Well, that was grim! But, at the same time, fascinating.
I’m not sure whether or not it helped, but this was my first venture into the cinema of the Philippines. As a result, I didn’t know if the main characters were seasoned actors or enthusiastic amateurs just reliving their everyday lives in front of the cameras. It turns out that they are the former. Alessandra De Rossi has 99 acting credits listed on IMDb!
This film was definitely not in the ‘light entertainment’ category; it was a hard watch, but a compelling one. It’s a grittily realistic portrayal of life in the slums of an unnamed Filipino town. It seems that half the population has resorted to drugs to either blot out the pain of everyday life, or to try and make ends meet; the dealers here aren’t multimillionaires whose main worry is whether their albino tigers might scratch their Ferraris, but people struggling to survive on the money from the two legitimate jobs they already have.
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
Then the politicians and the police start to “tackle” the drug problem by pressganging anyone who has had a finger pointed at them, as being a user or dealer, to sign up to the Surrender Program where they vow to get and stay clean. However, the lists are used by the police and a group of vigilantes to carry out extrajudicial killings, which mistakenly sweeps up Maria’s (De Rossi) husband and leaves him dead on the street.
This then leads Maria to desperate lengths to fend for her young family.
Dark, gritty, depressing…but well made and well done
So begins Maria’s descent into a dark nether world where you’re never 100% sure who the good guys are right up until the tragic end. Be warned, this is not a feel good film that has you watching the credits with a smile and a song in your heart. It is a very-well made, well-shot, and incredibly well-acted piece that leaves you thinking how accurate it is, and worrying that it is more than you’d want it to be.
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
Brilliant idea with great information
I’ve been using RunPee for a few years now and it’s basically a requirement of going to the movies for me. The best part of course are the “pee times” that give you cues, synopses and times for when you can pee without missing the most important parts of the movie. There is also information about the credits- length, extras and if there are any extra scenes at the wayyy end. Super helpful to just know that it is or isn’t worth staying. There is a timer function that will buzz your phone when it’s a good time to pee. I also appreciate that the app is very conscientious about it being an app you use in a theater- dark background, all silent alarms etc. I will always enjoy the experience of the theater even if I could watch things at home- but I’ve even used it at home to check for things like after credit scenes or other information too.
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
It’s hard to grade because it deserves an A, but some people would find it too distressing to watch and it is hard to describe as mere entertainment. Best just settle on a B for it, I think.
Movie Grade: B
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Transformers One, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Reagan, Deadpool & Wolverine and coming soon The Wild Robot, Megalopolis, Joker: Folie à Deux, Venom: The Last Ride and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply