Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank made news a few weeks ago as it swept the major awards at the 2011 Cinemalaya film festival. As it got a much-deserved commercial release, it’s time to ask: does it really deserve the acclaim? I and my mom went out to watch this film, and yes, you have to watch it. Here’s why:
- Eugene Domingo. From her numerous portrayals of Mila to her demonstration of the three kinds of acting, Domingo delivers. She truly deserves this award, especially since Kean Cipriano’s and JM de Guzman’s acting and dialogue (see last bullet point) were not as polished at the start of the film. Looking forward to seeing her in more roles, and for a change, something really really serious. A drama perhaps?
- The premise. Finally, a film that lampoons the amount of poverty porn present in the indie scene! The film’s protagonists include two well-to-do filmmakers (after all, if you’re poor,youwon’thave
Fine. You have just sold me on this. I should go watch.
OMG we totally have the same comments! Sobrang nagugulumihanan talaga ko sa karakter ni Jocelyn, hindi naman sya siguro pipi di ba? Taga-daydream lang sya sa film but I’m sure there’s a deeper meaning to what Jocelyn’s character is really all about di ko nga lang nagets at the time na nanonood ako
)
And I have this friend with whom we both agree that Kean is somehow miscast as the director. Wala syang “commanding presence” as a director. May ibang mas bagay na mag-portray sa kanya as coñong director. But all in all, wagi talaga si Miss Eugene Domingo. At si ehem, Poongbato.
Tangential: Yung mga kasama ni Direk Arthur sa prod, di rin nagsasalita. Hmm. xD
Lahat ng mga non-Filipino friends ko, akala nila lahat tayo naninirahan sa gabundok na basura at nagpapart-time as strippers dahil sa “poverty porn” na yan. So yeah, the concept was brilliant and much needed. Same complaints though:
*Some scenes just dragged on and on.
*Jocelyn’s silence was unnerving and takes away from the realism of the rest of the dialogue.
*The scenes where they were screaming (post-Poongbato and the carjacking) were a bit over the top.
*The usual stuff, most of the extras can’t act and their deliveries are typically stilted (e.g. the security guard). But then again, foreign viewers wouldn’t notice the difference anyway.
*Lastly, a minor nitpick: in one scene the English subtitles used “bare” instead of “bear”. It wouldn’t have been noticeable, except that earlier Rainier and Bongbong made fun of Poongbato’s carabao english (admittedly the funniest part of the film, and the most accurate).
Still, I liked it.