barber ' s tales
audience favorite: barber' s tales star eugene domingo. screenshot of movie teaser
barber' s tales. eugene domingo in a scene from the movie. screengrab from youtube
directed by jun robles lana, barber' s tales is a story of a widow forced to take her late husband’s job as community barber .
there are no featured reviews for barber' s tales (mga kuwentong barbero) at this time .
there are no critic reviews yet for barber' s tales (mga kuwentong barbero). keep checking rotten tomatoes for updates !
the screening for barber' s tales was
full house and sold out ,
domingo said in a text message to lana .
barber' s tales is the follow up to lana’s indie film bwakaw and second of a trilogy focused on the small town life in the philippines. – urltoken
barber’s tales is a pensive tale of the self - discovery of a voiceless woman as propelled by personal crisis, in an age of political upheaval .
barber' s tales tells the story of newly widowed marilou who inherits the town' s only barbershop from her husband - a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband' s... see more »
a bit of a disappointment after last year’s excellent “bwakaw, ” filipino writer - director jun robles lana’s “barber’s tales” is a solid enough but less inspired rural character study set amid the political turmoil of ferdinand marcos’ second presidential term. eugene domingo goes the stoic - suffering route as a grieving barber’s widow pulled into helping rebel forces even [ … ]
the quote, attributed to writer virginia woolf, finds relevance in the first few minutes of jun lana’s barber’s tales. marilou (an exquisitely subdued eugene domingo) is often seen in the background doing various chores while her husband (daniel fernando), the town’s only barber, goes about his business grooming his customers .
barber’s tales defies gender and cinematic boundaries with its artistic direction and a commanding performance from ms. eugene domingo. i can’t guarantee entertainment for the normal moviegoers but it’s an intense and noteworthy experience for its target audience .
richard marshall’s excellent showcase of cornet virtuosity with ‘the cornet heritage collection - volume ii was second (25. 0 %), with david thornton’s outstanding ‘sempre libera’ in third (15. 7 %), whilst there were notable mentions for sebastien rousseau’s ‘flight’, john barber’s ‘barber’ and owen farr’s ‘a new dawn’ amongst others .
while diaz' s film explores the conservative ideology that could give rise to cynical power - grabbers, lana' s barber' s tales uses the spiritual awakening of a village barber' s subservient spouse to condemn patriarchy – a way of thinking which props up the behavior of corrupted politicians and thuggish husbands, but also well - meaning revolutionaries fighting for a good cause. it' s a universal theme which would engage with audiences beyond the philippines, and lana' s linear and conventional spin to the story – driven by melodrama of co - incidences, and the showing of women' s solidarity through mainstream humor, complete with quite a few jokes about the male genitalia – would certainly give barber' s tales as much festival traction as lana' s previous film bwakaw .
still, barber' s tales provides enough of a harbinger of things to come: as the film ends, susan' s voiceover relays the rumors surrounding marilou' s fate after she has left town: these takes on her life – she might have gone on to become a maid; she might have gone insane – relays the many realities facing filipino women in decades to come. lana' s
real
ending for her character is much more optimistic – but perhaps it' s in this that barber' s tales will thrive, as marilou and sisters continue their struggle to find the light in their lives .
manila, philippines – filipino film barber' s tales starring eugene domingo was named 3rd place in the audience award 2014 of the recently concluded udine far east film festival in udine, italy, the film festival web site shows .
barber’s tales ends with marilou proclaiming herself with her new name. this is the first time she refers to herself, as she has never called herself anything, not even a barber, or the wife of a barber. the film’s single final line justifies her journey. she emerges as an independent person, capable of giving herself an identity that is not reliant on the men of her life. marilou is no longer anonymous. – urltoken
a bit of a disappointment after last year’s excellent “bwakaw, ” filipino writer - director jun robles lana’s “barber’s tales” is a solid enough but less inspired rural character study set amid the political turmoil of ferdinand marcos’ second presidential term. eugene domingo goes the stoic - suffering route as a grieving barber’s widow pulled into helping rebel forces even as she gets equally unexpected entree to the mayor’s home. while handled with restraint, the pic teeters into more familiar melodramatic territory than “bwakaw” did, which may translate into better b. o. returns at home but also less international visibility .
instead, barber’s tales has its main character maintaining her femininity, and allowing herself to be volatile to her emotions, whether it be guilt or anger. marilou needs only to be liberated from the shadows of her husband to begin fully recovering everything she lost from being repressed .
lana plots marilou’s escape from the clutches of traditional machismo alongside a country’s struggle for revolution. in barber’s tales, feminism is both a personal and social concept. marilou struggles for an identity despite the male dominance the same way some revolutionaries struggle for freedom despite marcos’ tight grip. the personal and social concepts merge, with marilou committing one surprising act that signifies both her assertion of her power as a woman and her oneness with all the other rebels .
set during the end of marcos era, the film stars a widow named marilou (eugene domingo) who is forced to take - over her late husband' s barbershop. eventually, the barbershop became a secret meeting place for npas which keeps them safe, but marilou in danger. barber' s tales competed at the tokyo international film festival in 2013 where eugene domingo won the best actress award. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
in the 1970s, a widow in a remote village takes over her husband’s barber shop. she becomes the laughing stock of the male - dominated community and in the process discovers freedom and liberation .
a feel - good drama anchored by eugene domingo' s starring turn and a narrative which advocates women' s triumph against chauvinist odds. twitter
in the 1970s, a widow in a remote village takes over her husband' s barber shop. she becomes the laughing stock of the male - dominated community and in the process discovers freedom and liberation .
philippine director jun robles lana' s follow - up to his indie hit
bwakaw
combines the political and personal with the story of the emancipation of a rural female barber under the ferdinand marcos dictatorship in the 1970s .
freedom is the theme here, not transformation. this is precisely why barber’s tales is set in a decade that is defined by government - sponsored repression. the seeming normalcy of life is just a veil that hides a system - inflicted suffocation, as shown by the various killings and disappearances of people thought of as enemies of the state. the nation is under the clutches of marcos’ vengeful regime .
in this context, jun robles lana' s latest film could be seen as a metaphor for this episode in philippine history: by speaking of the political emancipation of a meek widow, barber' s tales – which was set in 1975, with marcos' political sway very much present in the village the story unfolds in – could be seen as mirroring the rise of corazon aquino, who would transform from being benigno aquino' s
plain housewife
into the leading figure of the anti - marcos movement, before finally succeeding the tyrant as president .
ppp 2018: here' s everything you need to know ab ...
mga kuwentong barbero (barber’s tales) is a markedly feminist film, its story basically documenting the systemic oppression of women in one provincial town, from all rungs of the societal ladder. the film finds power in this theme, though the delivery isn’t always all that effective. the film sometimes stumbles in putting together its scenes, stray details undermining the overall effect. but the presence of eugene domingo ultimately brings it all together, the actress’ stellar performance overcoming some of the film’s clumsier tendencies .
it’s saturday. and saturdays are for the boys! you already know what’s going to happen—it’s an alcohol - filled night and, just like any other saturday, it’s going to be lit. but the question is, where to go? on ayala, taft, quezon avenue, in taguig? it doesn’t matter where—you are pumped !
right on their heels came cory’s ‘transmogrifying brass’ and manger’s ‘mangernetisk! - the music of martin winter’, with further notable mentions for the likes of ‘travels’ by tredegar, ‘stratos’ by flowers, ‘by request vol 2’ by grimethorpe, ‘black dyke gold vol 3’, ‘cory in concert vol 4’ and foden’s ‘patron’s choice vol vii’ amongst many more .
inside the somerset millennium makati, you’ve decided to go for a quick cut. because if there’s one thing you value as much as time, it’s the sharpness of your appearance .
given the period nature of the film – it was set in the countryside in the 1970s, as far away from bwakaw' s contemporary, urban settings as it can be – the production design could somehow be found a bit wanting, with the sets resembling something more out of a tv series than the cinematic epic lana might need for the story. and while audacious in content, barber' s tales is certainly mainstream in style, with a plot heavy on coincidences (jose' s husband' s favourite prostitute also happens to be the sister of the rebel fighter marilou saved – an event which brought about a reconciliation between wife and mistress) and camerawork and editing which relies on conventional close - ups and shots / countershots .
the thirsty barber offers grooming services such as cut and rinse (p360), shave (p450), beard sculpting (p450), and the manscape (p700) .
film gravitas, making it the most insightful and satisfying of jun lana’s gender - oriented films .
barber' s tales tells the story of newly widowed marilou who inherits the town' s only barbershop from her husband - a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband' s family. with no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop. but as to be expected, she fails to attract any customers. but a touching act of kindness she extended to rosa, a prostitute who works in the town brothel, leads to an unexpected opportunity. rosa, who now considers marilou a friend, urges her prostitute friends to pressure their male clientele into patronizing marilou' s barbershop. the men have no choice but to grudgingly oblige out of fear that rosa will expose their infidelity to their wives. written by anonymous
set in the 1970' s rural town of the philippines, during the marcos dictatorship, and tells the story of a widowed woman who inherits the town' s only barbershop from her husband - a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband' s family .
nicola walker’s innocent marianne is radiantly transformed by love followed by her graphic downfall as a despairing ragdoll .
