4 must-see films at Cinemalaya 22: ‘2 Valid IDs,’ ‘Hand of God’ and more

From Pokwang’s everywoman turn to a moving Basilan story, these four Cinemalaya 22 films deserve a spot on your watchlist.

Filipino film enthusiasts eagerly welcomed the return of local productions at Cinemalaya’s Aug. 6 kickoff, ending a long moviegoing drought that began after “First Light,” “Drags to Riches” and “A Quiet Bloom” were released simultaneously on June 24. (Meanwhile, Roni Benaid’s woman-in-black horror blunder, “Rosario,” hit the screens on Aug. 5.)

We couldn’t wait to see the current batch of feature films, having enjoyed nine of the 10 (90%) entries last year. The only misfire for us was the well-intentioned but soporific “Padamlagan.”

While this year’s creative yield also has more hits than misses, a six-out-of-nine (67%) scorecard is relatively low for the country’s preeminent indie showcase.

Be that as it may, our Cinemalaya 22 run opened on a high note, anchored by festival opener “Enjoy Your Stay,” Dominik Locher and Honee Alipio’s gut-wrenching OFW drama, and Ruby Ruiz’s superb starrer “Status: Rejected.”

Unfortunately, that opening-day momentum quickly stalled, derailed by a grueling moviegoing stretch that included the sluggish pacing of May-i Guia Padilla’s “Tirik,” the downbeat proselytizing of JL Burgos’ “Ganggang,” and—despite its exhilarating worldbuilding—the grating theatricality of Giancarlo Abrahan’s gothic horror flick “Mag-iina,” whose screen-swallowing portrayals from an otherwise stellar cast are better suited onstage than onscreen.

Our luck shifted over the next three rain-drenched days, with all five succeeding films happily meeting or exceeding our expectations.

Because a ₱350 ticket is a steep ask for penny-pinching cinephiles, we’re narrowing down the options for you, dear readers. If you can only watch four entries, make these titles your priority (listed below in order of preference):

‘2 Valid IDs’

Direction: Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan 

Starring Marietta Subong aka Pokwang as the quintessential Everywoman, the film astutely captures the rising desperation of cash-strapped Sylvia Ramos as she struggles to claim the money sent to her by a relative in New Zealand without the two compulsory IDs required by remittance centers. 

Sylvia needs cash fast to pay the mounting hospital bills of her increasingly ill husband, Ramon (Joey Marquez), and secure him life-saving care.

“2 Valid IDs” should be mandatory viewing for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in government service (politicians, government employees), grounding them in the desperate day-to-day realities of the Filipino people.

Pokwang and Joey Marquez are our top picks for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively—although the lead actress derby could easily be a tossup between Pokwang and Ruby Ruiz, who acquits herself with a similarly crackerjack characterization in “Status: Rejected.”

‘Hand of God’

Direction: Mark Duane Angos

In terms of thematic pertinence, the film is as much a punch in the gut as “2 Valid IDs.” Based on a true story, “Hand of God” follows the events that transpire after soldier Ed Reyes (Ruru Madrid in another strong turn) and his peers build a football post for the children of a war-stricken Basilan village in Southern Mindanao. 

It doesn’t take long before Ed forges a bond with skeptical child soldier Khaleel (Best Actor frontrunner KD Omalin), who eventually trades his gun for football. But as hope for a different life grows, Ed, Khaleel and his doting mom Farida (Iza Calzado, moving in a role that casts her against type) must come to terms with the deadly repercussions of their newfound friendship.  

It’s the type of production that could boost the country’s chances for the elusive Oscar and follow in the footsteps of other kid-centric tales, including Italy’s “Cinema Paradiso,” the Czech Republic’s “Kolya,” and Iran’s “The White Balloon.” Perhaps the same formula could work in our favor.

‘Status: Rejected’

Direction: Vahn Leinard Pascual 

In this “dramedy,” Ruby Ruiz shuttles once again between soul-stirring drama and rip-roaring comedy with ease as 69-year-old Biring Divinagracia, who longs for the promise of a better life in the United States—preferably with an “afam” lover! She continues to hope even after five rejections for a US visa.

Biring’s palpable excitement over a charming American soldier soon earns the ire of her overworked, angry daughter Anna (Alessandra de Rossi, a Best Supporting Actress frontrunner) when the latter finds out there’s more to her lovesick mom’s chatmate than a romantic agenda.

Comedies are often underappreciated by award-giving bodies. However, I don’t see why “comedic” Ruby couldn’t give “dramatic” Pokwang a fierce competition in the Best Actress race. After all, it has always been part of every Pinoy’s coping mechanism to laugh off his woes.

‘Kaka sa Yawan’ (Brothers by the River)

Direction: Alpha Habon

This thoughtfully realized and multilayered coming-of-age story examines the friendship between Manila boy Niko Galvez (Bryce Nicolo Mercader in a career-boosting performance) and his newfound Tadyawan-Mangyan friend, Ayan Alibutbot (Dennis Dato, who could pull an upset in the Best Supporting Actor category), who share one life-changing summer in Mindoro. Years later, Niko (Beaver Magtalas) returns to fulfill a promise—and find closure. 

For film buffs who can stretch their budget beyond four films, the two other entries we would recommend are Dustin Celestino’s wildly unsettling satire “A.ni.mál” and David Corpuz’s earnest LGBT drama “Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam.” 

Other notable performances in the festival include those turned in by Maxine Ignacio and Reymund “Mano” Domingo (in “A.ni.mál”), Martin del Rosario, Yayo Aguila, Epy Quizon and Madeleine Nicolas in “Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam,” Noelle Polack, Karl Medina and Nikki Valdez in “Kaka sa Yawan,” Zaijian Jaranilla and Meryll Soriano in “2 Valid IDs,” and Janine Gutierrez in “Mag-iina.”

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