A review: Corazon, Ang Unang Aswang

Last night, I had to leave a bountiful dinner with my classmates just in time for a watch of a film which had been stimulating my curiosity several days before.

     The film was relived during the times of the Japanese regime, in a small rural barrio where couple Daniel (Derek Ramsay) and Corazon (Erich Gonzales) reside in despondence of child bearing. The villagers were discriminate about Corazon who they allegedly accused as a daughter of a whore.  Corazon has succumbed to the lost a their expected son and became insane in the later half of the story. She cursed the heavens for taking her baby away without giving her the chance to hear it cry. She swears that the barrio will no longer hear any child's cry--the village has to pay for all her pain. Sooner, she was found in the wilderness preying on boars and eventually, haunted the houses for human flesh. Daniel, oin the other hand, is a stereotypical character who loved his wife until the very end regardless of his wife's  demonic transformation.

     The movie, "Corazon, Ang Unang Aswang" had its fair share of good and bad remarks from the viewers. Allow me to iterate first the advantages the movie earned.

    First, I congratulate the movie for the commendable visual appeal. Through the use of a warm film grain; appropriate costumes and props; and,reconstruction of village set,  it succeeded in setting the movie back into the period of the Japanese occupation. Second, the sound mixing and sound effects added to the drama and intensity of each scenes--most effectively utilized when the aswang has been preying on the children in the barrio. It gave me cues whether the antagonist would devour to its next victim and fortunately, I was able to prepare myself. Third, there are good qualities when it comes to cinematography but, I'll save my negative comments later. Nevertheless, I like how scenes have been established and the consistency in the use of camera angles and movements. The filmmakers had always established first the set before cutting close to the characters in action to a tolerable fashion. Lastly, the film was not boring in a way that it has entertained me in several ways-- this  leads to my negative comments. 

    I remembered more of the criticisms. It was actually my purpose in viewing it. Just an addition, to my curiosity which likewise capitalized in judging the improvement of local films. In the end, I was a mere viewer  who always has something to say.

    The film has been challenged, all throughout, by the film editing characterized by incoherent scenes and overt jumping of frames. Probably, it was an effect the filmmakers were trying to achieve like vignettes to complete the story; however, I was lost at some parts because a scene will cut into an irrelevant one then go back to the previous scene. In the end, it cuts away the tension because my thought was interrupted by the shift.

    The story was not as compelling as I was expecting because the film was a cliche. The dialogues, scenes, and flow was predictable. I don't know if this was only in my mind and the other viewers felt opposite about this, but some lines appealed corny to my senses especially on the lovey-dovey scenes of Corazon and Daniel , the squealing and twitching of head of the mad woman was irritatingly exaggerated, and the drama has not moved my heart because I had already anticipated the circumstances of the story.

   The film is successful, otherwise, because it had proved that the Philippine Cinema can also produce other genre. In the end, it was an entertaining watch and a good dessert --afterall, I left a meal without having one.

Passenger Seat

A blatant truth pierced through my heart and left me the paranoia that life, sometimes, can sever through the hands of others.

One night on my way home, I was looking for a ride via Evangelista-Libertad. There were numerous vehicles to choose from, but, I boarded this particular jeep for it was attractive and a lively one—perfectly complementing my gloomy feeling. The several small blinking lights accentuating its rear and sides seemed a minor detail against the interior which looked bouncy of mirror mosaic ceiling, groovy lights and hippy music. I was sitting by the entrance along with another passenger a middle-aged woman who was near the captain. I never thought about it at first, but, the driver was as active as his vehicle.

For the entire journey, I wanted to pull the driver’s hair off because he actually transformed his jeep into a racing vehicle. All the while, I was imagining a spinning roulette from among the possible causes for a car accident which might happen anytime out of reckless and unlawful driving. How would have we ended if that sharp abrupt turn in the street had cars in the counter flow? Or, what would likely occur if the driver missed the road signal because of the loud music? I was paranoid.

My resentment of the experience was, the idea that I was forced to a dependency on the driver who doesn’t seem to care about nor has the consciousness to value his passengers. That moment, I feared for my life because I was not prepared to face a meaningless death. I mean, where was the dignity of dying in the hands of a juvenile driver?  Not only that, I thought about the woman who has her family waiting for her at home. Or, what if he hit a boy along the way? Did the driver ever think of these possibilities?

The driver missed the significant lessons—the sense of responsibility and obedience. Not only him but also everyone has a role in which we have to perform properly. We were tasked to do it; therefore, we must be reliable and mature enough to be the person in control of the situation especially if other people’s welfare were involved.  Along with, proper observation of the law was essential. We know how to break rules; then, we should also know how to follow them. We must know when to stop or to go.

I missed to give him these enlightenment. I suddenly felt the blame was on the apathetic citizen like myself—who should have been a purveyor of awareness. I was conscious all along but I never bothered.

Nevertheless, we are lucky to have God, above all, who takes the wheel and drives us all into safe; and who, in the end, erases all these paranoia.

I think that experience is applicable to any aspects in life. There would be other instances that would situate us into similar dependency requiring our responsibility and obedience.

But, now I know.