barber' s tales is a story about sisterhood; domingo' s turn is suitably supported by engaging performances from, for example, shamaine buencamino – who plays tess, the single middle - aged woman whose role as a sage among confused wives is thrown into disarray when her nephew decided to join the anti - government insurrection. their resilience against the odds speaks volumes about the chauvinistic universe they were placed under – not just from alberto and his cronies, but even in a milder way from the rebels to which marilou and tess could only care for (serving food to them while they plot their ambushes) and fret about .
mga kuwentong barbero really struggles in the end portion, its big, climactic moments just not landing very well. it’s all just staged a little awkwardly, the scenes lacking the buildup to really justify the big dramatic reveals. still, there’s plenty to like in the film’s substantial runtime. it is kind of enough that the film provides a platform for eugene domingo to explore a different side of her acting talent. the actress is captivating in a very deliberate performance, providing the film with a solid core from which it can spin its tales .
it joins a growing list of awards for the outstanding release on the bis recordings label, and is the third time the norwegian champion has claimed the honour following successes with ‘tales & stories’ in 2005 and ‘romeo & juliet’ in 2010 .
decades after it was ended by the people power revolt, the marcos dictatorship has become the subject of choice of many independent films since 2005. some of these have exposed military abuses on women as in ka oryang, the psychological traumas of former activists as in mga anino ng kahapon, the militarization of an erstwhile peaceful village in mula sa kung ano ang noon, the failure of the ideologies and dreams of a couple of up professors in dagitab, and now the politicization of a barrio woman in mga kuwentong barbero or barber’s tales .
we have updated the miscellaneous photos page with nicola' s latest headshots and photos taken elsewhere. enjoy !
are you inside a barbershop or on a business class flight? it’s hard to tell. only seconds upon entrance, a station already waits to get you comfortably seated. the music is soft and so is the black - colored barber’s chair and so are the lights, dimmed to soothe the senses. a groomer swiftly attends to you. he turns on the television installed within the mirror facing you. the news is on .
cast of the movie
barber' s tales
the producer / line producer tonee rose iquin acerjo, director jun robles lana, actress eugene domingo, executive producer perci intalan and casting director omar prudente sortijas attend the 26th tokyo international film festival, opening event green carpet at roppongi hills arena in tokyo, japan, october 17, 2013. this year the prime minister shinzo abe attends the opening ceremony and shakes hands with tom hanks and the director paul greengrass. the film festival will run through until friday 25. (photo by rodrigo reyes marin / aflo )
the year is 1975. marilou (eugene domingo) is the wife of jose (daniel fernando), the only barber in a small, provincial town. she lives completely subservient to her husband, obeying his every whim and turning a blind eye to his extramarital activities. and then one day, he dies in bed. marilou, who has been cutting her husband' s hair all these years, reluctantly takes over the barber shop. soon, she becomes embroiled in the affairs of the town' s mayor (nonie buencamino) and his long - suffering wife (iza calzado), and finds herself harboring rebels from the oppressive regime .
barber’s tales narrates the story of marilou aguallo, who grows from a housewife with no mind or life of her own to a person of resolve who decides to embrace a radical ideology. in a rural village at the foot of the mountains, marilou has lived for more than two decades, serving with hand and foot her husband jose, the only barber of the barrio. it is a loveless and lonely marriage, especially after their first child, suffering from a congenital infirmity, dies at age ten. fearing that the second child might also be abnormal, jose decides to abstain from intercourse with marilou, seeking sexual release instead in his favourite dance - hall prostitute rosa. after one particularly intense and drunken night with rosa, jose comes home and dies in his sleep. like an orphaned child, marilou at first feels lost, but she finds guidance and strength in her two loyal friends: susan, a vendor of rice cakes, who already has five daughters and is pregnant with yet another child, and tessie, a spinster who has raised her only nephew edmond and now sends him to school in manila. the two friends encourage marilou to assume jose’s role as barrio barber, especially since jose did teach marilou how to cut his hair. but even with the endorsement of the parish priest fr. arturo, the menfolk are reluctant to entrust their hair to a woman, believing barbers have to be male. only after the townmayor alfredo bartolome, jose’s former client, makes marilou his official barber do the barrio folk begin to flock to marilou’s barbershop .
upon hearing about the barber' s tales, i was quite intrigued on the title choice of the film. a kuwentong barbero or barber' s tale is usually associated by filipinos as hearsay. this idea can be related to the government fabricating news in order to make people believe that rebels bring turmoil and to repress the growing rebels' ideology during the martial law era. aside from this, the main focal point of the film is the comparison between patriarchy and political repression. most of her life, marilou stood behind the shadows of her husband as her husband made decisions for her. as the film progresses, she was able to find her voice and becomes an independent woman. this draw parallels to the rebels fighting the marcos regime by showing their voice through their guerrilla activity. i don' t know if this is still worth mentioning as everyone knows how impressive thespian eugene domingo is. her performance was powerfully subtle .
