Good Luck to 'Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank' on its Oscar Bid!

I am an avid fan of movies winning or getting nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category.  It is a much maligned category because of the 'weird' rules the Academy has imposed for a film to be eligible in that category, but even then, the yearly list of nominees are quite impressive in theme and storyline.  So, I think Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank has a David-like climb to be able to at least, be even shortlisted among the five nominees in this category.

Well, I think the Academy will appreciate the 'poverty' scenes in the movie since that is really how the Western world sees our country.  Eugene Domingo's performance in this movie is also fantastic so it's a plus point for the movie.  The way the movie also pokes fun at the hypocrisies of indie filmmaking in this country should be something a Hollywood filmmaker can relate to.

The quality of the shots though may work against the movie.  I just found it devoid of colour or it was too grainy.  Compare that with the luscious cinematography you'd see in many European or even Iranian or Chinese movies, and it could be a minus for us.  The storyline too is a bit weak.  Nothing dramatic happens in the end and not much life-changing events that the Academy voters really love to see in a foreign film. 

Anyhow, we don't know who the final 400 voters are going to be so we should just band together to make many of the 1000 voters initially chosen to choose the shortlist, at least, to get to see the movie.  With so many countries competing, that alone is going to be a tough task - but not impossible!

Movie Review: Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

It's ironic that this film won the Cinemalaya Best Picture honors since it pokes fun at indie filmmakers who romanticize local poverty. I don't know if the filmmakers here were trying to poke fun at a particular local indie filmmaker but their point comes across very clearly, since it's done in jest and with so much humor. 

Only four actors talk in the whole movie and it's great that the director cast two of my favorite local boys - JM de Guzman and Kean Cipriano!  Well, the whole movie hinges on several dialogues done by Eugene Domingo which literally brings the whole house down!  In three or four particular scenes, Eugene's delivery of her lines is so good, the whole theater bursts out in laughter loud enough to drown out the dialogue!  She's really funny here - and she plays herself (well, maybe just an alter ego of herself). 

If you want to relax and just have a laugh, this movie may not be it since half of it pokes fun at poverty cinema porn, but Eugene will reward you loads for your patience.  She doesn't come out till about 20 minutes into the movie.  Don't come late though or you'll miss the whole point.