Movie Review: Dew (2019)

Dew The Movie, written and directed by Ma-Deaw Chookiat Sakveerakul, is a story between two teenage boys, Pop (pronounced as phop, is played by Nont Sadanont Durongkavarojana) and Dew (played by Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee), living in the province in times that being homosexual is not accepted in the society. Many years after they met again but in unexpected way. Will they end up each other? Source 

The movie is available to stream in Netflix.

🚨🚨WARNING: SPOILER ALERT🚨🚨

In this part I will summarize the movie as I see and understand it.

The movie starts in 1996, in Pang Noi, as Dew, with his Walkman listening to a lively music, dancing as he walks, then Pop, driving a motorcycle, almost hit Dew while walking. Pop stopped and called Dew and asked if he wants to go with him in the motorcycle. After they have arrived at their school, Dew and Pop change their uniform for it was wet because of the rain while they are on their way to their school. Pop changed into the PE uniform Dew gave him, while Dew changed into his Cheerleading uniform. Because of AIDS was spreading that fast that time, the country asked the schools for the 'homosexual' students to register into a camp where psychiatrist and soldiers will train them. It was not specific on what type of training that they have but based on what the students in the movie looked after the camp, it looks like they were force to do extreme exercises or drills. 

The both of them became close friends after that day, they're even dance partners in their PE class.  

The next scene is in February of 1997. Pop and Dew hangout by the park. Then they talked into going to Chiang Mai. In there they did a lot of stuff. They both bought Pagers and have classes with their friends. Pop taught Dew how to ride a motorcycle, but Dew doesn't want to learn because he wants Pop to just drive for him. The two of them fought then Pop left him. Dew was left walking back. Pop came back and said sorry for what he'd done.

May 1997, the start of a new school year. Pop does not talk to Dew because of what happened between them. Dew punched Pop because he can't accept of what he really is. After both of their parents was called, Dew and his mother had a painful scene together, his mother was driving, softly crying while Dew is talking to him. Pop, however was also punched by his own father. We see both of them having no ally in this situation. The next day, rumors starting to spread that Dew forced himself to Pop, then his classmates started to bully him. Putting trash and writing to his table 'Faggot', 'Go to Hell', 'Ladyboy', and some other painful words to his table.

Now in the present, 2019. We see Pop (now played by Weir Sukollawat Kanarot) driving with his wife Orn (played by Yarinda Bunnag). We see him now as the schools new teacher. Then enter Lew (played by Pahn Darisa Karnpoj), a troublemaker and disobedient student. We see her hanging out with other students just outside the school premises, smoking e-cigarettes or vape. Then we'll see both of them in the car together because Lew was caught, and he was asked by Mrs. Ratchani, the schools principal, to make sure that she will go to school directly in the morning. After weeks of them being together as teacher and student, Lew's grades went up and her behavior is changing. It was said after the principal called Pop to inform him of the evaluation that they've done to him, and there's only one more evaluation needed for him to be a regular teacher, that is to make his students to attend any academic activity. Then Pop invited Lew to come to Chiang Mai to attend a Science Quiz bee competition, which she agreed on. 

After loosing in the competition, Lew hanged out with her friends again in the mountains, which made Pop calmly furious when he called her. He's starting to see Dew in her, and he test it with a song that Dew knew, and Lew explained the song in the class like she know the song at all. 

We're taken back in 1999. We're now informed on what really happened back then. Pop's brother informed him that Dew died because of a car accident. Which made him cry silently in the backseat of his brothers car.

Back at the present. Pop is now a full-time teacher. Then we see all of them (Pop, Lew and Lew's boyfriend) in the principals office, where both Pop and Lew's boyfriend have bruises in their face. Then we'll see Lew looking at the corner of the office, like it was somewhat feels familiar to her, like he was there before but she can't remember when. The day after, Pop came to Lew's house to comfort her with what's happening to her. Then after pointing out all of the pictures that Lew collected and explained on what are those to both Dew and him it meant. We now know that Lew is the reincarnation of Dew. 

Pop is now at the train station, waiting for the train. Then we see Lew, who fell from the motorcycle, run to him and hugged him tightly as she remembers all of the memories of Dew and Pop back when dew was alive. Then they left in the train and went to a secluded like beach. Then we see them in a bungy jump place, put off the safely belt and jump into the water. END. 

I intentionally made my summary missing some details, because I want you to watch the movie.

