‘It all boils down to good and compelling content and good word of mouth as imperatives’
When Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Chair Jose Javier Reyes said, “A beautiful play performing to full houses. A Thai film showing to sold out audiences. And Filipino films screening in near empty cinemas. WHY? Time to really sit down to reassess the problem,” he highlighted a pressing issue in the local entertainment industry.
We have been witnesses to dynamic chance in Filipino audience behavior. With no major box-office hit movie yet since the record- breaking Metro Manila Film Festival last December, we dare ask: what local arts and entertainment fare do Filipinos go to?
“One More Chance,” the Ben & Ben musical by PETA, is playing to full houses and has been extended (again) for another three months. “Bar Boys, A New Musical” by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative ended on a high note and is expected to have a rerun after the hit “Mula sa Buwan” is restaged in August to September. The last of Floy Quintos’ masterpiece, “GRACE,” has had full houses in its first two weekends and there is a big clamor for more performances, even as it ends its original run by June 16.
But what makes “GRACE” amazing?
The play is a fictionalized narrative based on the events of the Lipa Carmel controversy and the surprising apparitions of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace, to a novice of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The playwright and the artistic team have taken creative liberties in adapting the historical events for the stage. With riveting and excellent performances from all the actors, top-notch production, and sensitive direction, it successfully delves into the intricacies of faith complicated by human frailty.
Gelo Dionora of The Post said , “‘GRACE’ doesn’t want us to pick sides. The narrative builds each character up in such a way that we can’t sort them black or white. ‘GRACE’ exposes the intricacies of faith, the politics and power dynamics within a social construct like the church, the boundaries of reason, and limits of the human spirit. In fighting for what they believe is right and real, will the Carmelite nuns break their vows of silence and obedience? Presented with opportunities to navigate the hierarchies of the Catholic Church with ease, will the bishops turn a blind eye and stifle their conscience? For people of the faith that are also stewards of science, when do they begin going beyond reason and believing in the supernatural? And if a powerful man of the cloth is doing things that may rile others for his ‘love’ of the Catholic Church, can you paint him vividly as an adversary now?”
“‘GRACE’ asks you all these questions, but it does not expect you to come out of the theater with definite answers. ‘GRACE’ transports you to a place where you can – or perhaps, should – confront these uncertainties, even amid – or especially within – a social milieu where criticism toward the church is almost automatically frowned upon.
“But perhaps the bigger question that ‘GRACE’ asks is this: even with the odds stacked against you, if you are so convinced of what is true, right, and real, would you be willing to go as far as falling from grace?”
Actress Ces Quesada was very vocal about how the play “GRACE” hit her, she said, “I told myself to keep an open mind when I sat on my seat to watch ‘GRACE.’ Like any Quintosian play, here was Floy once again, asking the hard questions, pushing all boundaries, challenging our most cherished beliefs. The play’s narrative is not easy to digest. It was uncomfortable to see how human nature can be so shortsighted and petty in the midst of the Divine. It was painful to see how truth can be manipulated to be accepted by the unsuspecting faithful. Obedience , a virtue of the good, has become a weapon of the powerful.
“‘GRACE’ has in no way affected my view on apparitions. It has strenghened my belief in the Divine (though I subscribe that not all apparitions are real and in this time of social media, fools and hoaxes are a dime a dozen) I have realistically looked at the Church as an institution led by imperfect beings.
“‘GRACE’ is powered not only by Floy’s gift of truth in storytelling. It is energized by the steady hand of a confident director who did the very hard feat of holding the audience in awe for 2 1/2 hours with an almost empty set. It is powered by the most gifted set of talented and committed actors, and supported by artistic and technical people who understood the power of the simplest of stagings.”
Truly, do yourselves a favor. Watch “GRACE” and be blessed by the Divine. It runs until June 16 at the Power Mac Spotlight Theater in Curcuit Makati.
On the other hand, you would also do yourself a great service if you watch “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” shown exclusively in SM Cinemas.
It is a very poignant film about taking care of and loving our elders. The premise is simple: a man quits work to care for his dying grandmother, motivated by her fortune. He schemes to win her favor before she passes. In this movie, the sadness is not overdone – the narrative is sincere and honest, with touching and coherent details. It is very relatable because it deeply understands the dynamics, especially in Asian families. Although Thai, it is very Filipino too.
We went to the moviehouse and teared up and cried. It didn’t feel like a movie; it was more like seeing a real-life experience from people we know and dearly love on screen.
This movie is so touching and it will make us respect our parents and elders more. Ultimately, it will lead us to care for them more selflessly. Great acting, direction, cinematography and the music, while simple, was used masterfully and deeply moving.
This movie is a good reminder to always make time for our parents and elders (and loved ones) whole we still have them.
It’s not often that we’re able to watch good films in the cinemas now – but we’m really surprised and happy that the theater was full. Kudos to SM because they kept the ticket price at P290 with free bottled water.
“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is a movie that will stay with you, and it’s good for the soul. And the good news is it has been extended at the cinemas after its successful first week run.
So in this whole discussion as to where the Filipino audiences are, with “GRACE” and the other hit musicals and this Thai film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is a movie that will stay with you, and it’s good for the soul. And we can safely say that the Filipino audiences are just there, ready to leave the comforts of their homes to support not only entertaining but compelling content that they can easily relate to or something that can resonate with them more than the ready allure of the default entertainment of today from social media and the various streaming platforms.
The irony here is that these hit productions of late don’t have big promotional budgets. It all boils down to good and compelling content and good word of mouth as imperatives – as we continue to chase the elusive Filipino audience. Now, next!