a classic european play returns to paint a beautifully orchestrated canvas of life in 1931 vienna, with a superb ensemble of actors including nicola walker, joe duttine and frances barber, and musicians animating every corner of the big olivier stage .
it' s a powerful sentiment, though the film isn' t always artful in its presentation. the film, though visibly subdued, is still prone to dramatic excess. there are scenes that seem to ignore the fragile reality of the situation in order to set up more dramatic moments later on. there' s a bit, for example, that has the town shunning marilou because it' s become known that she harbors rebels. it' s a big, powerful moment, but it' s something that' s largely ignored as the movie heads into its climax, which requires that information to be hidden somehow. the film isn’t quite able to build tension because of this, the movie a little too quick to dismiss its own buildup .
this second in lana’s planned trilogy about rural village life is competently packaged, although a little more visual panache wouldn’t have hurt .
and the gravitas is matched by lana’s directorial achievement. a well - chosen cast of actors, mainly from the theatre, delivers a memorable feat of ensemble - acting, where individual characters are clearly defined without anyone attracting undue attention to himself / herself. the costumes and props succeed in defining class (as in the case of marilou, tessie and susan), character (as in the case of the rich but vulnerable cecilia), and occupation (as in the case of the priest and the prostitute), even as the lighting and camera shots are able to capture the earthiness and simplicity of the barrio folk. finally, the choice of location is nothing short of felicitous, with the little barrio representing the strictures of convention, the dominance of patriarchy, and the narrowness of vision of those who inhabit it, and the mountains behind it symbolizing freedom in all its forms – as sanctuary for beleaguered souls, as escape through tragic self - imposed death, and as haven for all rebellious spirits. with its eye for authenticity and its faithful depiction of the horrors of military rule, barber’s tales is anything but a barber’s tale .
after last year' s excellent' bwakaw,' filipino writer - director jun robles lana is in more familiar melodramatic territory here .
philippine audiences would certainly be able to detect the parallels between history and lana' s story – the power of funereal and religious parades, for example, or how those in power would frame their opponents with deaths they caused, as marcos tried to finger communist rebels as masterminding benigno aquino' s killing. but just as lav diaz' s recent festival hit north, the end of history, lana' s film – which premiered in competition at the tokyo international film festival, where diaz' s film would also be shown – goes beyond the lone historic event with an audacious attempt in actually exposing the commonly - shared traits which has led to the tragedy and calamity that follows .
eikanger’s remarkable recording of the music of john pickard under the baton of andreas hanson takes the award with 31. 1% of the votes .
from being j. k. rowling' s eminent harry potter to becoming a real - life stock character igor strausman of mary shelley ...
intensely modern, shot through with satirically droll and poignant naturalistic details. it is exhilarating to see a bold, spare, avant - garde set with a continental feel in the olivier. as a designer - cum - director, jones creates haunting images on an operatic scale, building up a kind of open - plan symphony of small lives. there are droll bits of invention too, not least dive - bombing swimmers vanishing, with synchronised sloshes, into the stage pit. the emotional impact at other points is devastating. barber’s screaming grief, when she sees what has happened to marianne, is raw and shocking. david harrower’s new translation has some vibrant mouthiness, while nicola walker’s sallow but passionately burning marianne is superb .
a stunning new production by richard jones that gets to he heart of this bittersweet evocation of 1930’s vienna. a riveting portrait of a society waltzing towards the abyss .
it is only upon her husband’s sudden passing that marilou comes to the forefront. her journey towards emancipation is slow and deliberate, starting with her hesitant exercise of the haircutting techniques she learned from her husband on her town’s parish priest (eddie garcia) and ending with her assured proclamation of her place in a society dominated by men .
set in a remote province at the onset of martial law in the early 1970s, the story revolves around the free - spirited and newly widowed marilou who inherits their town' s only barbershop from her husband - - a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband' s family. having no other means to support herself, she musters the courage to run the barbershop, a traditionally male trade. however, despite the skills she gained from years of observation and being an assistant to her husband, as a female barber she fails to attract any customers. nevertheless, things take an unexpected turn when marilou gains the trust of other women in her community .
drama desk awards - outstanding actress in a play (results: 5 june 2016). she didn' t win. that' s three for three: (: (: (
one of the heartbreaking films we have ever seen in the independent cinema scene is nick & chai. it' s about a couple from leyte who lost their four children to the strongest typhoon ever recorded in the philippines, the super typhoon haiyan (yolanda). the film will walk you through the couple' s grieving as it shows you the remains of the deluge in this beautiful montage of memories. this documentary film won the best picture and special citation at the qcinema international film festival in 2014. more on the film' s awards and nominations here .
though wanting only to live a quiet life, marilou soon finds herself caught between two conflicting sides. first godson edmond (nicco manalo), who’s supposedly on vacation from university but in fact has been up to something very different, asks her to hide a wounded fellow rebel, then to let other local insurrectionists hold secret meetings at her shop. she’s also disconcertingly befriended by cecilia (iza calzado), the mayor’s beautiful but unhappy wife. the mayor has been generous to marilou, but she discovers a different side to his character from this needy, abused spouse .
perhaps not surprisingly, the man who led black dyke to their ‘double’ triumph claims the conductor of the year award. it is also the welshman’s second success, following his previous win in 2005 .
lana tells his story with a courageous restraint. the music composed by ryan cayabyab is used sparsely, purposely during scenes that require emotional layers that are beyond what carlo mendoza’s precise framing and lighting may provide .
but through it all, eugene domingo' s performance keeps the film grounded. it' s a powerfully subdued performance, one that lets the change in the character creep in slowly. you can see the resolve in her character strengthening, the steel within being forged in the fire of her new experiences. it is a genuine pleasure to witness, the actress never giving in to the temptation of excess, her every gesture calculated to exhibit the character' s gradual but palpable growth. her co - actors provide ample support, the likes of shamaine buencamino providing some nuance to what could have been purely broad roles .
2013 marks the 30th anniversary of an event which heralds the beginning of the end of the ferdinand marcos dictatorship in the philippines: the assassination of the tyrant' s most vocal opponent, benigno aquino, on the tarmac of manila' s airport on aug. 21, 1983 would eventually snowball into a massive political movement which led to marcos' ouster in 1986 and the return of democracy to the southeast asian nation .
facing the myths of your past is what makes this film familiar, gripping and enchanting all at the same time. one of those melancholy, vivid, and realistic films that brings you back to your own memories as a child. set in the beautiful and calm town of baler, the film is about ford, a surfing instructor who has been told his whole life that he’s the son of francis ford coppolla. he’s wasted his youth waiting as his mother petitions the director to acknowledge ford as his son. but as the surfing season ends, he’s forced to confront his past actions, inactions, and the stories of his life, according to apocalypse child' s website. the film won the best picture, best director, best supporting actress, and best artistic achievement awards at the qcinema international film festival in 2015. ana - abad santos also won the best actress award at the gawad urian this year. more on the film' s awards and nominations here. trivia: armi millare has written two new songs for the film alone .
“good afternoon! ” says the aroma of a roasted coffee sitting beside your warm, brown leather chair. your barber, whom you’ve known forever, asks for your desired cut. “the usual, ” you reply, like a secret code. he knew exactly what you meant. while preparing his scissors and razors, he asks about the wife and the kids. with casual enthusiasm, you answer and then ask him the same set of questions. after minutes of quality banter, you lie down, then doze off—ready to leave the rest to him. the girl from the counter draws the curtains open to reveal a patch of forbes town center’s superb golf course. a ray of dying sunlight gently touches your cheeks, from your almost - shut eyes to your smoothly shaved chin. there’s no place like home .
time. for others, it’s just a strange arrangement of numbers, which progresses as the day grows old. but for a savvy business gentleman such as yourself, it is precious stardust. you take it seriously, sometimes far too seriously .
other notable mentions for black dyke’s ‘triumph of time’ at the europeans, stavanger at siddis, grimethorpe at brass in cocnert, cory at the welsh area on ‘st magnus’, and willebroek at the europeans on ‘muckle flugga’ amongst plenty more personal favourites from voters .
francis joseph cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. the first filipino movie he saw in the theaters was carlo j. caparas’' tirad pass.' since then, he’s been on a mission to find better memories with philippine cinema .
gwenlyn cumyn (chasing valentine) brittany falardeau (altar) alice pitt - carter (tea + cake) alysa king (holy hell) taylor cole (dumbbells) christy crowley (writer’s cramp) karieann randol (why lie? beer women chicken wings. )
marilou (domingo) is treated more like a servant than a spouse by husband jose (daniel fernando); childless since the death of their only offspring years ago, they’re a cheerless couple. when jose abruptly dies in his sleep, marilou assumes she’ll have to move to a city and become a housemaid. but the kindly local priest (“bwakaw” lead eddie garcia, basically doing an extended cameo) encourages her to keep the barbershop open using the skills her husband had taught her (albeit solely to cut his own hair). she turns out to be quite gifted with the shears, and the region’s wealthy mayor (noni buencamino) soon leads her list of clients, despite initial grumblings that “no one trusts a lady barber. ”
domingo' s performance subtle turn as marilou has a reason, as her docile veneer could serve to jolt the audience with the one explosive act at the film' s finale when she finally gets to confront the local corrupted mayor (and marcos flunky) alberto bartolome (nonie buencamino) for one last time for all the hurt and grief he brought to everyone in his realm, from his own long - suffering wife cecilia (iza cazaldo) – whom marilou has befriended – to all the people he ruled with much duress .
