Sunday, November 13, 2016

Review of AREA: Hopeful Has-beens

November 13, 2016




"Area" refers to a district in Angeles City where prostitutes who are past their prime continue to ply their trade. They are either old, obese, multigravid -- various states of staleness, willing to accept any cheap or freak customers just to survive. As Area became more and more rundown, only two brothels still existed. The family of Ben (Allen Dizon) who had been in this flesh trade for generations ran one of them.

Hillary (Ai Ai delas Alas) was once a prostitute in posh Fields Avenue, where American G.I.s used to spend their down time. During the panic of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, she frantically sent her infant son with his father to be brought to safety. She never saw her son again. Her colleagues in Area call her a delusional liar, but Hillary continues to save up all her cash in her trusty locked box to hopefully see her son again.

The unsavory events in Area happened during the Holy Week, when Pampanga is a hub for serious penitential activities. The four generations of Ben's family were shown to be a super-religious happy family, who just so happened to run a prostitution business as a means of living. The dark and squalid Area was shown to be poorly ventilated and hot, so much that you can practically smell its stench.

Ai Ai delas Alas and Allen Dizon have already proven themselves as effective actors in indie films. Delas Alas had no makeup on and was uncharacteristically bold with her skin exposure and bed acrobatics, though nothing really too excessive was shown. Dizon, it seems, actually underwent the flagellation rites in the streets, complete with the initial pricking of the skin in his back to make it bleed. Talk about method acting!

Indie favorite Sue Prado played Julie, whose fine looks and voluptuous body made her the most popular girl in Area, despite having born three kids (with names Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth). Ms. Ai-ai's son Sancho Vito delas Alas actually had good screen presence here as Duman, brother-in-law of Ben, also a pimp.  Bambalito Lacap is the child actor who played Ben's son, another pimp in-training. Because of his gentle features and long hair, I thought he was a girl, until I heard that "her" name was Boy.

Among Ben's family, the standout was Eurocina Pena as the matriarch of Ben's family, his grandmother, boy's great-grandmother. Her acting was very natural and unaffected, just like any regular doting and devout grandmother would act. I really liked her performance a lot. Among the prostitutes, the standout was Tabs Sumulong in her humorous role as Glo, the aging whore no customer was choosing. She was delightful in her desperation, unmindful of the cruel fun poked at her. 

Before it had its commercial run this week, "Area" had already earned an Grade A from the Cinema Evaluation Board. It had also just won the Special Jury Prize in the 12th Eurasia International Film Festival last month in Kazakhstan. This film by director Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio was an intense immersion in an underworld so seedy we would never hope to see it for real. However, the religious counterpoint is not exactly new and the climax and conclusion were predictable from the get-go. 6/10.


11 comments:

  1. It's nice that they depicted the shady life of prostitutes, which is a reality in any society. It gives us more awareness on their plight and understanding on their situation.

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  2. A rather intriguing film. I was just reading about Israel and the names of the kids in the film is all important destinations in Israel & Christianity. And as you mentioned in the last para, yeah, the religions sentiments is what I was thinking about on reading this.

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  3. I was really intrigued by your description but disappointed with the rating. I think this is something I will like to read rather than watch to better understand the whole scenerio~

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  4. Hard hitting film looks like! The subject itself is very reality! I am not sure whether I will watch this movie but have seen some movies on this subject.

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  5. Woah! Reading the story, I can already picture the movie in my head. It's like reading a very good book!

    I'm not a fan of Ai-Ai nor do I know any of the other actors, but if this will be shown in Cinemalaya for instance, it will definitely be one of those films I will watch. I watch to see Ai-Ai makeup less. Teehee. :D

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  6. Nicely described, i can visualize hole scenario by just reading the post, thanks for sharing this great article

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  7. This seems are great film. I'm not a fan of both celebrities, but as a movie goer what is important to me is the acting, plot, and the story lines.

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  8. Many of us are not aware of what usually happens in such part of society. I admire filmmakers who boldly show such realities, often waking our sensibilities and bringing us out of our comfort zones. I'd want to watch this film.

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  9. Oh, this film is interesting. I am so curious about the story of Hillary, I hope many women will be free from this kind of work.

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  10. I might really watch this. With all the issues surrounding the Americans` stay in the Philippines for the Balikatan Exercises, I had been wondering about the popular Angeles City. I felt sorry for those who had to involve themselves in this flesh trade for a living. The story of Hillary in this movie might be thought-provoking.

    ✿ Grace ✿

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  11. I love how eye opener most indie films. And this "Area" film is something to look forward indeed. ASide from the fact that the story exists in this country, I also want to see another movie of Ai Ai delas Alas showcasing her talent over a drama scene.

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