From the start of the movie, DIABLO established the daily routine of Nana Lusing (Ama
Quiambao) The scenes were fully-packed with substantial activities she does and
as the movie progress, viewers would eventually understand the sequence of her life. Her only companion every night was an old radio whom she was bombarded
with the same lines from time check to the sole commercial sponsor, well the radio
program theme changes but it focuses more on “faith and spirituality”.
Night after night Nana Lusing experienced
difficulty in sleeping as she felt that someone is watching her. A widow and a
mother of 5, whose siblings had made a chosen path of life, a soldier, a miner,
a farmer, a pastor and a gambler/drug addict.
Adding to her siblings were Matias (Ronel Caramba) and Jamba (John Paul
Escobedo) – two characters that brought fun and humor. They were hungry street lads who robbed her house then later
on she convinced them to worked as cleaners in her vicinity. Their acting
balances the thrilled viewers that sometimes we forgot that this is a suspense
film. Definitely, they were given their exposure and delivered their lines
effectively.
What caught my attention was the portrayal of
Ronaldo (Jose Escobedo), the prodigal son – the gambler and addict – that
looked like the Diablo in the movie – as one scene suggested and I quote after
placing the “palaspas”
on the main door “hindi
na makakapasok ang diablo dito sa pintong ito“, alas! he wasn’t
able to enter no matter how hard he tried.
A tear-breaker scene and I believe a winning
scene of the movie was the confrontation of Nana Lusing and her farmer son,
Alberto (Rodel Camañag) while sitting in the dining table, no lines were
delivered just the facial expression of the two characters and Alberto cried so
hard while his mother was so quiet. It brought me to tears as I felt the
intense of feelings on the scene. Tranquility helped to build the moment to be
remembered even after the movie.
Oscar (Carlo Aquino) among her sons has the
major role on the movie as his life as a struggling wanderer (layman terms, he
would be called a “pastor” since he led a group of young men to search for
enlightenment) had his portrayal so unique though he seemed to be so young to
be a long-haired man acted with elegance. He convinced the viewers to believe
and walked with his journey. His death brought a huge change in the lives of
his mother and brothers.
As to cinematography, the dawning of the sun
was great, some of the shots were taken at night that I find it too dark that
needs lighting (well it added the creepy scenes though) and the late afternoon
sepia effect was projected perfectly.
In the end, Nana Lusing had to face the
DIABLO that lives with her, the shadow that watched her every night. She had to
send the devil away by scolding and right after that when evening
comes, her well-loved radio broke. (Well for me – I interpreted it as a sign
that the DIABLO – in the form of a shadow left. – A unique presentation of
departing.) And her emotion erupted, embracing the radio, her deafening cry
carried me away. And for the first time in her life she was able to sleep
soundly and snoring gently (another metaphor used to depict that she was freed
from the shadow of DIABLO. – very artistic).
Although there were many interpretations on
the reason of her sound sleep but for me it was primarily because she gained
her freedom after the death of her son from the shadows of DIABLO. The movie
ended – outstandingly that the audience clapped and scream in unison.
Director Mes de Guzman, for me was
exceptional on this film. He’s a caduceator of creativity. He’s a caenogenesis,
wild guess, he might win the Outstanding Director for New Breed.
Asked me what letter “C” stands for… simply C
is not only for Cinemalaya but it
also stands for a Conflate of Creativity, a Creepy and Calodemon
film.
CINEMALAYA – It’s More Fun In The Philippines!
Chirk!!!
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