100 Tula Para Kay Stella (2017): A Stutterer's Review





My friend and I planned to watch three movie entries from Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) when we learned about it, let alone the enticing student ticket discount (100 pesos outside Metro Manila). One of our picks is 100 Tula Para Kay Stella - with a synopsis of: "A bittersweet romance about a shy, unassuming guy's secret love for one of his classmates who inspires him to write poetry as an outlet for his undeclared feelings."

After watching its trailer, I had a reason to be more interested. The male lead has a speech defect that is similar with mine - stuttering. "How would he portray such character?" I asked, and this became my major reason for it to be my personal top pick from the movie entries. 

 To state abruptly, the movie didn't disappoint me! It doesn't fail to trigger the viewers' emotion with the actors' portrayal of their respective character, remarkable poem lines, and a bit conventional yet heartbreaking story. Both Bella Padilla and JC Santos, who are the lead cast, did a good job in giving life to the story made also by the movie director Jason Paul Laxama. 

 I must say, JC Santos did a terrific job in portraying Fidel, the male protagonist with a speech defect who loves to write poems as his way of expressing his admiration to Stella, the female protagonist played by Bella Padilla. In fact, I saw myself in Fidel's character as I am a boy who stutters and loves writing too. I can say that his acting is almost as genuine as a stutter's facial expression, body language, and communication incapability, and I truly appreciate it. There's no question that he is a good actor and will be a great one; I commend him for that. However, I must say that there's something lacking in Bella Padilla's portrayal which I don't even know what. I might say this subjectively (since I have limited knowledge about acting and portrayal), but she can be more captivating than how she was in the movie. I hope I'm not saying this because of how the story turned out in the end (Spoiler Alert!) 

 I have to mention this - the poems are damn beautiful. IS THERE A PUBLISHED BOOK OF THE POEMS WRITTEN/USED IN THE MOVIE OR WILL THERE BE? Because I want them ALL. I want to read each poem from the 1st to its 100th entry because the movie didn't totally reveal it all (which is understandable for the context of the film). 

 My friend was sad about how the story turned out in the end, but I still liked the film itself. Not every story has an expected happy ending, and not every film has to end happily. Furthermore, it is still satisfying, or more so - the pain from the movie is a substantial element for its effectiveness to deliver its purpose. "Damn. It hurts so much. It does..." cried Fidel in the latter scene of the film. By the way, the movie comes with an English subtitle and for me, it gives more intensity as the translated language adds more impact. But it didn't take away my focus from the scenes as I didn't only hear every line... I also felt it. 
Regarding the technicalities (Editing, Directing, Production, Design, Cinematography, Sound), I wish I could add a section about it but this is actually my first time to write a review for a movie and publish it publicly. I still have limited knowledge to objectively review these aspects. Even so, the artistic aspect of the film (the story, concept, acting, and creativity) generally passed my satisfaction as an audience. The movie is heartbreaking and the majority of the scenes are a tearjerker (says a guy who happens to relate so much about the main character). 

 I hope I didn't spoil you at all. 😅😁 
PPP only runs from August 16 - 22. I think the student discount is only valid within these days, I don't know if the movie entries will be cut after the date or if it will still be screened in cinemas on a regular basis (4 weeks, I think?) without the student discount anymore. 

 For those students, present your ID, and you have to know and write your ID no. (LRN Student Number). 

 -TBWS
August 19, 2017
---

 Here are my other PPP movie reviews: 

 Patay na si Hesus (2016): A Review

 A Movie Review: Bar Boys

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tiwala

Image
“Napakahirap makuha pero napakadaling mawala.”  Isang bagay na kailangan mo munang paghirapan bago mo makuha nang buo. Tunay na mahirap, tunay na komplikado, at tunay na mahalaga; ito ang tiwala! Masasabing lahat ng tao pinapahalagan ito. Alam natin ang kahalagahan nito sa anumang relasyon: relasyon sa kapwa, sa kaibigan, sa pamilya, pati na rin sa sarili. Ngunit alam ba talaga natin ang totoong kahalagan nito? Ang tiwala ang nagsisilbing sandigan ng anumang relasyon. Ito ang nagpapanatili ng samahan upang magpatuloy at lalong tumatag. Ito an gating pinanghahawakan kahit gaano pa karami ang ating hinala. Ang tiwala rin ang nagpapalakas ng loob ng isang indibidwal upang gumawa sa buong makakaya. Ito rin ang nagpapanatag ng ating kalooban at kaisipan. Ubod na halaga ang tiwala kaya marapat lamang na pahalagahan ito.  Ang problema sa tao, alam natin ang kahalagan nito subalit hindi natin lubos na alam kung paano ito mapapahalagahan nang tama kapag ibinigay sa atin ito ng atin
Read more

The Historical Origin and Cultural Implications of Bañamos Festival of Los Baños, Laguna

Image
The month is September and as a child, my grandmother would bring me to the town plaza to watch the Balye sa Kalye , the most awaited event in Bañamos festival of our municipality. This goes every year with my grandma until I grew older to watch other events of the festival by myself or with my friends. The festival was just colors and music, an entertainment, and an annual celebration until I gained the consciousness to wonder its origin and curiosity to ask its implications to the local culture, which set the rationale of this paper. Origin             The festival’s name Bañamos, which is a Spanish term meaning “we bathe”, is ascribed to the name of the municipality, Los Baños meaning “the baths”. This is due to the fact that the founding of Los Baños goes back to the Spanish colonization. In the late 16 th century, a canonical mission in the lakeshore towns of Laguna led the Franciscans to come by the hot springs of barrio Mainit , only a visita then (a chapel under a par
Read more

Pabula: Ang Dalawang Magkaibigang Daga

Image
Sa Kaharian ng Dagatanra ay may dalawang magkaibigan. Umusbong ang pagkakaibigan nila noong maliliit pa sila. Magkaibigan din ang mga magulang nila. Palagi rin silang nagkakasundo sa mga kalokohan ng bawat isa. Isang araw, pumasok sa isip ni Bugoy na pumunta sa kweba ng isang higanteng ahas habang nakikinig sa kwento ng isang matandang daga. Ang higanteng ahas ay ang nakaalitan noon ng kanilang pinuno. Ipinagtanggol ni Haring Mapatangra pati ng mga mandirigmang daga ang kanilang mamamayan dahil nanggugulo ang mga higanteng ahas sa palasyo subalit maraming nasawi sa sagupaan na iyon. Alam ng magkaibigan ang nangyari noon sa palasyo pero hindi nagdalawang isip si Bugoy. “Buboy, pumunta tayo sa kweba ng higanteng ahas?” hiling niya sa kaibigan. “Bakit? anong gagawin natin doon?” patanong na sabi ni Buboy. “Gusto ko kasing makita ang itsura ng ahas.” “Ha? Ano ka ba? Alam natin na mapanganib sa kweba?” “Eh ano naman! Basta, sumama ka nalang kasi! ” malinaw na sinabi niya sa kaibigan. “Si
Read more

Emerging Filipino Indie Genre in the Philippine National Cinema

Image
What truly sets the Independent Cinema apart from the Mainstream Cinema? The film industry was generally classified financially and thematically into two: the independent and the mainstream. That is why the Philippine cinema has been subject to change, to progress, and even to confuse one with the other. The history of the Philippine Cinema proves this with regard to the Spanish and American influences during their occupation which led to the birth of cinema in the country   (Deocampo) and the political impact of the past which shaped the ‘nation’ and the ‘cinema’ (Campos) . Today, Filipino independent films, also known as “indie films,” have been establishing its identity that distinguishes it from the commercialized mainstream movies or popular cinema through the establishments of various Philippine Independent Film Festivals and the historical feats of independent Filipino filmmakers in both local and international arena. Redefining indie films as its own style or genre in the con
Read more

Pagsulat sa Filipino - Lakbay-Sanaysay

Image
“Summer capital of the Philippines,” ganito binansagan ang lugar na Baguio City. Sa aking mga paglalakbay, isa ang Baguio sa aking mga hindi malilimutan. Tatlong beses na akong nakarating dito: ang unang dalawa (Septyembre 2007 at Mayo 2016) ay kasama ang aking pamilya at ang huli ay field trip sa aming paaralan (Oktubre 2016). “Hindi nakakasawa,” sabi ko sa aking isipan nang makarating muli ako.             Malamig ang klima rito, batid naman ito ng nakakarami; ito na siguro ang pangunahing dahilan ng mga turista sa kanilang pagbisita. Subalit bukod sa malamig na klima, tunay na marami pang maipagmamalaki ang Baguio! Isa na rito ang Burnham Park , ang itinuturing puso ng Baguio. Dahil hindi iyon ang aking unang pagbisita, masasabi ko na may mga nagbago. Lalong dumami ang tao, mas pinaganda ang ilang anyo ng istraktura, at higit na kasiya-siya kumpara sa aking huling pagpunta. (Trivia! Ang tanyag na parke na ito ay ipinangalan sa Amerikanong arkitekto at taga-plano ng lungsod ng
Read more

