This Kadayawan, find time to experience the award-winning Lumad film made in Davao, Tu Pug Imatuy, which is still showing at Gaisano Mall of Davao Cinema 5 and Gaisano Toril Cinema 3.
The movie is part of the Film Development Council’s nationwide festival, the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which promotes indie movies, including a special feature section of award-winning indie movies. Tu Pug Imatuy is included in the Davao exhibit of PPP.
As Kadayawan is a celebration of the indigenous culture, watching this movie will be a good eye-opener on the state of the Lumad in Mindanao.
Tu Pug Imatuy (The Right to Kill) is the story of an indigenous or Lumad couple who struggle against pressing problems in their community such as mining and military operations that ravaged their land. It is a movie with a serious theme, but you will be caught with the beautiful visuals of forests and waterfalls of the hinterland of Brgy. Baganihan in Marilog wherein the movie was filmed.
The film is a milestone for Davao’s indie film movement. It has earned the Grand Jury Prize for Film in the Famas Awards last June 2018 and Best Picture at the Sinag Maynila Festival 2017. It also garnered Best Director awards from Famas, Gawad Urian 2018 and Sinag Maynila 2017 for Arnel Barbarona. Arbi is the second Davao-born director to win the Famas best director trophy.
The film swept major awards at the Sinag Maynila 2017 including Best Screenplay in Sinag for award-winning writer/ director Arnel Mardoquio, best cinematography, best musical score and best actress for first-time actress Malona Sulatan, who was discovered during filming of Baganihan.
More than the awards, the movie also provides us a “primer” of the Lumad struggles.
Film critic Skilty Labastilla cited Tu Pug Imatuy as one of the best films in 2017. He wrote that "the film is significant at a time when government troops continually attack IP schools in Mindanao and teachers and youth leaders are being hunted down.”
Film blogger Renelson Morelos noted "It's one of those films from Mindanao that further solidify the region's reputation as a rich source of cinematic storytelling."
Davao anthropologist Brother Karl Gaspar said that even if “the film ended, but its reality persists. Life, indeed, imitates art.” It is a testament to how this film is able to drive across its message.
The movie is a milestone as a Davao-made film with Lumad non-actors at that. It joins other indie movies that are making its mark nationwide with awards and raves because of combining film aesthetics with socially-relevant issues. These films include the historical film Balangiga: Howling Wilderness and the hip-hop/urban poor portrait in Respeto, among other recent films.
The challenge of indie movies is for the audience to appreciate it. For Dabawenyos, let us watch and support Tu Pug Imatuy. Get the Lumad experience now in Kadayawan.
(tyvelez@gmail.com)