Homecoming one of relevant 2003 Metro Filmfest entries

In the past few years, the qualities of the entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival have been getting better and better. The forthcoming filmfest next month is particularly exciting. Expected to slug it out at the box office are three fantasy movies: Bong Revilla’s Captain Barbell, Vhong Navarro’s Gagamboy and Vic Sotto’s Fantastikman. In the awards derby, however, expected to figure prominently are Filipinas, Mano Po 2, Crying Ladies, Bridal Shower and Homecoming.

So far, I’ve only seen Homecoming. This alone is enough to bring excitement and relevance to the Metro Filmfest. (The film is wonderfully staged and is among the best this year, it joins Magnifico and Huling Birhen sa Lupa in the Best Picture list of 2003.)

Starring Alessandra de Rossi, Homecoming tells the story of a Pinay caregiver in Toronto, Canada who comes home to the Philippines to marry her boyfriend – only to find out that she has been afflicted with the deadly SARS.

In a split second, this OFW who had been given a warm welcome by the people in her town is avoided literally like the plague by everyone. She is quarantined in a government hospital in Manila and the house she shares with her family in the province is stoned by neighbors. For a while, even their entire barrio is put under quarantine.

Watching Homecoming brings back recent memories of the SARS scare that hit Asia, Canada and other parts of the world – when everyone had to take extra precaution when traveling abroad.

Mercifully, there were only isolated cases here in the Philippines (and I personally salute the Department of Health for this) and very few of us were given the chance to see for ourselves what happens to victims of this dreaded disease and how it affects their lives and even those of their families.

Through Homecoming, we get to see up close the tragic events that may befall SARS victims. It’s a living hell because you are isolated from everyone – and I mean everyone–except for the medical staff that attends to you and you know that given the choice, they won’t even stay near you. And then there’s the feeling of persecution because everyone blames you for being the carrier of a disease that may harm other people. You also end blaming yourself for putting the safety of other people at risk.

Although I never knew anyone personally who got afflicted with SARS, I felt here in Homecoming the pain and suffering of people who were not fortunate to have escaped from this mysterious ailment. The scenes presented in this film by Gil Portes are so real that your heart will bleed for lead star Alessandra, who – I have to say – gives a sterling performance in Homecoming.

The movie also tackles other social issues, specifically the plight of our Overseas Filipino Workers and the various reasons why they have to slave it out abroad, which of course all boils down to the poverty of this nation.

More importantly, Homecoming pleads for understanding for the unwilling victim of this disease.

Unfortunately, I’ve been reading about the possible outbreak of another SARS epidemic in this region – God forbid! And with the influx of visitors this Christmas season, we may sadly have another scare.

Homecoming has realistically dramatized all the awful things and ugly facets of human behavior brought about by SARS. Let’s all pray this doesn’t happen again.

The members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which stages the annual Gawad Urian, recently came out with its third quarterly citations. The following were cited for their fine works in their respective films:

Noon at Ngayon (Star Cinema): Marilou Diaz-Abaya (direction), Ricardo Lee (screenplay), Eduardo Jacinto (Cinematography), Kay Abono (production design), Nonong Buencamino (music), Albert Michael Idioma (sound) and the performances of Dina Bonnevie, Cherry Pie Picache, Eula Valdez, Jean Garcia, Paolo Contis, Jericho Rosales, Laurice Guillen, Aiza Marquez and Lito Pimentel.

Kung Ako na Lang Sana (Star Cinema): Jose Javier Reyes (direction and screenplay), Mark Gary (cinematography), Edgar Martin Littaua (production design), Raul Mitra (music) and the performance of Aga Muhlach, Sharon Cuneta and Jennifer Sevilla.

Keka (Seiko Films): J.A. Tadena (cinematography), Diego Castillo and Diego Mapa (music), Dante Nico Garcia (production design) and the performances of Vhong Navarro, Ryan Eigenmann and Tuesday Vargas.

www.xxx.com. (Viva Films): Tikoy Aguiluz (direction), Angelo Lacuesta and Yasmin Coles (screenplay), Yadi Sugandi (cinematography), Hector Petilla (production design), Raggie Nuezca (music), Myrna Medina (editing) and the performances of Juliana Palermo, Angelu de Leon, Carlo Maceda and Girlie Sevilla.