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Sunday, October 09, 2005
Cris Pablo returns with 'Bilog-Circle'
THE Philippines' independent digital gay film "diva" Crisaldo Pablo is back with "Bilog/Circle", another film made in true indie fashion by Grupong Sinehan (the makers of "Duda/Doubt" and "Bathhouse") on a shoestring budget and makeshift video and audio equipment - guerilla shoot. "Bilog/Circle" tells the stories of our fellow Filipinos struggling to make it in the tough urban jungle; of Filipinos who mingle with each other along the melting point of Quezon City: the Elliptical Road Park popularly known as Quezon Memorial Circle.
The Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park and shrine located in Quezon City. The park is an ellipse bounded by the Elliptical Road. In Cris Pablo's digital film, "Bilog/Circle" is when people gather in a ritualistic manner, and attempt to gather impressions from the area and events that took place within the historical landmark.
The film started with Cris (Archie De Calma), the main character, in a jeepney robbery situation with a knife pointed at his neck. Archie asks the proverbial question: if your life suddenly is at stake, what have you done in the past that can save you? Archie begins to recount how his possible last days were spent along Elliptical Road and we meet the characters who journey through the same road intermingle with each other, forming connections and disconnections, in their quest for success and meaning in their ordinary lives.
There is Rod, a government employee; Deo (ramp model Xeno), a young attractive farmer who is struggling to fight for their right to own their land; Shandy (songstress Allyna), a university student; Paolo (best supporting actor Reiven Bulado for "Panaghoy Sa Suba"), a sex worker; Unyak, a beautiful jeepney barker; Justin (Chowtime's "Craig Alcantara"), a young call center sales representative; Miguel, a gay student by day and a sex worker at night; Patty, Shandy's transvestite classmate; Jeri, a female fruit vendor; Jenny, Jeri's archrival in the fruit vending business; Apolo (Apollo Jones of Cosmo Bachelor fame), a young Australian-born doctor; Gel, his fiancé doctor who is secretly training to be a nurse abroad; and Red (Christopher Canizares, Mr. Pogi 2004), as one of the male prostitutes.
What if these characters become stakeholders in saving a man's life?
A man's redemption becomes everyone's hope for something that will be attainable given the right timing, perseverance and new way of looking at things.
"Bilog/Circle" adds to the country's retrospective of classic gay films such as Lino Brocka's "Macho Dancer," Mel Chionglo's "Burlesk King," Carlos Siguion Reyna's "Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya," and Joel Lamangan's "Pusong Mamon." The film carries a distinguished name in local independent filmmaking, Crisaldo Pablo - the brave and young indie director now tagged as Indie Digital Gay Film "Diva" in the Philippines by fellow colleagues. Why not? With "Duda/Doubt" making history as the country's first independent digital film last 2003 and the brave "Bathhouse" last year, one could not agree more.
Cris Pablo's "Duda/Doubt" managed to showcase the film in a legitimate, mainstream cinema, and pave the way for the free-wheeling creation of more independently produced digital films in the Philippines. In a year or so, openly gay performers have their own talk shows. And gay indie directors continue to push the boundaries in their depiction of the life and sexual conquests of single gay men with their very own indie films. It seems that audiences have softened their stance, and now filmmakers and writers whose works were once thought taboo are now finally being brought into the mainstream.
And only one gay man started it all, Cris Pablo -- a "diva" in all aspects of the word.
As brave and much bolder than "Duda" and "Bathhouse", the story of "Bilog/Circle" promises to be all things to all queers: entertainment, public service announcement, erotica.
With "Bilog/Circle", we are introduced to a world in which the festive atmosphere of Quezon Memorial Circle especially the Elliptical Road at night serves as a backdrop for a bittersweet and tragic-comic stories of love, hate and forgiveness.
Invariably these overburdened works passed on nearly every front. The film continues this tradition by dishing up its combination drama/comedy/mystery/love story topped with a Sandra Bullock's CRASH-esque feel-good finale and wrapped in acres of young, firm Filipino flesh.
The production values are very high, with solid performances all around, coming from the world of indie actors. The impact of them is heightened by the fact that we grow to care about these likeable characters, as these aren't the one-dimensional characters we've grown accustomed to.
Though there are a few scenes in which men kiss other men, sexual acts are alluded to, and, while it features no more nudity than any other film of its kind, the skin on display here is predominantly male. People who have issues with homosexuality will not have any issues with this film, as "Bilog/Circle" is not just another gay film. It's a gay film that doesn't glorify homosexuality but simply, a tale of a gay man's journey to redemption, hope, perseverance and new way of looking at things. Its theme is unique yet universal.
Writer/director Cris Pablo clearly knows the coveted conventions of the gay genre and he does a brilliant job of balancing black comedy, concern for our imperiled leads, and full-on "kilig" moments for the gay crown. He gives us what we want, and then some.
Should you see the film? Absolutely. Will the mainstream audience accept this film? They should. I recommend you view the film and make up your own mind. Just as "Duda/Doubt" brought the lives of gay couples home to mainstream audiences and lasted a nice healthy box-office results, "Bilog/Circle" will most certainly set the standard for many gay-themed films to come. (PR/Jonison Fontanos/Sunnex)
(October 9, 2005 issue)
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