GREATWKS TUHOG Review

Dayos, Kim Patrick P.GREATWKS A56Prof. Solapco29 July 2013

TUHOG: Movie Review

Nowadays, mainstream filmmakers often create stories to earn big bucks. Undeniably, these stories were generated out of wants of the viewers. Hence, these films are not of original and authentic piece of art. I would rather watch independent films like the ones being shown in Cinemalaya, an indie film festival for filmmakers with utmost passion for the art.

It is sad but true; Tuhog was one of the mainstream movies I am talking about. With due respect to the actors and actresses, the concept of incorporating three stories in one film is not new to me. It was used over and over in the film industry. In fact, GMA films The Road used three stories as a springboard to the main story. Although they tried to make it a little bit different from the others by inserting twists in the film; for example, the baby of Fiesta, which in the end she had to choose who would live between herself and the baby. Pretty much Tuhog follows the same pattern, acquainting us to the main characters by presenting their everyday lives, what is their personality, how they deal with the world and how will they be interconnected with other stories.

Even though it was patterned to other films both international and local, I liked spontaneity of the interrelation of the lead characters. Tonio being a retired office worker, he has nothing to do in life other than spending time with his friends playing card games. Caloy, a college student living in a dormitory with his schoolmates have nothing to think of than his girlfriend Angel who transferred to the province. When his girlfriend came to town for a visit, Caloy immediately transported to see his girlfriend. Fiesta, for me the most interesting story, has nothing to care of than his drunkard father. He works hard all day in a bus to finance his fathers needs. Her mother left them in a mall when she was a kid. They waited for her mother to comeback until the closing of the mall but her mother didnt returned. It caused her to have a trauma in closing stores. For the first time, he had a thing with a guy, Nato. They had sexual intercourse. And of course Fiesta bore a child but Nato didnt knew he impregnate Fiesta. The common thing among the three stories was the fact that they all needed to ride a bus. This is where the spontaneity of the story kicks in. The presence of the lead characters in the accident was unforced, thus making it less stiff.

Overall, the movie was so-so. I was not impressed but I was not disappointed as well. Theres this feeling that wanting more from it. The ending was too conventional that I felt the audience wanted that kind of a conclusion. For me, I wanted an ending that leaves more questions unanswered to which the audience will plot the conclusion themselves (I am really biased towards indie films).