Amok

A Cinemalaya, Pelikulaw presentation from the Pelikulaw production. (Worldwide sales: Pelikulaw, Quezon City, Philippines.) Produced by Tessa Aquino, Lawrence Fajardo. Executive producer, Krisma M. Fajardo. Co-producers, Josabeth Alonso, Maria Suzette Ranillo. Directed, edited by Lawrence Fajardo. Script, John Bedia.With: Mark Gil, Dido Dela Paz, Garry Lim, Archi Adamos, Lui Manansala, Efren Reyes Junior., Patricia Ismael, Acey Aguilar, Nonie Buencamino, Ermie Concepcion, Akira Sapla, Xavi Hemady. (Tagalog, British dialogue)Social realism and slow-burn suspense mix to create solid if rather familiar results in "Amok." A multistrand criss-crosser about others connected by an action of violence around the sweltering day, this drama by Filipino helmer Lawrence Fajardo produces vivid pictures of Manila street existence but handles to get rid of impact with unsubtle speechmaking inside the tragedy's aftermath. A great addition for the steady stream of Filipino low-budget photos dealing with harsh urban reality, pic must have a decent fest existence and stake some claims just like a niche smallscreen item. Local release particulars are pending. Edsa-Pasay Rotonda, a massive intersection round the edges of Manila with crowded paths, pedestrian bridges plus an elevated railway track, is rapidly fascinating. One of the city's most widely used modems, it comes down lower alive like a kind of tentacled creature transporting around shifting public of humanity. The pic intros numerous figures with short and snappy sketches. First seen is Belen (Patricia Ismael), a food vendor who keeps one eye on her behalf account grilled meat as well as the other on youthful daughter Mai-Mai (Akira Sapla). Waiting for a bus is Manuel (Nonie Buencamino), father of Samuel (Xavi Hemady), a young professional basketball hopeful. Stuck in site visitors are impatient driver Tinoy (Archi Adamos), brother of wealthy lady Melinda (Lui Manansala). One of the handful of interior locations might be the rundown apartment of Rogelio (Mark Gil), a ageing actor whose transaction with hooker Claire (Ivy Rivera) is completed in the furious argument. John Bedia's tightly built script imparts sufficient particulars about each character before moving to the following. Result's an intriguing number of anyone else simply trying to handle your entire day, while others with a lot more dark agendas. Among people are Sarge (Efren Reyes Junior.), a goon utilized by shady property designers which has paid out senior citizens lady Lola (Ermie Concepcion) to produce fire with a squatter settlement. Most menacing is Edwin (Garry Lim), a mohawk-sporting, short-tempered pool-hustler whose confrontation with market-stall holder Dido (Dido Dela Paz) triggers the sudden explosion of violence. The carefully arranged and well completed multilayered scenario is absorbing, nevertheless the film's climactic moment does less than supply the cathartic payback it promises. Auds surely will probably be affected, nevertheless the overall impact is undercut by some poorly staged TV news footage through which characters' reactions appear a great deal a lot more like press bulletins about social injustice in comparison to voices of people deeply hurt. Lenser Louie Quirino's steady camera and striking plans certainly are a refreshing change from the faux-docu shaky-cam technique that's become this kind of visual cliche in tales such as this. Production values and technical work are impressive around the lean budget.Camera (color, HD), Louie Quirino music, Von p Guzman production designer, Fajardo appear (stereo system system), Mike Idioma, Addis B. Tabong assistant director, Jobin Ballesteros second unit camera, Maisa Demetillo. Examined at Busan Film Festival (A Window on Asian Cinema), March. 12, 2011. Running time: 83 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com