review of the filipino movie "magnifico"
Renowl
The shining tragicomedy of ‘Magnifico’
Dennis Solis, Apr 28, 2004
LOS ANGELES—When one thinks of Philippine drama, it either must be a
lamentable two-hour ordeal or a serious hard-hitter on social issues in the
vein of Marilou Diaz Abaya or Lino Brocka. Director Maryo J. delos Reyes’
“Magnifiico” does not overly try to be the former, nor match the intensity
of the latter. Rather, its focus on the adventures of a child who tries to
uplift others’ lives despite his own circumstances speaks for itself.
Jiro Manio (“Bagong Buwan”) stars as the title character whose dull wits
belie his name. Magnifico is the middle child in a working-class family merely
staying afloat through the labors of his parents, hardscrabble construction
worker Gerry (Albert Martinez) and seamstress Edna (Lorna Tolentino).
His younger sister Helen (Isabella de Leon) is afflicted with cerebral palsy,
while older brother Miong (Danilo Barrios) has lost his scholarship in Manila.
His gentle grandmother Lola Magda (Gloria Romero) is the calm of this
family’s storm. The character Magnifico has no distinction, save for his
kindness that transforms the lives within his small town.
Magnifico’s perspective of his world is not yet tempered (or tampered) by the
stark reality of his circumstances. Miong, the only son with any promise, loses
his scholarship in Manila and is forced to go home. Lola Magda has terminal
cancer and wishes not to become a burden to her family.
Understanding, although not fully, how P30,000 is an obscene amount for
Lola’s burial expenses that just may drive the family into complete ruin,
Magnifico resolves to help his family out, whether it is by building the casket
for his grandmother with his untalented hands, or selling refreshments at a
carnival to the tune of a catchy rap jingle.
The town’s mainstay characters have their own idiosyncrasies as well.
Mang Domeng (Mark Gil) is still grieving after the loss of his mother; even
polishing her wheelchair brings him sobbing to his knees. The casket shop
proprietor projects a bitchy demeanor to mask the sorrow of losing her family
to a house fire and her subsequent suicide attempt.
The “Magnifico” script was penned by UST (University of Santo Tomas) math
graduate Michiko Yamamoto, who was inspired by her ailing grandmother, and
brought to screen by Maryo J. delos Reyes.
Although it fared decently when it was first released in the Philippines, it
caught the attention and praise of many independent film festivals, most
recently snagging the best picture award for the Children’s Division in the
Berlin International Film Festival, prompting Maryo J. de los Reyes to release
it again in Metro Manila theatres on March 31 this year.
One must try hard not to be taken in by Manio’s charming portrayal of the
innocent nine-year-old who cuts a path of happiness and compassion through a
downtrodden world, a la Forrest Gump. His simple actions touch us through an
undercurrent of sadness, without forcing us to weep about it.
One scene in mind is when Magnifico uses his father’s measuring tape to get
the proper dimensions of Lola Magda’s body, but visibly does not seem
affected by her impending death.
Despite its power, there are times when the story meanders excessively into
other subplots that are not central to the film, such as Miong’s romantic
interludes with Isang (Girlie Sevilla). While a few viewers may roll their eyes
at one dilemma after another, nowhere does the emotion feel forced or
overbearing.
The environment of pathos and hardship are underlying themes, with liberal
sprinklings of irony (Edna complains constantly about not having enough money
for the family pantry but pulls out all the stops on a village fiesta; Miong,
the family scholar, is useless outside of the classroom) –that at the
conclusion of the film reveal its cruelty.
Despite the daunting tasks that lie ahead, the character Magnifico takes center
stage with his can-do attitude and leaves a mark on your soul.