Mindanao, especially to those living in the Philippines, usually conjure up images of armed conflict between Muslims and Christians when the place is mentioned. However, we tend to forget that beyond all this Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines, is a place like any other place, populated with people that have hope and dreams, healthy or sick, and families doing the best that they can to stay together despite the challenges.
The story revolves around Saima (Judy Ann Santos) who has taken up residence in the House of Hope so her cancer-stricken daughter Aisa (Yuna Tangog) could be better taken care of. However, the doctor is upfront with her with regards to the incurability of the tumor and that is when Saima begins telling Aisa about the story of two brothers, Rajah and Sulayman, who fights against two dragons Ginto and Pula so that a princess with the same name as hers would be free from their grip and the world would be all right again.
The unconventional storytelling using three different directorial styles is both interesting and unsettling. The third POV of the film is embodied by the story of Saima's father Malang (Allen Dizon) who is a field medic currently on an operation in Maguindanao. There are inserts of the animated crayon drawings all throughout the film while the POV of Malang begins around the second half of the film.
Despite not being a perfect film mainly due to the lack of backstory of the characters, it finds strength in Judy Ann's steady gait as she deals with all of these problems with patients and becomes the embodiment of the words engraved on Solomon's ring: "This too shall pass."
Mindanao is an official MMFF entry and it opens to a wide release in Philippine cinemas on December 25.
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Production Company / Contact: Centre Stage Productions CSP htsldobles.csp@gmail.com
Producer: Brillante Ma Mendoza, Carlo Valenzona
Screenplay: Honee Alipio
Editing: Diego Marx Dobles
Cinematography: Odyssey Flores
Production Design: Dante Mendoza
Music: Teresa Barrozo
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Allen Dizon, Yuna Tangog, Ruby Ruiz, Ketchup Eusebio, Epy Quizon
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