aside from the undercut, the thirsty barber also serves signature cocktails such as the blunt scissors (p215) and don’t play dead (p235). they are also the first bar to introduce stella artois (p165) draft beer in san juan city. these are perfect drinks while you and your friends chow down sumptuous dishes on their menu—tapang barako (p295), mussel chips and kilawing talong dip (p260), five spice grilled chicken (p275), and pulpog (p265) .
aaron green (when damon met angie) brian cobos (anonymous, anonymous) kevin jacaman (keep austin) brian villalobos (umbra) christopher cassarino (perry’s grind) carlos camacho. (unimaginable) oryan landa (trippin’ to the altar) george cisneros (unimaginable )
but under the worsening conditions of martial law, more challenges begin to confront marilou and her village. unknown to tessie, her nephew edmond, who is also marilou’s godson, has stopped his studies in manila to join a radical activist group in the mountains near their barrio. one night edmond brings a wounded comrade to marilou’s house. marilou has no choice but to accept them. she even agrees to fetch rosa, the cabaret girl, who turns out to be the elder sister of the wounded rebel. before edmond leaves, marilou begs him to leave the movement and go back to his studies for tessie’s sake, but edmond is already committed to his ideology. in no time, edmond comes back, this time to ask permission to hold political meetings in marilou’s house. marilou turns him down, but later relents when the fascist military shoot down fr. arturo and two assistants because they were caught in the act of giving rice to the rebels. in the meetings held in her house, marilou’s eyes are opened to the oppressive conditions of martial law and the evils of the dictatorship. this realization is sharpened when marilou meets the mayor’s wife cecilia, whom the whole town knows is beaten by her dictatorial husband, an ally of marcos, whenever she confronts him about her many women. after several meetings, the unhappy and desperate cecilia believes she has found a true friend in marilou whom she admires for her bravery. one day, after the mayor tells cecilia he will separate from her, cecilia fights back by threatening to reveal all the mayor’s illegal deals to the media. cecilia is beaten black and blue. she escapes and asks marilou to accompany her to her favourite place in the forest, a precipitous cliff. there cecilia recounts to marilou what happened and after kissing marilou on the lips, jumps from the top of the cliff to her death. marilou screams in shock and disbelief .
the swiss gained 25. 4% of the votes to just finish a nose in front of black dyke’s title winning performances at the british open on ‘vita aeterna variations’ (23. 7 %) and national championship on ‘the legend of king arthur’ (22. 2% )
as always there were so many nominations made that we nearly lost count, with notable mentions from the likes of smithills schools senior band, tullis russell intermediate, elland silver youth, bml talents and the national youth bands of wales, great britain, and national children’s band amongst others .
the inaugural austrian brass band championships (24. 3 %) and the european youth championship (18. 1 %) certainly showed that they had made a mark in filling the podium places, with notable mentions for besson’s ‘urban play’ app, the huddersfield marathon band and composer rory boyle amongst others .
inevitably, a crisis forces marilou to choose one side and burn her bridge to the other. while reasonably engaging (if too leisurely in pace), the script’s developments are nearly all so conspicuously telegraphed that there’s little real suspense to a story that should often be nail - bitingly tense. (after all, anyone found in league with the anti - marcos rebels is likely to be tortured and / or killed .) even the few relatively unpredictable turns — notably an “i am spartacus” moment toward the end, and a fade offering multiple possible futures for our heroine — should resonate more than they do .
vita aeterna variations (ed de boer) british open championship ed de boer’s beautifully constructed work with its reflections on the deeply emotive feelings that encompass the loss of a loved one, was a triumph when it was first used at the european championships in 2012, and once again at symphony hall in 2014 .
at the end they were clapping endlessly! buong cbb until matapos extended. at naiyak na lang ako... sa halo - halong emosyon, may kasama ng jetlag at karga sa music ni ryan cayabyab !
reported pep. (read the entire sms exchange in pep' s report here. )
the film is about anita, a 12 - year - old girl, who falls in love with this new resident in town named pilar (angel aquino). anita' s struggle with her sexuality grows deeper as the years go by, especially when she had that magical time of dancing
cha - cha
with pilar, making her realize how she truly feels for the woman. the film won the best picture, best actress, best supporting actress, and best ensemble awards at the cinefilipino film festival last 2013 and won the osaka asian film festival in 2014. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
i love eugene domingo. she' s a versatile actress who easily wins over the hearts of her viewers. she can make you feel emotions you may or may not want to feel. iza calzado and gladys reyes are good too. nicco manalo was effective as a rebel! i could feel conviction in his every move and line .
dukit is the kapampangan word for
woodcarving
. the film features the region' s traditions in the form of art, culture, food and music. according to willy layug, dukit is about waldo, a celebrated kapampangan sculptor embittered by how the father abandoned his family for another woman. it takes waldo years and success to learn to forgive the old man. it is the latest film of acclaimed screenwriter armando “bing” lao and an official entry to the 2013 mmff independent film. the film won the best director, best feature film, and best actors at the metro manila film festival in 2013. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
and lana could very well thank his lead actress eugene domingo for all that, as the veteran' s poised performance is what anchors the film just as it sometimes veers dangerously close to comic - soap territory. rather than drawing out the transformation of her character, marilou, with broad strokes, her delivery is very controlled and somewhat internal .
doing a 180 from her self - parodying, widely exported previous turn in 2011’s “the woman in the septic tank, ” domingo drabs down effectively but tends to hit the same doleful note throughout. supporting players are solid, apart from weak link calzado, who, like a silent film diva, casts her eyes mistily heavenward whenever called upon to express a serious emotion .
also known as
the woman in the septic tank
, the film is about these film students, namely: bingbong, jocelyn, and rainier. their goal is to write the next box - office - hit, independent, oscar - worthy film. they decided to shoot in payatas dumpsite and did a pre - production with their lead actress (eugene domingo). for them, they will reach their goal if they don' t stop believing, no matter the cost. the film won the new breed full length feature award from the cinemalaya independent film festival, while eugene domingo won the asian films people' s choice award for favorite actress for this film. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
let me quote joi barrios - leblanc' s poem ang pagiging babae ay pamumuhay sa panahon ng digma ,
... ang pagiging babae ay walang katapusang pakikibaka para mabuhay at maging malaya .
. how could a woman swarmed with oppression in her daily life fight and stand for her principles? watch this film and see how every single character has their own way to answer the question .
all of a sudden, you notice you’re in san juan. your friend pulls up somewhere at addition hills. it’s almost like entering a portal to a secret man - cave. a brightly lit space with an old - fashioned interior design, with slick retro chairs, each facing the wide mirrors on both sides of the room. a flat screen television is mounted on a huge brick wall aptly decorated with empty whiskey bottles .
dagitab, or
sparks
, is a poetic film in terms of cinematography and screenplay. it discusses love in all of its forms: infatuation, young love, marriage, lost. it' s also about this couple who is struggling with their married life because of their different aspirations. pinoy babbler, who reviewed the film, hit the core of this masterpiece :
with all the emotions and deep thoughts the film imparts to its viewers, it has just the right amount of crazy to make you think, and then reconsider your relationship with others — and more importantly, your relationship with yourself .
the film won the best screenplay, best director, best actress awards at the cinemalaya independent film festival in 2014 and the best actress and best supporting actor at the gawad urian awards in 2015. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
women in martial law and feminism are rarities to talk about given how one - sided women are depicted by the crony - runed media through the squanderous blue ladies and their parties. lana' s efforts is deeply inspired and heart - felt that you become to see the real vulnerabilities of women living under the regime. the flair it sparks is laudable, which is channeled by the performances of the actress it has. every bit of them is just spectacular .
she began the film living completely as the shadow and slave of her barber husband jose, attending to his every whim – making him food, ironing his shirts, heating his bath water – and also forced to tolerate his patronizing bullying attitude and his nocturnal ventures in town. even as she takes over the business when he dies – a task encouraged by the local pastor arturo (eddie garcia, the actor - director who flourished in bwakaw) and grows into her work as a better haircutter than his spouse, the change is slight and so incremental, even as she has to contend with the mayhem around her, as she plays the matriarch who cares for the other troubled women in the village – such as susan (gladys reyes), who was pressurized into sex and continuous childbirth – while also beginning to care for the young rebel fighters in the area .
it’s almost six—the sun is golden. you live 20 kilometers away. you’re from somewhere in quezon city, or maybe alabang. wherever you’re from, you’ve probably gone through hell to get here. the traffic is unbearable, and you are exhausted. as you push the glass door, a familiar face assists you. a quick shift of mood ensues. suddenly, it doesn’t seem like a wednesday afternoon, but a sunday morning. the scent of nostalgia welcomes and greets you along with other friendly people in the neighborhood .
also known as the ,
the blossoming of maximo oliveros
, this was one of the first entries in the 1st cinemalaya independent film festival back in 2005. this coming - of - age film rotates around 12 - year - old effeminate gay named maximo who is torn between his love for this bachelor police and his family. in 2006, the berlin international film festival awarded the film as the best feature film and in 2010 was awarded by the gawad urian awards the best filipino film of the decade. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
this is the
saksak puso
film that you have been looking for! starring joross gamboa, prince stefan, cj reyes and ae pattawan, i love you. thank you. is about these four gay guys who are all struggling through the joys and pains of unrequited love. shot in the breathtaking lands of thailand, cambodia and vietnam, this film will surely quench your wanderlust and endless search for enlightenment. the film won the indie movie musical scorer of the year at the star awards for movies this year, and was nominated best picture at the world premieres film festival in 2015. more on the film' s list of nominations here .
