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| The cast and crew of Esoterica Manila. |
THE Much awaited second indie film from the
helm Pinoy Master Director Elwood Perez was shown last Nov 8, 2014 at the Trinoma
Cinema 7, Esoterica Manila is the opening film for the 10th year of
Cinema One Original Film Festival. It is
a jam-packed event that crowd ranges from Perez’s co-directors, theater and
movie actors to regular movie fan.
Esoterica stars former Pinoy Dream
Academy scholar turn singer Ronnie Liang on his first major acting role on
screen. It tells the story of Mario (Liang) and his artistic journey trying to
be an artist of different cultural art that Manila can offer. From slum market
to historical tour in Intramuros, to art/painting collections hub, to
photography to books to exceptional dance recitals. The colorful journey of
Mario also involves his unsolicited affairs to real female to transgenders that
he has no idea at all.
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| Direk Elwood Perez. |
Philippine Stagers Foundation emeritus
Vince Tanada who also work with Perez in his first indie film titled Otso in
2013 is also in the cast, mostly of the dark scene is with Tanada ranging from
sexual acts to violently killings and getting hook with drugs, but what Tanada
stand out here is his ability to deliver and act some unexpected humor, like
the scene he was attack by certain diseases, audience can't help but laugh on how he
execute it.
I admit technically it is
visually entertaining specially some scenes are good to be true, it’s kinda
hard to understand what is the real message this film want us to convey and
realize after watching. Also I can’t comprehend so much why Liang character
needs to narrate almost 70% of the film from start to finish. Maybe it is really for selected few to appreciate
it as the meaning of the title means.
Esoterica also feature non actors who
are celebrities on their own rights like Cecile Guidote Alvarez, Carlos Celdran
and Jessica Zafra. It is a star studied film as well since many veteran actors
appear for a while like Snooky Serna and Boots Anson-Roa. Their appearances are fast faced in some
scenes that you will never predict and you will never see them again.
Liang passive performance is not that
outstanding but not that bad either, but I admit he is really good looking on
screen.
No announcement yet from Perez during
the premiere if the film will have a regular commercial run in theaters or if
it will compete in film fest abroad. We will cross our fingers for that.
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| The cast of Esoterica during its premiere last Nov 8 at Trinoma Cinema. |
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