Tweetnopsis:
Ruben leaves small town to work as a caretaker for a house owned by a historical figure. He learns about the man. He becomes obsessed.
Afterthoughts:
Ruben (Dennis Trillo) is assigned as the sole caretaker of the ancestral house of former President Manuel L. Quezon. He discovers similarities between his life and that of the historical figure's, which eventually leads him to become a self-proclaimed fan of President Quezon - as seen in Ruben's manner of speech, his hairstyle, and even with his admiration towards the twenty-peso bill and Quezon-related landmarks.
But the film is more than an ordinary man's fascination with a once influential person; "Ang Katiwala" is a depiction of the current social irony placed in three different settings - the empty antiquated house of the former president, the rural abode of Ruben in Quezon Province, and the squatters area where the lead takes temporary residence upon arriving in Manila. These settings portray the contrast between the dream and the reality of President Manuel L. Quezon's "Message to the People":
"My fellow citizens: there is one thought I want you always to bear in mind. And that is: that you are Filipinos. That the Philippines are your country, and the only country God has given you. That you must keep it for yourselves, for your children, and for your children's children, until the world is no more. You must live for it, and die for it, if necessary."
The two-hour film introduces insights - historical, political, social - without being preachy and boring. These insights are embedded within the narratives of Ruben and the people around him, which makes the film rather engaging and enlightening at the same time.
Favorites:
(1) Ronnie Lazaro's entertaining portrayal of Gimo, the nightshift security guard who regularly exchange conversations with Ruben.
(2) Less is more. The attention to detail - the minute elements of visual framing and the choice to use minimal sound effects - reminds the viewer that Ruben is but a small figure in a gargantuan yet empty mansion.
Hashtag:
#OneHundredMillionPesos
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