A progressive nun’s story

The proliferation of independent films has allowed various experimental stories (as against mainstream cinema that sticks safely to formula) to be told on the big screen.

An indie movie that opened yesterday in SM Cinema outlets is Haw-Ang (Before the Harvest), a film by Bong Ramos (a writer and line producer who has done TV-movie work in the past), which is set in a remote northern tribal village that has no school and where the children have to walk six hours (one way) to another town just to get an education.

A nun everyone calls Sister Adel (Kalila Agilos, a theater actress) from a religious congregation is sent one day to teach the kids catechism and it becomes her mission to build a school there — literally fighting city hall (actually just a town hall) — in order to fulfill her dream for the community and in the process wipe out illiteracy.

The only cast members who may be familiar (vaguely even) to the movie-going public in the movie are Neal Ryan Sese (who played one of the brothers in Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros and now appears in Lupin as the sidekick of Janno’s Inspector Clavio character) and Fonz Deza (he is Gina Pareño’s good-for-nothing husband in Kubrador). Well, there is Pinoy Big Brother former housemate Racquel Reyes (the school teacher from Batangas), who appears in earlier scenes and she gives a convincing enough performance as the nun being replaced by Sister Adel in that isolated village. The rest of the actors are unknown — with a lot of them obviously recruited from the local community there, including Dacmay Tangliban, a young girl who serves as the narrator and from whose point of view the story is told.

In the absence of big-name stars, the viewer will be enthralled instead by an interesting narrative, although this could have been tightened some more because — like most other digital movies, especially those set in rural areas — it has a tendency to go on and on. (I don’t know why some directors fall so in love with some of their shots, they refuse to part with these come editing time.)

Followers of digital films may compare Haw-Ang to Mes de Guzman’s Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong, a Gawad Urian Best Picture finalist last year that is also set up north and tells the story of kids who have to walk several miles to school. Technically, Kalimugtong is far superior — from photography to sound.

Most moviegoers, however, may be riveted more to the story of Haw-Ang because it has a soap opera element to it (yup, teacup drama in an indie film).

The story of Haw-Ang for sure would also open the eyes of city dwellers to what goes on in the rural areas, particularly in the mountains — and how (dirty) politics affect the lives even of those who live quietly away from us. Surely, they would appreciate the efforts of some selfless and dedicated people — like the character of Sister Adel in the movie — who volunteer to work among tribes and give up the comforts of city living. You’ll never know how difficult (and challenging) that could be until you see the  movie.

And yes, it’s also quite engrossing to follow the story of Sister Adel (who carries a lipstick in her bag to remind herself that under that habit she is still a woman) and be witness to her sacrifices, her frustrations, her fights and even her carnal needs. You read that right — even a nun may have sexual desires.

Now, doesn’t that pique your interest yet?