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).
