Tuesday 17 September 2013

Metro Manila (2013) directed by Sean Ellis, 5th September


Plot

Set in the Philippines. After a poor harvest, rice farmer and former soldier Oscar is forced to seek a better life with his family in Manila. Like a fish out of water the family are overwhelmed by the intensity of the city and fall foul of their situation and taken advantage from the hard bitten locals. Luckily Oscar finds a break working as an armoured car guard. His luck changes and his senior partner takes Oscar under his wing but is he being used again.

Review 

Set in the Philippines this film was written and directed by English director Sean Ellis.

This film is a mash up of Genres.

The film opens with beautiful lush shots of the countryside in the Northern Phillipines. After the failed harvest, Oscar and his family journey to Manila and once there they try to seek a better life but they fall further into poverty whilst trying to maintain their dignity. Oscar takes up any labouring work whilst Mia his wife starts to work as a hostess in a girly bar. Everywhere they turn people are hostile and when people are helpful they soon fall victim to them. This thread is shot as an arthouse/documentary style with long lingering shots of Oscar and Mai and the countryside as they journey to Manila. It also highlights the poverty and sex industry of the city.

Then by chance Oscar applies for a job as an armoured car guard. He is spotted by Ong a seasoned guard who helps to get him the job and soon Oscar becomes his pupil. Here there is definitely chemistry between Oscar ( Jake Macapagal) and Ong ( John Arcilla). Hence we enter the buddy/cop film.

Ong is not as he appears and from his actions he sets Oscar onto a course of action which he cannot escape. Finally the film becomes a thriller/heist film.

The soundtrack though quite minimal really adds to the film.

As said before this is a mash up of styles from arthouse/documentary, buddy/cop and finally thriller/heist. There are enough twists and turns in the film and real tension as the film comes to it's climax. Though the film does slightly drag with the arthouse/documentary part but this is due to the subject matter of the unrelenting hopelessness, harshness, poverty and poor luck which makes it quite depressing.

To be honest this film's story does not have to be based in the Philippines and it could be easily transposed to any part of the world and it would still work. The story alone has a universal appeal.

An altogether quite complete film which was really entertaining and stands out significantly. My favourite film of the year. Go and see it.

10/10

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