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| Dante Rivero as Bene; Photo Credit: Cinemalaya |
Cast: Dante Rivero, Menggie Cobarrubias, Perla Bautista, Romnick Sarmenta
Carlo Catu's Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon is my first film in this year's Cinemalaya and wow, I was a mess as the end credits rolled. It's about Bene (Dante Rivero), an old man living alone in a decrepit house, with nothing to do but care for his gamecocks. Finding out he has brain cancer, he calls his estranged wife Teresa (Perla Bautista), now living with her partner Celso (Menggie Cobarrubias), asking for care. The old couple visit Bene to guard him in his remaining days, and help resolve his unfinished business with his family.
One would think this film is about jealousy, and finding one's true love. But it's totally the other way around as this is about death, closure, and the power of humanity. It's refreshing to see characters, or a film, that doesn't dwell on eruptive conflicts. Rather it lets the film simmer and boil through restrained but impactful resolve, reminding us so many things about life where closure is closure however good or bad the process is, and that humanity trumps any form of hatred or jealousy.
Catu's direction is tight, and the ensemble's performances are strong. Catu brings a lot of metaphors and dream sequences that are elegant and beautiful to watch, from Celso and Bene's contrasting sturdy and creaky houses, to Teresa's agitation towards soaps with pubes, and to as simple as the use of an aloe vera plant. The trio of Perla Bautista, Menggie Cobarrubias, and Dante Rivero is a sight to behold, tugging the crowd's heart strings and blowing up tear ducts left and right. Romnick Sarmienta's short scene with Dante Rivero is also a highlight.
Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon is a thing of beauty, that anyone who watches it will find something to reflect on.
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