Torpe

Image
Torpe! Torpe! Torpe! Isang salita na tumutukoy sa taong hindi mailabas ang kanyang damdamin. Maraming ganyan lalo na sa panliligaw. May taong gustong gusto mo subalit hindi mo masabi kasi TORPE ka. Gusto mo siyang makausap at makasama kaso hindi mo kaya kasi nga TORPE ka. Nais mong lumapit at sabihin ang nararamdaman mo pero hindi mo magawa kasi TORPE ka. Ano nga ba ang Torpe? Paano mo masasabing Torpe ang isang lalaki? Mismo ako, masasabi ko na ako ay isang torpeng lalaki. Nahihiya, nangangamba, nanghihina ang loob at higit sa lahat natatakot mareject, ganyan na ganyan ang saktong nararamdaman ng isang torpeng lalaki. Kahit gusto mo ang isang tao, mahihiya ka kasi baka hindi ka pansinin o kausapin kapag lumapit ka. Nangangamba ka kung anong mangyayari, kung ayos lang ba sa kanya kapag sinabi mo ang nararamdaman mo. Manghihina ang loob mo sa takot na baka ireject ka kapag nagtapat ka sa kanya. Ang pagiging torpe ng isang lalaki ay nakadepende rin sa babaeng nagugustuhan niy
Read more

Bar Boys (2017): A Movie Review

Image
One of my picks among Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) movie entries is Bar Boys with a synopsis of "The misadventures of three young men who try their luck in the college of law. As their friendship, families, relationships and convictions are brought to breaking point, they must keep their heads and emotions together as they prepare for the big day." I watched the movie with my friend with no particular expectation. Fortunately, having watched the film, I suddenly asked myself "how can it exceed my expectation if I didn't set any at all?" because it just happens that it exceeded my expectation as I don't honestly usually watch Filipino movies. The theme of the movie is about the struggles of being a law student dealing with the challenges of studying and passing, dealing with college professors (who each have distinct personality) and their respective subjects, and dealing with the relationships one has in his family, friends, and significant others
Read more

Wala ka pa sa realidad #01

Image
PART 1: Kasalanan ang gumising nang maaga Lunes. Nag-alarm ako ng 5:30am. Ngayon ang araw ng onboarding ko sa trabaho. Naligo ako agad dahil pakay kong pumunta ng campus para magpa-scan at print ng mga job requirements. Hindi ko nagawa noong weekend dahil umuwi ako ng Laguna para makipagkita sa mga dating kaibigan at para damayan ang isa sa amin na kakabreak lang sa nobya. Hindi ko rin nagawa noong nakaraang linggo dahil nais kong pagsabayin sila kapag kumpleto na lahat ang dokumento.  Sumakay na ako ng jeep at tiniis ang halos isang oras na traffic sa Katipunan Avenue. Pambihira ito sa 10-15 minutes na normal na byahe pero dahil morning rush, alam kong male-late ako sa trabaho. 7am na ako nakarating sa loob ng campus at nalamang sarado (malamang) pa ang pakay kong computer shop. Buti nalang may isang bukas sa Area 2. Hindi nga lang nakatulong na ilang beses inulit yung scan dahil sira yung gamit nilang machine. Kahit alam kong suntok sa buwan ang makabook sa ganoong oras, sinubukan ko
Read more

Alter 100 [8/12]

Image
I heard you came home. You really did it, didn’t you? I don’t know whether I’m sorry we didn’t last or I’m grateful for our story was cut short by circumstances I don’t even remember. But then I would lie if I say I didn’t miss you. We were not friends in Facebook anymore, because you unfriended me before you left. You thought I blocked you, so your impulse was to cut the strings entirely. Then I revealed that I just deactivated my account for a period and that’s why you couldn’t reach me anymore nor send me a message. Your assumption was wrong, and you reacted badly. Funny, you kept in touch via text despite cutting me online. I sound arrogant now, do I? Here you are with your public photos – with your partner and son. What a beautiful family! Your son got your looks – that’s obvious. You’re a loving parent – I could tell. Too loving that we happened. Your arrival should not mean anything. Yet it reminds me of us. It reminds me of the Sunday nights, the impractical travel to Sta. Cru
Read more

Kalamidad Paghandaan; Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan

Image
Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan , paksang tinatalakay ngayon, isyung kinakaharap ng bayan, at problemang hindi pa rin masolusyunan. Isang magandang adhikain ito para sa bansa natin. Isang mabuting misyon ito para sa ating kababayan at isang magandang tungkulin para sa ating mamamayan. Alam natin na ang lokasyon ng ating bansa ay madalas daanan ng mga bagyo, at ito ay isa sa mga matitinding kalamidad na kinakaharap natin taon-taon. Sa kabilang dako, ang gutom at malnutrisyon ay sanhi ng kahirapan at ang kahirapan ay laganap sa iba’t ibang lipunan ng bansa. Marapat lang nating paghandaan ang mga kalamidad at maagapan ang gutom at malnutrisyon. Ang pag-iwas ay mas mabuti kaysa paglutas. Masasabi natin na ang pag-iwas sa mga sakuna ay mas mabuti sa paglutas ng mga problema, subalit hindi natin maiiwasan ang kalamidad. Hindi natin mababago ang klima at panahon dito sa ating bansa. Hindi natin hawak ang kalamidad at delubyo na maaaring mangyari. Hindi rin natin kayang
Read more