the acting in the film really great. The key players really gave their best and lost themselves in their roles. The story is dramatic in nature and needed to be set in tone accordingly. In other films, they make the mistake of overacting and not achieving a consistent mood, thus ruining the drama and turning to borderline laughable. In the case of this film, performances are delivered with such finesse and class. I would have to say that the most noteworthy for me is Lolita Rodriguez's outing as Pura. She gave the character with such reserve and certainty, almost faultless but we get to find out what she really feels deep inside for her sister, Emilia in a climactic confrontation that's arguably the best and most memorable in Philippine Cinema. Also, there is Ric Rodrigo who is credited with special participation for playing the part of Manoling. His turn as the alcoholic husband of Charito Solis's Emila who is generally unhappy about how his life turned out, is nothing short of special. He was able to convey effectively the tragic sense of the character. Another performance which I also like is Charito Silos part as Emilia. Her performance as compared to others I mentioned before is unique. The character is unlikable because of how she treats everyone in the household but in a few scenes she is bared delicately and we see and feel how she is emotionally strained for not being loved which she badly wants. In a way, the character of Emilia is unique because of the complexity of the emotions she has through out the film and the late, great actress Charito Solis was so daring and adept in portraying such character.
Apart from the acting, merit should also be given to the screenplay. The dialogue within the film belongs with the best I have ever encountered in movies. The fiery confrontations and the dramatic exchanges between characters are mesmerizing and engaging. Never will the viewer be clueless of what is going on because of how the drawing the story is until the very end. The ending is also what makes it a satisfying watch. It is not forced rather it flows naturally and actually quite moving.
Another aspect the film that got my attention is the music used. I really like how it played with the film. It enhances the emotions contained in each scene especially the very dramatic ones and makes you feel more for the characters.
FINAL WORD: According to the late director, Lino Brocka, he had made commercial, mainly entertaining films and serious, socially conscious films. This film seems to be a mixture of both, only leaning a little bit more on the former.
Anyway, if you like family drama and very particular with the acting aspect, "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" is a good watch. Although there's a concern regarding the quality of available print that may likely put off viewers, especially the millennials. I hope the ongoing film restoration efforts in the country (which as a person who loves movies I am very happy and thankful for) will rescue this film soon just like they did with other classics of the Philippine Cinema such as Himala, Oro, Plata, Mata, and etc, This film is very deserving of such treatment, firstly because it is from arguably the best and most influential Filipino film director in the history of cinema, Lino Brocka. Also two of the best actresses in the history of Philippine Cinema (Lolita Rodriguez and Charito Solis) whose phenomenal performances are immortalized in the film. And third because it is a part of Filipino Film heritage. Such a document is too valuable to be left un-watched and decaying. I just hope an unaltered print is still in stock somewhere. I would like to see this film again in the future and would be glad to write a full review about it then. If technicalities aside from picture quality (which is okay) don't bother you too much though, give it a try.
REVIEW: I have been keen on watching Lino Brocka films lately because I am intrigued with their artistic quality and contained social commentary. Insiang, Manila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Cain at Abel, and Babangon Ako at Dudurugin Kita, I have already given a go and I am looking to view more from his filmography. But the main problem with his films are with the availability of good or even watchable prints. In the case of "Ina, Kapatid, Anak", I have only the chance to watch it in an heavily altered version with the frames of the film heavily cut from the side/s. The picture quality itself is okay but it really seems like it has degraded from its original look over time and is waiting to be restored.
But, given the print available was just watchable, I enjoyed the film and though I cannot thoroughly critic its technical qualities, I find the acting in the film really great. The key players really gave their best and lost themselves in their roles. The story is dramatic in nature and needed to be set in tone accordingly. In other films, they make the mistake of overacting and not achieving a consistent mood, thus ruining the drama and turning to borderline laughable. In the case of this film, performances are delivered with such finesse and class. I would have to say that the most noteworthy for me is Lolita Rodriguez's outing as Pura. She gave the character with such reserve and certainty, almost faultless but we get to find out what she really feels deep inside for her sister, Emilia in a climactic confrontation that's arguably the best and most memorable in Philippine Cinema. Also, there is Ric Rodrigo who is credited with special participation for playing the part of Manoling. His turn as the alcoholic husband of Charito Solis's Emila who is generally unhappy about how his life turned out, is nothing short of special. He was able to convey effectively the tragic sense of the character. Another performance which I also like is Charito Silos part as Emilia. Her performance as compared to others I mentioned before is unique. The character is unlikable because of how she treats everyone in the household but in a few scenes she is bared delicately and we see and feel how she is emotionally strained for not being loved which she badly wants. In a way, the character of Emilia is unique because of the complexity of the emotions she has through out the film and the late, great actress Charito Solis was so daring and adept in portraying such character.
Apart from the acting, merit should also be given to the screenplay. The dialogue within the film belongs with the best I have ever encountered in movies. The fiery confrontations and the dramatic exchanges between characters are mesmerizing and engaging. Never will the viewer be clueless of what is going on because of how the drawing the story is until the very end. The ending is also what makes it a satisfying watch. It is not forced rather it flows naturally and actually quite moving.
Another aspect the film that got my attention is the music used. I really like how it played with the film. It enhances the emotions contained in each scene especially the very dramatic ones and makes you feel more for the characters.
FINAL WORD: According to the late director, Lino Brocka, he had made commercial, mainly entertaining films and serious, socially conscious films. This film seems to be a mixture of both, only leaning a little bit more on the former.
Anyway, if you like family drama and very particular with the acting aspect, "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" is a good watch. Although there's a concern regarding the quality of available print that may likely put off viewers, especially the millennials. I hope the ongoing film restoration efforts in the country (which as a person who loves movies I am very happy and thankful for) will rescue this film soon just like they did with other classics of the Philippine Cinema such as Himala, Oro, Plata, Mata, and etc, This film is very deserving of such treatment, firstly because it is from arguably the best and most influential Filipino film director in the history of cinema, Lino Brocka. Also two of the best actresses in the history of Philippine Cinema (Lolita Rodriguez and Charito Solis) whose phenomenal performances are immortalized in the film. And third because it is a part of Filipino Film heritage. Such a document is too valuable to be left un-watched and decaying. I just hope an unaltered print is still in stock somewhere. I would like to see this film again in the future and would be glad to write a full review about it then. If technicalities aside from picture quality (which is okay) don't bother you too much though, give it a try.