badil is a bicolano word for
gun
. the film depicts in vivid realism the mysterious and flawed politics in the philippines, especially in the remote areas of the country. the story follows mang ponso (dick israel), lando (jhong hilario) and jen (nikki gil) as they act the main characters in the film. according to imdb reviewer, 3xhcch ,
the script of rody vera was so well - written, so gritty, down - to - earth, natural, and educational as well. director chito rono proves that even with a limited budget of p1. 5m from the film development council of the philippines, one can create a film with beautiful cinematography, exciting editing, artistic depth and national significance. now that is a true master. 9 / 10 .
the film won the indie movie of the year award from star awards for movies in 2014, while jhong hilario won the best performance award from the young critics circle. more on the film' s list of awards and nominations here .
but worse is still to come. the mayor tells marilou to keep silent about the incident and then officially announces that it was the npa that ambushed and killed his wife. the media pick up his story and the mayor gets overwhelming sympathy from all, including president marcos who announces he will attend the funeral. to prepare for marcos’ visit, the mayor asks marilou to give him a haircut. as he promises marilou that she will be generously compensated for keeping her silence, marilou fatally stabs the mayor in the neck with his special gold - handled scissors. with luck, marilou is able to leave the mayor’s house unnoticed. she goes home and, to disguise herself, cuts her long hair and hides elsewhere in the barrio. to help marilou escape, her friends tessie, susan, rosa, and some kabaret girls take advantage of the good friday procession to smuggle her out of town, confusing the military by having all of their long hair cut short like that of marilou. marilou successfully escapes into the mountains and eventually joins the npa, taking luz (light) as her nom - de - guerre, the name that cecilia would have given the first child she never had .
welcome to rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. rappler comes from the root words
rap
( to discuss) +
ripple
( to make waves) .
the cast includes eddie garcia, daniel fernando, nonie buencamino, iza calzado, and sharmaine buencamino .
marilou is quiet, taciturn, and unsure. she is an effigy of that familiar woman left suffering in the sidelines .
lana, like diaz - abaya, incorporates other female roles into the fold, such as the prostitute (played beautifully by sue prado), the oft - pregnant best friend (gladys reyes), the doting old maid (shamaine centenera), the battered wife (played with such wayward fragility by iza calzado) of the philandering politico (a devious nonie buencamino), into his film only to break and twist them to suit his message .
thankfully, lana forgoes defining female empowerment as the incorporation of commonly conceived male traits by female characters. to do so would only be a case of missing the point and celebrating the wrong things .
its rhythm is gradual and measured, never rushing only for the sake of plot. the film is peppered with humor, which seems to poke fun at how men, who are depicted in the film as either weak or needy, are subservient to women despite their control .
eugene domingo, eddie garcia, iza calzado, gladys reyes, shamaine buencamino, noni buencamino, nicco manalo, nora aunor, daniel fernando, sue prado. (filipino, tagalog, english dialogue )
barber 's tales ( filipino : mga kuwentong barbero ) is a 2013 filipino drama film by jun robles lana . the film stars eugene domingo as marilou , a widow who is forced to take her late husband ’s job as community barber during the end of marcos era . the film is the follow up to lana ’s film bwakaw and second of a trilogy focused on the small town life in the philippines . the film had its world premiere and competed at the 2013 tokyo international film festival , where it won the best actress award for eugene domingo 's performance . the film had its commercial release in the philippines on august 13 , 2014 . 
barber's tales (filipino: mga kuwentong barbero) is a 2013 filipino drama film by jun robles lana. the film stars eugene domingo as marilou, a widow who is forced to take her late husband ’s job as community barber during the end of marcos era. the film is the follow up to lana ’s film bwakaw and second of a trilogy focused on the small town life in the philippines. the film had its world premiere and competed at the 2013 tokyo international film festival, where it won the best actress award for eugene domingo's performance. the film had its commercial release in the philippines on august 13, 2014.
barber's tales (filipino: mga kuwentong barbero) is a 2013 filipino drama film by jun robles lana. the film stars eugene domingo as marilou, a widow who is forced to take her late husband ’s job as community barber during the end of marcos era. the film is the follow up to lana ’s film bwakaw and second of a trilogy focused on the small town life in the philippines. the film had its world premiere and competed at the 2013 tokyo international film festival, where it won the best actress award for eugene domingo's performance. the film had its commercial release in the philippines on august 13, 2014.