A THANKSLESS JOB OF FIGHTING THE SYSTEM

Journal Online
by Bibsy Carballo 
Saturday, 31 July 2010 18:33 

A THANKSLESS JOB OF FIGHTING THE SYSTEM


FROM Viva Films, currently showing is a light drama “Hating Kapatid” of current box office queens Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo on the ongoing disruption of family values by the OFW phenomenon. Judy Ann and Sarah are left by parents Cherrie Pie Picache and Tonton Gutierrez who work abroad while grandmother Gina Pareño and Judy Ann stay behind. As caretaker to Sarah, Juday gives up her personal happiness for this responsibility, until Sarah graduates from college, finds a job and a boyfriend in Luis Manzano. When the parents return and transfer the family from the province to a house bought with their savings, Judy Ann has feelings of resentment against parents, Sarah, the new boyfriend and the world in general for having given her a raw deal.

However, the film appears rushed, especially in pre and post-production with the only saving grace in the casting of Judy Ann, Sarah, and Cherrie Pie. When it ended, we ask the three office girls beside us with plastic packages what they thought of the movie and they say, “Ok lang. Fans kasi kami nila Juday at Sarah. Pero nakakairita mga commercial (referring to casual advertising in the movie). Parang nanonood ka lang sa TV, hindi ka pa gumastos ng P170.” We went to the internet to find what the bloggers thought. It was the same, if not worse.

We understand the difficulties of coming out with a movie in mainstream, spending a lot, and hoping to make some money. That is why it is admirable how Regal, Star Cinema, and Viva try to keep mainstream alive. But obviously, this is not the way. With heavy taxation, competition from foreign films, predominance of pirated copies, what are our producers to do? Not even the best of Juday and Sarah films would be able to help. I can only think in terms of a state subsidized film industry, limited quota of foreign films shown at double the price of Filipino films, more incentives to digital independent productions. But again, this is better said than done.