Variety on Ang Sayaw: An elegantly assembled drama

An elegantly assembled drama about an unconventional love triangle…

With these glowing words, Variety, “the bible of Hollywood,” recently published a thumbs-up review of Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (titled The Dance of Two Left Feet for the international market), a printout of which was sent to Funfare by my Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre.

Directed by Alvin Yapan, the movie stars Rocco Nacino and Paulo Avelino as dance students with Jean Garcia as their teacher in a lyrical love triangle depicted in beautifully-choreographed scenes set against passages of poems by feminist poets Merlinda Bobis, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Joi Barrios, Rebecca Anonuevo, Benilda Santos and Ophelia Dimalanta, with homosexual overtones about the characters played by Rocco and Paulo. The indie got good reviews when it was shown at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival earlier this year.

From the Variety review written by Richard Kuipers: “Dance, poetry and desire comingle in The Dance of Two Left Feet, an elegantly assembled drama about an unconventional love triangle that springs from a college student’s infatuation with his much older teacher. Filipino helmer Alvin Yapan confirms the promise of his 2009 debut The Rapture of Fe with this technically sophisticated exploration of romantic yearning that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging….a natural for fests with dance sidebars and has offshore potential on specialized tube outlets.”

In the story, Paulo as Marlon, hires Rocco as Dennis as private tutor so he (Marlon) could be close to the teacher Karen on whom he has a crush. Dennis is Karen’s student. In the process, a hint of romance develops not between Marlon and Karen but between Marlon and Dennis portrayed less in words than in body language and in the way they gaze longingly at each other when their bodies touch in dance which Variety calls “dance of desire.”

Critic Kuipers praised Yapan for having “taken the potentially risky step of infusing his screenplay with large sections of poetry by Filipino feminist writers, plus in-depth classroom discussions on topics such as the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and the nature of the cinematic gaze…a strategy that pays off wonderfully well thanks to outstanding picture and sound editing, overlaying lovely dance sequences with well-chosen poetry readings and literary discussions that say everything about the suppressed emotions swirling around the main players….”

With minimal dialogue, the actors eloquently fleshed out their characters and Kuipers took note of it: “Avelino and Nacino capture all the curiosity and naivete of young men learning the rules and repercussions of attraction; admired TV star Garcia is quietly commanding as the attractive and unmarried older woman whose true feelings remain tantalizingly ambiguous…”

I guess Alvin Yapan owes it to the public to come up with a follow-up better than his first two attempts. He can do no less.

Baby happy to be back as actress

After working with the government, Baby O’Brien feels relieved being back where she really belongs — showbiz.

Yes, she’s that mean lola in the GMA soap Daldalita, a welcome change for Baby who used to be cast in sweet, rich and goody-goody roles.

Off-cam, Baby is busy with the Zonta Club of Alabang which is holding its annual fund-raising bazaar for the club’s projects to empower women, set for Dec. 17 and 18 (this Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at the Cuenca Court, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City.

Now on its fourth year, Zonta’s Christmas Carnivale Bazaar will feature Men’s Lounge for fathers, Quadrangle of Fashion and Chatuchak for mothers, Carnivale’s Dozen and Bakers Row for food lovers, the Family Fitness Zone for fitness buffs, the Home Front for homemakers and Little Treasures for kids.

There will also be Frisbee competitions during the two-day affair, a puppet show, a magic show, My Dog’s a Star competition and a visit by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Among the performers/entertainers are the young Banares Brothers and Judith Banal, plus a one-hour musical show from Las Vegas directed and choreographed by the Aldeguer Sisters.

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