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Post by insurrectomad on Feb 19, 2011 7:33:16 GMT -5
SAw it at Holy Angel University Thurs. 17 Feb. The Phil. Dept. of Ed. has approved it's use as a teaching aid for Phil. Hist. I recommend all to see it! My only problem was that although there was subtitles for the Spanish & Chinese their wasn't any for Tagolog, so I missed out on some of what was said. This will be taken care of when the film goes on release in December, John Serles told me. It tries to show the conflict from many points of view, thus there are the Fil. villagers, American soldiers, Spanish POWs and a Spanish priest as well as 2 Chinese porters employed to carry the telegraph equipment etc. The costumes were good and he guns passed for the real thing. John told me later after the showing that replicas had to be made in Bicol and it was the biggest headache to acquire them. the costumes and other things where supplied by the Phil. Film industry and costumiers. The location and village looked correct and real! Great trouble was taken to get the dialogue exactly right, with the correct manner of speaking for 1900. It was't the film that shock me or caused any disappointment, but the complete ignorance of the university pupils! At question time after the showing, one pupil thought the Americans introduced democracy to the Phils. The partner of J. Serles had to correct her and point out that democracy was already establish und the Aguinaldo govt. and that the American control the country delaying freedom for 31 years. even one of the teachers I spoke to did not know that the library across the road had a copy of Harpers American War in the Philippines 1898-02 or that Danny Dizon was a lecturer at the uni once upon a time or that he contributed a lot of items related to this period to the towns museum, which is also directly in front of the University. most students had no idea of what took place during those times. we have an upward struggle to say the least. I hope when it is on general release both in the Phil. and the States, it will open the eyes and minds about a period of history almost forgotten! David
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Post by VeeVee on Feb 19, 2011 8:47:34 GMT -5
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Post by insurrectomad on Feb 20, 2011 1:46:07 GMT -5
What more can I say about Amigo. Well the one thing that would make it easier for people to understand the events of the film better would have been a text synopsis or voice over at the beginning explaining a few things like why the American where there etc., seeing as so many Filipinos don't know; how mush less the American and other foreign viewers! The other question i failed to ask John Serles was, why the Phili Film industry and Producers don't want to make a films of this conflict? Are they so intimidated by the fact that the actual true stories and events as so much more dramatic, exciting and spectacular than any fiction they are more used to producing. It's not as if they try to reach and appeal to the American cinema market anyway. Indistinguishable modern gangster/clan wars and ghoulish teenage horror-movies seems the limit of their aspirations! There is nothing the film can teach us, but as a first in being used as an aid to students learning about this period in the Philippines, I think It goes a long way, perhaps to motivate them to learn ans find out more related to the story. Sadly it does very little to counter the perception ( & steriotype ) the image of the first republic as a failure from the start and an army of rag-tag guerillas forever fighting in tinny bands. Has the film 'Baler' been shown in colleges by the Nat. Education Authorities? I don't believe so. David
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macky
History Student
Posts: 63
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Post by macky on Feb 20, 2011 8:46:28 GMT -5
Amigo at ANC.....
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macky
History Student
Posts: 63
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Post by macky on Feb 20, 2011 8:59:36 GMT -5
On February 22, a film entitled Amigo written and directed by John Sayles will be screened at 5:30 pm in the Cine Adarna (U.P. Film Center).
The film centers on Rafael Dacanay, cabeza of the barrio of San Isidro in a rice-growing area of Luzon. His brother Simón, head of the local guerilla band, has forced the surrender of the Spanish guardia civil outpost and charged Rafael with the task of imprisoning the Guardia Captain and t...he baryo’s Spanish friar, Padre Hidalgo, in the name of the revolutionary government. But when the American troops chasing General Aguinaldo arrive, the Spanish officer and Padre Hidalgo are freed, and a garrison under the command of Lieutenant Ike Compton is left to ‘protect’ the barrio. The American occupation policy now changes from ‘hearts and minds’ to ‘concentration’ (what was called ‘hamletting’ during the Vietnam War) and Rafael has to answer to both the Americans and the Filipino patriots, with deadly consequences.
There will be a forum with Director John Sayles after the screening. Students and other audience are encouraged to ask questions regarding the film.
________________________________________
Regular ticket price is Php100. Student price is Php85, just present your ID.
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medic
New Member
Re-living Philippine history with a passion.
Posts: 37
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Post by medic on Feb 20, 2011 9:15:31 GMT -5
I will watch at the Up Film Center, dressed in denim, heh heh.
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Post by jnmodeller on Feb 20, 2011 20:09:15 GMT -5
I will watch at the Up Film Center, dressed in denim, heh heh. thats good, hope my meeting finish early so i can watch too.
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medic
New Member
Re-living Philippine history with a passion.
Posts: 37
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Post by medic on Feb 20, 2011 21:46:36 GMT -5
Perry will be going with me and he's wearing his Rayadillo uniform. Should be interesting.
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Post by legionnaire on Feb 20, 2011 23:01:26 GMT -5
Denis or Erich should see the film dressed with the "Yankee" imperialist impression ;D
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medic
New Member
Re-living Philippine history with a passion.
Posts: 37
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Post by medic on Feb 21, 2011 0:38:19 GMT -5
I got that covered, legionnaire. I was able to borrow a uniform from jnmodeller.
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Post by labrador on Feb 21, 2011 1:34:16 GMT -5
i'd love to see pics....of the people's reactions. Guys, get a photo with john sayles!
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Post by RayAdillO on Feb 21, 2011 3:28:50 GMT -5
Guys, don't forget to BUY, BEG, BORROW or STEAL at the very least one movie prop krag rifle from Sayles. We will surely need it in any 1898-1834 volume book.
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Post by legionnaire on Feb 21, 2011 3:57:11 GMT -5
Manny Ortega should come as a "Corrupt" Spanish official. ;D
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Post by jnmodeller on Feb 21, 2011 4:38:18 GMT -5
Ha Ha, your right philip, sayang erich have school and dennis have work, anyway medic will do the part , and hope many can go too.
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Post by legionnaire on Feb 21, 2011 5:05:34 GMT -5
Hollywood Reporter
TORONTO -- John Sayles' "Amigo" is set during the U.S. incursion in the Philippines in 1900, but the parallels with Afghanistan and Iraq today are clear. It's an impressive movie, but the indie filmmaker has little to add to the debate beyond the eternal truth that the innocent always suffer most.
Good looking, atmospheric and steeped in the culture of the rural Philippines of the time, "Amigo" follows what happens when a U.S. platoon occupies the village of San Isidro deep in the rice paddies far from Manila.
It's a familiar tale, but the setting is different, and Sayles tells it with his usual cinematic vigor and attention to small detail. It will appeal to audiences interested in well-told history, and the film should be of great interest to educators as a way of imparting the everlasting tragedy of such conflicts. With much of the dialogue in Spanish, it also should travel well.
With Spain and the U.S. at war, the Philippines declared itself an independent republic in 1898. American troops moved in and the conflict in the Philippines lasted longer than the Spanish-American War. When Lt. Compton (Garret Dillahunt) marches into the village of San Isidro, most of the young men already have joined the rebels. Village headman Rafael (Joel Torre) has incarcerated the remaining Spaniards including Padre Hildago (Yul Vazquez) and declares himself a friend, an amigo, to the invaders. Rafael's brother Simon (Ronnie Lazaro), however, is leader of the local rebels, and his son has run off to join them. Strict but compassionate, Compton strives to win the hearts and minds of the villagers even as the conflict escalates elsewhere.
When the rebels across the country prove intransigent, U.S. leaders dictate a change from carrot to stick, and Compton's senior office, Col. Hardacre (Chris Cooper), orders the lieutenant to make war. Cattle are slain, fields ruined and curfews imposed; anyone who helps the rebels will be shot. Meanwhile, the rebels issue their own demands that mean anyone who aids the enemy also will be executed. Just like the locals in Afghanistan and many other places, the villagers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Sayles depicts the young U.S. soldiers as a rough and tender mix, with most having learned to demonize the enemy even as the Filipinos they meet turn out to be friendly and cooperative. Tension mounts as the rebels gear up their attacks, violence increases, and the village leader is caught between conflicting obligations.
Dillahunt ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") makes a strong impression as an officer who is at heart a civilian house-builder. He strives for harmony and peacekeeping while following strict orders. Vazquez makes his sanctimonious priest sardonic and merciless, and Torre has an everyman appeal as a leader trying to do the right thing.
Production design by Rodell Cruz gets the most of the sumptuous Philippines locations that make a luxuriant impression in Lee Briones-Meily's muscular cinematography.
Venue: Toronto International Film Festival Production: Pinoy Pictures Cast: Chris Cooper, Garret Dillahunt, Joel Torre, Yul Vazquez Director-screenwriter-editor: John Sayles Producer: Maggie Renzi Director of photography: Lee Briones-Meily Production designer: Rodell Cruz Costume designer: Gino Gonzales Sales: Rezo No rating, 128 minutes
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Post by insurrectomad on Feb 21, 2011 7:25:59 GMT -5
Sorry Chaps! It must appear I'm hogging the stage, but--- The one element missing from Amigo was the Black American Soldier. Of course it was not possible as they were segregated from White regts. NOW The REAL GOSSIP!!! Is it true that a big film is to be made about Aguinaldo? My maid swears she heard it on the news channel, yesterday. --David
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medic
New Member
Re-living Philippine history with a passion.
Posts: 37
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Post by medic on Feb 21, 2011 8:25:35 GMT -5
Don't worry gents. The main mission is really to ask Mr. Sayles where the stash of movie props are located. At the very least, to get the contact numbers of the people in charge.
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Post by VeeVee on Feb 21, 2011 8:45:57 GMT -5
Great idea guys, take lots of pictures
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Post by insurrectomad on Feb 22, 2011 0:21:09 GMT -5
I believe all the costumes were hired from Phil. film- making suppliers and studio wardrobes. Only (I say only!--) the guns were specially made for Amigo. The problem for us is if this film about Aguinaldo is about to be made, then the guns would likely already have been purchased by the Aguinaldo Film producers people. these people scouting for everything from the moment a new production is decided upon. If there is no foundation in the gossip about 'Aguinaldo' being made, then we are in with a chance! What we should be planning now is a big turn out for the Premier showing in Manila in July all in 1898-92 uniforms and give out little recruiting handbills! Pinoys in the States I recommend do likewise. --David
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Post by legionnaire on Feb 22, 2011 19:44:36 GMT -5
Those who went to the UP screening, any pics and was it two thumbs up?
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