The movie received many criticisms, most of what I've seen in social media (specifically on Twitter) are bad reviews. I think they didn't understand what the story is about really.

But, the way I see it, its a story about unbreakable bonds between two lovers, to the point were in their next life, they'll meet each other and be destined like before. Yes, the movie showed a teacher-student relationship, but it really happens in life. But in this movie, Dew was reincarnated as one of Pop's students. The story is about their undying love and affection. We can call it the right love at the wrong time.

Now let's focus on the film itself.

Cinematography wise, the movie has a cold pastel colors, and each scenes was good and clear. The actors emotions was caught in a good angle and perception. There are some scenes you'll think of what's its significance until you watch it again and understand what the shot meant. I had to watch it a couple of times to know what some of the scenes meant.

Actors, the only new actor in this movie is the one who played Pop, Nont Sadanont Durongkavarojana. Because I'm not familiar with Thai actors, I got to know this information when I've only searched it. For me his acting was satisfactory. He played it emotionless but it looked like it was the characters personality that he's playing. The other actors, I've watched some of the series that they're on and they are great Thai actors and actresses. Each emotion was delivered perfectly and I for myself is satisfied with the act that they did in this movie.

And that's all for this movie review. If you'll like to know more you can comment it and I will answer it, if I can.

Any suggestion or any movies needed for review, please inform me.

Series Review: Pinoy BL Series: Gameboys (2020)

Gameboys is one of the first Pinoy BL web series with 13 episodes that was produce in times of the pandemic.  Directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal and written by Ash M. Malanum. Produced by The IdeaFirst Company, it can be watch in their own YouTube channel for free, with each episode having 10-39 minutes of runtime. It can also be watch on Netflix with bonus scenes. Source

Starring Kokoy de Santos (right) as Gavreel Alarcon and Elijah Canlas (left) as Cairo Lazaro.

Summary of Season 1

🚨🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨🚨 

The next paragraph will/might contain some important info in the series. You've been warned.

The series starts while Cairo/Cai is seriously battling another player while live-streaming in a social media platform, ScreenTime. He lost in the game to Angel2000 then invites him for a rematch. After his livestream, he received a friend request from Gavreel Alarcon aka Angel2000, the one whom he lost to. After he accepted the request, he received a message request, then Gavreel video called him. Upon answering the videocall, he was in awe upon seeing Gavreel shirtless figure, and teased Cai of looking on his body. Then Gav confidently said that he has a crush on him. Then in the next few seconds, we see two of them typing each other’s names in an Instagram like social media (they are stalking each other🤭) looking each other’s stories without each of them knowing. A day after, Gavreel video called Cai and then they familiarize each other. After Cai asking for a rematch, Gavreel wants some thing in return, a date with him. Then he (Cai) accepted it.     

The next episode is when Cai met Gav's ex-girlfriend, Pearl Gatdula (played by Adriana So), which is now Gav's bestfriend. How they met is like this. Cai received a message from his father, who got infected by the virus, saying that he should take care of himself and be good. He needed someone to talk to, so then he called Gav. After a few rings, Pearl answered the call, and he thought that he'd just called the wrong person but Pearl said that she's just borrowing Gav's laptop, and when she called Gav, she called him 'Babe', which enraged Cai in hearing this. 

Few days after that, Gav sent video messages' to Cai, saying that he misses him. Pearl on the other hand is teasing Gav for saying Babe on the last call that Cai made. Here we know on how Gav fell in love with Cai, and what he'd done for Cai to notice him. Next  few frames and we'll see Gav trying to explain Cai that he and Pearl are just friends and nothing more. Then he teases Cai of being jealous, which Cai got mad, because he needed a friend to talk to and he disappointed him for not being there for him.

Pearl, being the bestfriend of all, helped Gav to make an apology video for Cai, and sent a bouquet of flowers to Cai's house. The next scene is when Pearl invited them both to a drinking party via video call.  The only one who's not drinking is Cai, he reasoned that they don't have any liquor in their house. 

Then enter a villain, Terrence Carreon (played by Kyle Velino), Gav's ex-boyfriend that can't move-on with his life. 😒😒😒 While Cai's on live, he invited or challenge his viewers to play with him. Then Terrence commented and said to invite him on live. After that he video called Cai to explain things to him, but he's just playing games with Cai's thinking. Which really made him more afraid of what really is Gav's intentions to him. 

This made Gav angry because Cai have said something that's very insensitive and hurt Gav in saying it. So, he also made an apology video to Gav, which he accepted (because that's how much he loves him🥰🥰🥰). Days after that, Pearl invited them to another zoom party, because its the monthsary of Gav and Cai. They all prepared for the party specially Cai with his new hair cut. Hours in their party, and Pearl is being talkative because she's a bit drunk, she told one of the relationships of Gav, and it made Cai think again on how much of it is real. then Pearl teased Gav again on what she'd said to Cai. Then Gav sent some articles to Cai about online couples succeeding, just to reassure Cai on their situation.

Cai deactivated all of his social media accounts after the death of his father because of the virus. But even he's (Cai) not replying to his messages, he still sends uplifting messages to Cai. After days of deactivating his social media accounts, Cai finally contacted Gav, thanking him for the flowers and the messages he received from him. Then he told Gav on how it went that way. Then he reassured Cai that he will always be there even if he didn't want to. 

Few weeks after, Cai's mother (Leila Lazaro, played by Sue Prado) informed him that they will move in the northern province in Mindanao region. This made Cai sad 😢😢😢, he even reasoned that he still needs to finish school, but her mother insisted that they needed a new scene, to move on with their life. This is when Cai decided to meet Gav personally, to tell him that he will leave the city to live in the province. But a lot of things is delaying their meetup, and ended up that he said it thru phone call. After a few minutes, Pearl came to help Cai so that the two of them meet. Days/weeks after their meet-up/date (its really hard to know the timing in series), Cai is again inviting his viewers to play games with him. Then, a childhood friend of Cai commented, Wesley Torres (played by Miggy Jimenes), and this made Cai excited, and Gav jealous. Cai even called him 'Master Wesley'. After that, Gav stalked Wes' IG like account, making fun of all of the contents Wes had posted. Then in the next scene we see Cai and Wes having a video call, talking on how they miss each other and on how excited they are to see each other. 

Terrence called Gav after he commented on one of the post of Pearl. He reasoned that he just wanted someone to talk to, just for his sanity. Next scene, Cai and Gav video calling each other while eating. Gav cried because Cai's migrating to the province is pushing though. Then Cai tried to comfort him by hugging the pillow that have Gav's face in it. 

A misunderstanding happened, and Cai and Gav decided to have a talk in person. We'll see them seat in a park, still showing physical distancing, they talked on the unfairness of their relationship and the difference that they have.

I'll just leave it there because you really have to watch it. It's available with subtitles in 8 or more other languages, so you just have to pick the right one for you. You can watch it on YouTube for FREE, watch it now and you'll never regret it. 😊😊😊 

Some fun facts about the series

- If you notice all the small details in the series you'll know what's coming up, whether a next problem new characters, etc. (Some one made a compilation of this on Youtube, but I can't find it.)

- Some details are different than the first few episodes.

- After episode 9, they've decided to film some of the scenes face-to-face. Of course with the permission of the Local Government and some other rules they have to follow.

- Pearl has her own series titled "Pearl Next Door", it was released after a few weeks after the last episode of Gameboys.

- Elijah's family helped a lot in filming the scenes, even acting in the series as extras.

- This series was made as hope for the people in The IdeaFirst Company who are losing jobs when the pandemic and lockdown hit the world. Because of this, the actors does their own make-up and background in their own home. They only made the series via video conferencing/chatting with the director. It was also made possible by the sponsors that came in while the series is still in the middle of shooting, TM and Bench. Source

What I think about the series.

Before the first episode release, I got to see first the trailer/teaser of the web series, and it made ma want to watch it, knowing on how good the actors are, I know that it would be a great success. I first notice the two actors even before the pandemic there were child actors, and they even have independent films that are great to watch. 

If you watch it again you'll see some minor mistakes or different in the series, but you wouldn't mind some of it because you'll be hook in the story again. That's how good of an actor they are. The production made it good, the transition of each frame to another is good that it's not that shocking, or you wouldn't question on what happened. The series did not have any missing details, all of the lines complement the scenes before or after the line was delivered. 

The brightness and color of the series is just right, each episode was made like a movie, each effort in editing each episode was so good that you'll be entertained and still watch the next episodes.

This series made me smile, and it made me sane in times of the lockdown. Among other series that we've watch.

There are other Pinoy BL series that are worth your time and appreciation, and some of it you have to watch for the story itself (because some of it has a good storyline but bad editing or acting). I'll review some of those in the next posts that I'll make.

Movie Review: The Boy Foretold by the Stars (2020)

"The Boy Foretold by the Stars" is a Filipino movie directed by Dolly Dulu, based on the college play that he wrote and directed, "Ang Hangal (The Fool)". Produced by Derick Cabrido and Jodi Sta. Maria. One of the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) official entry last year, that was modified into a digital event due to the pandemic, that won three awards, namely: 2nd Best Picture Award, Best Original Soundtrack, and Gender Sensitivity Award. Starring Adrian Lindayag as Dominic Cruz and Keann Johnson as Luke Armada.

Adrian Lindayag (left) and Keann Johnson (right) with director Dolly Dulu (center)

At this point I will tell some of the parts in the movies, so be warned.

🚨🚨🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨🚨🚨

The movie revolves around them as they let destiny play the matchmaking for their love-life. 

In the movie, we will only see our characters mostly in the boys' school that they are in, St. Francis School, Baby R's house, and in the playground.  

The movie starts with an aerial view of the school, showing on how big the school that they're into, then the school church, where we see our first character, Dominic, borrowing a fan from his friend Timmy (played by John Leinard Ramos). Then in the other side of the aisle, Luke with his homophobic friends. Then we see Luke in the playground, texting with her girlfriend, Karen (Played by Rissey Reyes).  Based on the texts scenes that we'll see, it looks like that their relationship is falling.  

Quiapo Church, we see Timmy and Dominic carrying big blue plastic bags for the club event that they're leading. Then they go searching where's the house of Baby R (played by Iyah Mina), a fortune teller that is said to have a 99.5% accurate-prediction, and then found it and ask for their fortunes. Dominic does not believe in fortune telling but he was pushed by his friend to take one. And so he did.

The Event. The club the Dominic is handling is 'Journey with the Lord'. This is where our characters meet for the first time, notice each other actually.  So, Dominic was matched with Luke for the activities of the club (but in the movie sponsor was used instead of guide). This is where their connection, or as their journey, starts. Luke opened up to him while he was blindfolded, and talked about on what made him join the club, on what are his reasons.  After Luke's journey, they both got close to each other.

Things got complicated when the friends (who are homophobic) of Luke started noticing on the closeness of our main characters. They started to talk to him, and it made him start to get distant with Dominic. After a few days/weeks, while Dominic is on duty for the new batch of travelers, Luke came to him and apologized for what happened, and everything came back to normal for them. He even defended and fought Dominic from his friends when his friend is bullying Dominic. Then Karen, Luke's ex-girlfriend came again, and things got complicated again. 

Days pass, Luke and Karen got back together again, and Dominic help her with a heavy heart. After the promposal that he help her with, Dominic cried and reminisce all of their memories together, then he got a message from Luke, asking him to come to the school field. They tried to talk and make things clear to both of them.... 

 

If you are puzzled or confuse to what I've wrote, its because I want you to really watch the movie. If I made you curious on what are the missing details of the story, then I accomplished my goal for this post.

Now let's talk about the film itself. 

Cinematography wise, this film has a good take on it. It got the full beauty of Quiapo Church as its background to one of its scenes, it got all the good angles that is needed to the expression that the actor is giving, the focus of each expressions, even the darkness of the hallways in the school, they've captured it like in reality. The coldness and sweetness of its colors affected the mood of each scenes.

Actors, it's good that they casted a gay actors for this movie, it helped justify each of the feelings and expressions of the actors, even the supporting roles. Nice pick for all the straight roles too. 

The fortune teller in this film was the very first transgender who ever won a best actress award in her past role in "Mamu; and a Mother Too".

Location,  they did a good job on finding a good school, house, playground, and other locations that you'll see in the movie. I've read in one article that the director did go to an all-boys-school when he was on his grade-school and high-school days, that's why the story is mostly in the school grounds.

What I think about the movie?

Its one of the best coming-of-age BL movie for me. It tells us a part of what's really happening in an all-boys-school kind of school. The pain of a gay teenager who fell in-love with a straight guy, and the struggles of a confused teenage boy that's searching for his truth, each of it delivered in this movie that is perfectly executed by the actors. A movie worth to watch.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Its not common in my country to have such movie that is approved by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB. Most of the LGBT movies made here are mostly made for competitions around the world, and some of it is banned here in the Philippines. What I'm saying is that the country is improving, as simple movie as this to make it in the country's own film festival is something, its a start, and I hope it goes on.