Movie No. 86 (2013): TIRADOR

Tirador (2007)
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Cast: Coco Martin, Jaclyn Jose, Kristoffer King, Julio Diaz, Jiro Manio, Nathan Lopez, Angela Ruiz
In Tagalog, with (optional) English subtitles

The film gives a glimpse of the daily lives of petty thieves who live in a section of Manila (Quiapo) where violence seems to be an everyday occurrence. Some of them are shown religious pious, too, when the occasion requires. The film has no plot; it does not attempt to resolve anything. Its documentary-style (narrative) presentation makes it appear real, like seeing it puts you right where the scenes are taking place. Either you just pass by and witness a snippet of their daily woes or shenanigans or eavesdrop on their loud but muddled conversations.

The film presents a kind of realism that is not easy to watch. It's disturbing in a way that it shows a cycle of violence and hopelessness that politicians capitalize on to their advantage. The editing style seems to elicit confusion. It's like you pass by a commotion in a crowd and there's more than one thing to pay attention to so that you shift your attention from the source of commotion itself to the crowd or bystanders whose attention get caught by the commotion. But you get only a glimpse of it. 

Rating: 3.5/4.0

Date seen: April 11, 2013