Of disappearing sparks:Cinemalaya X, part 5

It has been a very satisfying viewing experience at the current Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival so far. And for what could probably be my concluding day at the fest, I saw another New Breed entry. Let's find out how it went.

• "Dagitab" by Giancarlo Abrahan (120 mins) 

It looks like the best films of the festival are the quiet ones - "Bwaya", "Kasal", "Mariquina", "Ronda" and now, "Dagitab". After Nick Olanka's slow-burn neo-noir "Ronda", this film by Giancarlo Abrahan is another of my favorites. I would even go so far to say that this should win the Best Picture prize in the New Breed category (not that the other six films that I saw in this category are bad;in fact, they are not). Channelling the vibes of an Ingmar Bergman psycho-drama, a Woody Allen intelligent comedy and those French romantic yarns, "Dagitab" is a subtle and savvy exploration of a marital crisis, infidelity, sadness, longing, love and artistic/literary pursuit. There's even a bit of a supernatural element thrown in! The film opens with the startling image of a corpse's face barely buried beneath the earth, with maggots crawling over it. Such an image actually informs the lives of the main characters of the husband and wife (excellently portrayed by Nonie Buencamino and Eula Valdes), both university professors nearing middle age. The man is unable to "bury" the pain and longing caused by the sudden disappearance many years ago of an old flame;the woman is unable to "bury" her resentment and boredom over a sparkless marriage. One of the best moments of the film comes when the two are in confrontation in regards the state of their marriage and of their lives in general - that particular "void" - confronting it with such quiet dignity, but not without a barely visible yet deeply palpable scar. As they confront the reality of a marriage on the verge of a breakdown, each one finds him/herself in a situation that would further put to the test their relationship:the wife, as she becomes involved in an illicit affair with a young student (who happens to be her godson);the husband, as he becomes more deeply obsessed with his "research" and then finally "meets" his old flame. Even so, such would pave the way for them to discover some evocative and transcendental truths about human nature. To be honest, even if I were to narrate the entire film, I don't think that would spoil the fun for those who have yet to see it. One has to actually witness how Abrahan tells a surprisingly rich and moving story to see that he is one major talent to watch out for. Subtle, graceful and meaningful, "Dagitab" treats the viewers with some lyrical images, suggestive framings and pregnant silences. And of course, aiding immensely to make the film such a wonderful viewing experience are the grade-A performances all around, from the likes of Valdes, Buencamino, Martin del Rosario (the student) and Sandino Martin (a fellow student). Either by way of cryptic dialogues or mere glances, facial expressions and body gestures, their performances speak volumes about the wealth of emotions and thoughts, eros and idée that make up human nature. 

"Dagitab" is certainly one of the few best Filipino films to be shown in our cinemas this year.

(Nonie Buencamino and Eula Valdes as the husband and wife university professors confronting the possible reality of a failing marriage in Giancarlo Abrahan's rich and subtle "Dagitab".)