Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Hilot


Isa sa mga epektibong midyum ng pagpapamulat sa partikular na isyu ay ang pelikula. Especially yaong mga full length movie na ‘di kagaya ng mga documentary films na tadtad ng mga boring na statistics, masyadong intelektuwal ang presentasyon, mga challenge na hindi pinag-uukulang pansin, mga temang kontrobersyal na (sa tingin ng marami ay) nakakatakot lahukan, at iba pa; kaya hindi tumatagos sa kaisipan ng manonood. Mas tumitimo sa damdamin at utak ang mga palabas kagaya ng “Pay It Forward” na pinagbidahan nina Kevin Spacey at Helen Hunt na directed by Mimi Ledder noong taong 2000. Sapagkat buhay ang mga karakter, may continuity ang istorya, at technically-accepted ng masa, kumpletos-rekados ‘ika nga. Besides, kahit ang Guiness Book of World Records noon ay nag-ulat na nangungunang movie addicts,-este,..goers, sa mundo ay mga Pinoy...

Kung kagaya lang noong kapanahunan ko na may limang sinehan dito sa San Jose, kung buhay pa ang Levi Rama, Golden Gate, Green Cinema (1 and 2), at Gem Theater, hindi ko lang aabangan ang pelikulang ito kundi tutulong ako para maging isa itong (tinatawag namin noong) “Benefit Show” at ang proceeds ay p’wedeng gamitin sa adbokasiya para sa pag-papamulat o paghuhubog para sa paninindigan ng Bikaryato sa aborsiyon at responsableng pagmamagulang at iba pang kaugnay na apostolado. Sayang, dedbol na ang industriya ng sinehan dito sa amin…

Sa buong Pilipinas nga pala ay itinakda ngayong buwan ng Pebrero ang tinatawag na “Pro-Life Month” at sa mga parokya dito sa Kanlurang Mindoro ay may ilang aktibidad na naka-ankla sa nasabing tema. Gagawa ako ng paraan para mapanood ang pelikulang ito.

Ang pelikulang aking binabanggit ay ang “Hilot” na idinirehe ni Neal “Buboy” Tan (na director din ng maraming titillating films (TF) noong 80’s at 90’s kagaya ng “Marital Rape” at Check-Inn”) na napanood ko rin ‘yung iba (shh…!).

Ang “Hilot” ay nag-premier showing noong ika-29 ng Enero 2009 na inindorso hindi lamang ng Department of Education (DepEd) kundi ni Sr. Pilar Versoza ng Pro-Life Philippine Foundation, Inc. at iba pa.

Ang synopsis na ginawa ng ClicktheCity.com.Movies ay more or less ganito: “A young girl serves as an assistant to her mother, a traditional “hilot” who performs induced abortions for unwanted pregnancies. As the girl becomes more aware of the consequences of their profession, she comes at odds with her mother, and finds herself in a tough position when one of her classmates approaches her for the procedure..”

Ang “Hilot” ay isang pelikulang tumatagal ng isang oras at kuwarenta minutos na ginawaran ng PG-13 ng MTRCB. Tampok sa pelikulang ito ang mga hindi gaanong sikat na mga child actors na sina BeeJay Morales, Empress Schuck kasama ang mga batikang artista na sina Ricardo Cepeda, Ma. Isabel Lopez at Melisa Mendes sa papel na “Amparo”, ang hilot, ang aborsiyonista.

Sa ginawang film review ni Beverly Grace Andal para sa Pro-Life Philippines ay isinulat niya: “Truly this film moved me. I can say that this was a remarkable piece for it awakens the viewers to the reality of life, the effects of pre-marital sex to the youngsters, the effects of abortion and how people become susceptible to do bad things just to escape from their past…”

Pero pu-pwede pa rin naman. May mga church organization naman na makagagawa ng paraan para maipalabas ito sa mga parokya sa ilang captive audience na lalahukan reflection session pagkatapos. Ewan ko lang kung saan available and VCD o DVD kung meron man silang iprinudyos.

Kahit hindi na uso ang sinehan sa Occidental Mindoro, may available naman ngayong LCD projector at laptop computers na ating magagamit. O kahit privately ay mapanood sana natin ito kahit tapos na ang Pro-Life Month.

Pero marami kaya ang mga katulad ni Amparo sa ating mga pamayanan?.

6 comments:

  1. mas tingin ko sa pelikulang ito ay pro-choice.

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  2. Hindi ko pa ito napanood e.. pero may natisod akong review ng film critec ni Charlie Koon sa kanyang blog sa "hilot" at ika-copy paste ko dito:

    "It doesn’t mean that if a film advocates the principle of righteous judgment, that it will mechanically be tagged as ‘a-must-see’ film. Many religious groups have already recommended Hilot. It is apparent because it advocates the stop of abortion. On a moral level, yes of course, something that is opposed to sin will perhaps get the endorsement from the scrupulous and conscientious sects of society. The bible says “Let who is without sin, cast the first stone.” and it must also be a lesson for all writers. Hilot is not a very good advocacy film. It gives an impression that if you’re a bad person, you will suffer ‘big time’.

    Hilot has good intentions with the film’s strive towards the eradication of abortion. But with the confines of film as a whole, it lacks polishing. The script makes too much effort in building up confrontations and moral arguments which is hypocritical in its manner. There is too much campaigning on how horrendous abortion is to the point wherein the characters have to suffer so much to the peak of being pointless. As a fellow writer, it is best to embrace the characters no matter how flawed they are. That is the best way to enlighten the viewers of their plight. I am not entirely saying that it is prohibited to make the characters suffer for their cruelty, but it has to be justly done without being too contrived. The problem is not that the film took a stand, but the way it presented its argument.

    I am also concerned with Schuck’s performance. She looks distressed in all aspects but has managed to be a school achiever. It is a bit confusing especially with how she acts out the life of a daughter who lived in a house full of misery. She could have been used to it. I think she does not anymore require looking more sympathetic. She intrinsically has those qualities already. Mendez’ character could have been polished more. I like the angelic look on her face. It gives contrast to her character as the abortionist.

    I am a religious person but I will not proffer my stance on this matter. Films are made to enlighten us. But I am sure that Hilot gives a confusing enlightenment for me to doubt its advocacy. Films do not need encouragement from the Church for it to be watched. We too are the Church. I love films. We critics love films. We love life. We are inclined to love characters even if they are iniquitous. We are pro-good films."

    Makapag-abang nga ng DVD nito...

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  3. Erratum : "critic" instead of "critec". Na-typo error pa.

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  4. hanapan kita. marami nagtitinda sa MRT station sa Shaw.

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  5. Yung hindi pirated. Magagalit ang OMB...

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  6. Ngiii! di yun abot ng OMB. Pero as of now, hindi pa raw alam ng mga nagtitinda sa MRT yung movie, kasi puro english lang ang binebenta nila.

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