To commemorate the decade coming to a close, we look at 25 films that best defined this era of Philippine cinema.
This decade in cinema will be identified as a summation of multiple moving parts - from the landscape and technological shifts, movements born of movies, and new ideologies shaped by cinema. Lastly, and also closely related to what I just previously mentioned, in the 2010s, we witnessed the dissolution of the “mainstream-indie” dichotomy.Īre the “mainstream” and “indie” labels even applicable nowadays, when budgets and industry don’t significantly differ? If it’s a matter of sensibility, how can we distinguish when “independent” filmmakers are directing studio-backed movies, while established actors and filmmakers from the big networks are also increasingly going “indie”? And let’s not even delve into the question of whether it’s based on notions of quality. In this decade, we saw how a niche, arthouse interest became “eventized,” a tradition larger audiences would dabble in and flock towards to - to an extent - in the context of Cinemalaya. In this decade, we witnessed how these small budget movies moved from being shot with consumer digital cameras to some of the most high-end cameras in the industry, providing some of the most arresting visuals on screen. Though one may argue that this current “Third Golden Age” (the first two being the ‘50s and the mid-’70s to ‘80s) was ushered in the 2000s - the frequent signpost being Auraeus Solito’s 2005 “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” - it was in the 2010’s that we saw, arguably, the current peak of Philippine cinema. Jadaone’s film also gives voice to a group that is often sidelined as hysterical and mindless young girls-when in fact, they are also a new force of social justice-whether through fancams, donations, or mobilizing movements.Manila (CNN Philippines Life) - We’ll always look back at this decade as a transformative era for Philippine cinema. The film speaks to many different kinds of fans, whether those of singers, artists, filmmakers, athletes, or politicians.
While Fan Girl occurs in the Philippines, its story is universal.
#Tagalog movies romance movie#
Jadaone’s movie forces audiences to think about the complexities of fandom culture, as well as their roles and boundaries as fans. The film focuses on the relationship between a young girl named Jane (Charlie Dizon) and her idol Paulo Avelino (who plays a fictional version of himself). The latest title from director Antoinette Jadaone and Black Sheep Productions, Fan Girl swept 2020’s Metro Manila Film Festival and won eight well-deserved awards. Our selection for the very best Pinoy movie of 2020 is Fan Girl. Fan Girlĭirector: Antoinette Jadaone | Starring: Charlie Dizon, Paulo Avelino | Genre: Coming-of-Age, Drama
This is also a rare Pinoy movie that gained a wide virtual release in the US and other countries during 2020, allowing overseas audiences to get a taste of Filipino stories on the silver screen. It has a tightly woven plot, a significant degree of suspense, and a compelling underlying moral conflict. Instead of relegating herself to the trope of victimhood, she embraces a sense of measured defiance.īeyond humanism, Watch List is also entertaining. Alessandra de Rossi’s performance as Maria feels especially poignant. Though many movies depict the Drug War, Watch List stands out with a humanistic depiction of its characters. Though Watch List had its festival running starting in 2019, we’re including it on this list because it had a Philippine release in 2020, and is worth highlighting for its sociopolitical relevance.Īmidst the contemporary Philippine Drug War, Watch List centers on a woman named Maria who joins a force of vigilantes after her husband is murdered for being an alleged drug pusher. Director: Ben Rekhi | Starring: Arthur Acuña, Bernard Carritero, Alessandra de Rossi | Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller