[Confession] Tuhog
I went over at a friend’s house after a long day to rest and watch some movies stuck somewhere in her DVD cases. I then notice this certain movie that has been bugging my curiosity ever since it started it’s promotion. It is Star Cinema’s new offering TUHOG ('Skewered' in English) Based on my research, TUHOG submitted an entry to Metro Manila Film Festival '13 but failed to get in to the list - and I really don’t know why because the movie is outstanding in any way I see it.
Here’s the synopsis of the movie:
Due to a road rage between two buses, an accident occurs which puts the lives of its passengers in jeopardy. But the ones greatly affected by such event are a middle-aged woman named Fiesta (Eugene Domingo), an old and retired family patriarch Tonio (Leo Martinez), and a lad named Caloy (Enchong Dee). These three people are pierced through a single steel bar – a dangerous situation that even their doctors find hard to solve. But even before this unfortunate circumstance, these three have their share of ill-fated lives. (src. Wiki)
So there you have it. When I first heard of the film, I actually thought green (environmentalist haha) and thought it was a sexy movie or something because of the unusual title. But I was surprised that they took the title TUHOG (or skewered) literally! Three (3) people were pierced together in a steel bar after a road accident and that’s just wow! - but slightly gross. The people pierced together had their own stories and struggles before the accident and their destinies intertwined at that exact moment of the accident. Tonio is a retired man that wanted to start his own bakery business while Caloy is a teenager who doubts the fidelity of his girlfriend and Fiesta is a bus conductor whose life isn't as happy as her name.
The opening point was actually a medias res (which means it started in the middle of the story). Their story sequencing were scattered perfectly so even though the sequencing was back and fort, you would still understand everything. Every character had a purpose that contributes to the whole plot and unfortunately in reality, you wouldn't see these carefully crafted kind of films in Filipino Cinema - specifically in mainstream movies. I am quite relieved that this film didn't make it in MMFF 2013 because those Official Selections would have been too shallow if they were compared to this movie. So I really commend the writer and the director of this film and I hope your kind of filmmakers multiply a plenty fold!
I recommend this to everyone who wants to witness something that is beautifully made with great casts the unusual nonlinear plot line. I won't have doubts about you liking this movie.
My Rating:
Plot: 9.3/10
Acting: 9.0/10
Cinematography: 8.0/10
Characters: 8.9/10
Uniqueness: 9.3/10
OVERALL RATING: 8.9
NOTE: This review came from my old tumblr account and was posted in August 2013.