Ang sayaw ng dalawang kaliwang paa

ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA (2011) is the fourth indie film of Alvin Ang and produced by Alemberg Ang. While not enjoying the surprise box-office success of ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS or ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK, it had its share of supporters (mostly dancers, literati and the gay community). Given the potent casting of Ms Jean Garcia, supported by newcomers Rocco Nacino and Paulo Avelino, one wonders if the box-office results would have differed with, say, Ms Lorna Tolentino (or Nora Aunor!), Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay. An intriguing premise (male students falls for female dance teacher, hires another male student to tutor him in dancing, to impress said professor) is marred by monotonous voice-over readings of poetry (Tita Vangie Labalan, you should have been with the voice-over dubbing for this film!), one or two laughable dance scenes (dancing is supposed to elicit awe and marvel), and Garcia's downplayed performance. In other movies, Garcia has wowed us in the past with her dramatic mastery, but underperforming in a film (as she does in the nearly-concluded 'danceserye' TIME OF MY LIFE) when you have untested actors as costars is sheer folly. In fact, they are the only mainstream stars in this film -- the rest are obviously extras, dancers, university students and perhaps some poets. Had the three been any more laidback and sedate, it should have been titled, ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA AT NG DALAWANG TAMEMENG TORPENG LALAKE! No wonder Garcia breaks Avelino's heart, and Avelino shuns Rocco's advances (if there were any at all!). Yapan's heart, though, is in the right place, and I will always support movies with Dance as a theme. Arvin Viola's cinematography adequately photographs the cast and dance scenes with a loving hand. Eli Jacinto (whose sons Lucas and Quincy were my classmate in ballet) is a legend in dance and has at least made terrific dancers out of the three laidback lead stars. To Alvin and Alemberg, congrats and more movies please!

I caught this movie, albeit accidentally, in Fox Filipino. I have read about this movie, winning all sorts of award, including Gawad Urian best picture, so naturally, I am curious what all the fuss is about.

Thankfully, the movie was well crafted by writer/director Alvin Yapan. Admittedly, this is my first movie with Yapan. I don't know where to view his previous movies but I'm interested how he tackled his previous subjects. Sayaw is rather slow but still captivating.Handled differently, i would have switched channels. Somehow I want to know what will happen to the characters so well portrayed by the three leads. The three lead actors are perhaps the main reasons (aside from Yapan) why this movie worked. The two boy leads are newbies but believable in their role as students who are in love.

I sometimes find the dance sequences long (not really a fan of ballet) but I guess they are pertinent to the poetic theme of the movie. The English subtitles also did not catch the true depth of the poetry being read. Perhaps Tagalog can be so poetic that no English equivalent can equate to the emotion.

Finally, I have yet to see another Oscar calibre movies from Philippine cinema (Maximo Oliveros is one I could think of). Although this movie falls short of that Oscar wow i am looking for, I hope we are another step closer.

15 minutes into the film, I thought to myself: "This is art."

Sprinkled with beautiful poetry, crafty musical score, marvelous cinematography, masterly camera work, and ingenious editing, "Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa" is filled with subtle intensity as it sets poetry in motion.

The terrific orchestration and choreography represent the ties that bind us, and shows that even the smallest of body movements can compensate for the lack of words or the intentional evasion of verbal expression.

Evocative music created by the artful use of native instruments awaken hidden desires and the incorporation of heartfelt yet lesser known OPM songs underscore the viewer's emotions.

Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino are a joy to watch. Their dance sequences will be etched in my mind for quite some time. And of course, Ms. Jean Garcia didn't disappoint. I never thought she could dance well and read poems to a crisp perfection. Her opening number reminded me of Natalie Portman in "Black Swan." I wasn't impressed with the FEU Dance Company's performances though. However, the university itself served as a good setting for the movie.

The works of literature featured in this film were all from Filipino writers, mostly from Ophelia Dimalanta who deserve special mention for her superb writing skills, which complemented director Alvin Yapan's vision of the film.

The enigma of the poems might have indirectly influenced the movie's ending. There is something so innate in the story and/or within the characters; an unspoken awkwardness that is strangely comforting. The conclusion is somewhat confounding though. It left me slightly bemused, but it's the kind of bewilderment you'd like to take to bed with you.

Watch this beautiful film and be captivated by its rhyme, riddle and rhythm.