sprajca

i got a rare chance to see this movie together with its author, who played the soundtrack on the piano while the movie was showed on the big screen. immediately, after less than 1 minute of the movie, i was overwhelmed with the images and the power of the music. the movie is simple, but it tells so much about hope. the children of the manila slums live in absolute poverty, they live on piles of garbage, but they manage to keep smiling and always find time to have fun and enjoy their childhood. the struggle for survival becomes a childplay. simple b&w camera shots, pounding piano and the raspy voice of khavn de la cruz made the squatterpunk experience unforgettable...

i just got home from the cinemateque, where i watched my first lav diaz movie. i was surprised... i like the fact that the camera leaves some space to the actors and to whatever is happening. it captures the whole picture and lets the audience grasp the location, conditions, people, ... if a person appears in the back of the frame, camera waits patiently for him/her to come closer. because of that, it is relaxing to watch the movie, cause you're not just being bombarded with shiny images all the time. the different issues this film touches (art, philosophy, religion, love, family, politics, health, nature...) can satisfy any critical viewer. it is a mixture of documentary and poetry, emphasizes the ties between man and nature, water and fire, questions god ("god knows the truth and waits" - Leo Tolstoy) and the authority. the only (miniature) problem of the movie is its length - i suggest you pick a movie theater with comfy seats (and don't forget to bring food and water). still, i highly recommend it!