RATING 3.5/5
"I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let the lead the way," goes a Michael Jackson song. How can the children be our future when there are many with no bright spots to look forward to?
As if alluding to the children's world in this socialist drama, the film starts just before the break of dawn, as Maya (Celine Juan) wonders what the group led by Rita (Ai-Ai de las Alas) is going to with her after they made it plain that they abducted her and she will not be going home anytime soon. The school service our antiheroes are riding in is making its way through the pitch black of the night, akin to what they do whether it's night or day, deeds that must be hidden for it is illegal.
Louie Ignacio as of late has had interest in the downtrodden with the materials he chose to direct, be it the beggar Badjaos of Laut or the forgotten prostitutes of Area, the latter having had Ai-Ai as well in the leading role. Unlike the aforementioned films, this one focused on three point-of-views, that of Maya and the other children of the school service, Rita and her relationship with Maya, and finally Rita's brother Robert (played by the brilliant Joel Lamangan), as he makes a big decision involving his lover (Kambal Karibal's Kevin Sagra) which would make or break the future of all.
This triple focus gave us a 360 degree view of the all the character's perspective. It is good that even the smallest roles in the film are notable, especially the children whose physicality and nuances vary from one another. However, just as another review stated, it is better to have had the film focusing on Rita like what the director did with Area. The swift shift from one character arc to another kind of derails the drama but everything works out just fine if it's the type of audience who will just trust the film to take him/her along for the ride because it really puts you in the moment in a way that you will not be able to predict the ending, or guess when will it ever end. Another logical reason for this is that however good a comedy actress Ai-Ai is, she is 10 times better in a dramatic role.
Hindi ko alam kung saang minahan niya hinuhugot yung emotions niya but deeeeymmmmn, it's totally deep.
My favorite scene in the film was a portion in the trailer where it both has the aesthetic of Kubrick and the world of Teletubby combined. I know for a fact that if it is the goal of the film to make us look at children begging as human beings and not just some pests wanting to take our hard earned money away, it has succeeded.
Rain Yamson's camera work is impeccable as usual especially when shooting scenes in the dark without it being grainy or the shots with a lot of movement where the camera shakes just a little or not at all.
As I crossed the street to Harbour Square to eat a very late dinner after my first day of Cinemalaya, I passed by children, who, with or without a school service, is in similar dire straits as those characters in the film. As I reached into my coin purse to get whatever I can give them, I felt a lone tear creeping down my cheek.
REMAINING SCHEDULES AND FACEBOOK LINK
AUGUST 7 (TUE):
12:45 PM -- CCP Studio Theater
7:00 PM -- Legazpi (Cinema 4)
AUGUST 8 (WED):
2:00 PM -- Greenbelt 1 (Cinema 1)
2:00 PM -- UP Town Center (Cinema 3)
3:30 PM -- CCP Main Theater
AUGUST 9 (THU):
2;00 PM -- Glorietta 4 (Cinema 4)
2:00 PM -- Trinoma (Cinema 3)
9:00 PM -- CCP Studio Theater
AUGUST 10 (FRI):
12:45 PM -- CCP Main Theater
2:00 PM -- Legazpi (Cinema 4)
AUGUST 11 (SAT):
10:00 AM -- CCP Little Theater
7:00 PM -- Glorietta 4 (Cinema 4)
7:00 PM -- Trinoma (Cinema 3)
AUGUST 12 (SUN):
2:00 PM -- Greenbelt 1 (Cinema 1)
2:00 PM -- UP Town Center (Cinema 3)
https://www.facebook.com/School-Service-cinemalaya-film-238739590236812/
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