An engrossing love affair through diverse political eras

Film review: Muli

The good thing about Muli, directed by Adolf Alix Jr., is that the engrossing story triumphs over everything.

The story is simply told, the love affair unfolds spontaneously and the music is held at bay and never intrudes throughout the film.

Decidedly a plus factor is the screenplay of Jerry Gracio which illuminates the story and tells it like it is without the hysteria of scripts long on dialogue and short on substance.

The movie has the feel of The Story of Adele H., the love, lust and tension of The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

Except that this is the story of two men.

Their affair spans four decades from the time before and after the declaration of martial law. The love affair extends to the fall of Erap Estrada from the presidency, the ascendancy of Gloria Arroyo and the siege of Oakwood, among others. I also note the first Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila during the time of martial law, the big quake of 1991 where one of Sid Lucero’s lovers (Rocky Salumbides) died.

This might be the director’s answer to Brokeback Mountain except that this Filipino film has the sweep and saga of Gone With the Wind minus the expensive production design.

The actor to beat in this film is Sid who evolves from ex-seminarian to teacher-activist with amazing credibility. His lawyer-lover Cogie Domingo manages to catch up with Sid and together weave an acting ensemble worthy of recognition.

To those curious how two men carry on an affair and make love, the film’s intimate love scenes provide the answers. They may come as a shock but come to think of it, even hetero love affairs look exactly like that. But the good thing is these intimate scenes don’t get in the way of the story’s interesting historical and political backdrop. They actually humanize those political and social upheavals.

To one’s surprise, even the supporting cast did well in the acting department.

Kenneth Ocampo who plays Sid’s gay cousin does an understated but astounding transformation from quiet dignified gay to flamboyant one finally lured to joining his first gay beauty contest.

The other members of the acting ensemble — a competent and versatile support group consisting of Marco Alcaraz, Paolo Rivero, Max Eigenmann, Evelyn Vargas, Angeli Bayani and Arnold Reyes — is a big plus. They can act even without a single line to deliver and they can blend with fellow actors with ease.

With this latest Adolf Alix film, the Filipino romantic film (gay version) has come of age.

The hysteria is gone, the confrontations no longer jar, the hair-pulling is out of the way and in the film’s ending comes forgiveness and acceptance of the way they (Sid and Cogie) were — in this film.