Movie No. 37 (Cinemalaya 2018): ML

ML (2018)
Director: Benedict Mique
Cast: Eddie Garcia, Tony Labrusca
In Tagalog, with English subtitles

ML is Martial Law.

I see the movie as an attempt to dismiss revisionism that is currently being spread . It may have served its purpose well as it shows literally the horrors of Martial Law in the hands of a former torturer during that dark era in Philippine Society. But, the target audience may not have seen or will not see it. I am aware this is fiction. But, I like the way the movie alludes to what's happening at present. 

The movie seems to present itself as horror. I like the way it shifts into 'horror' as the scene moves into the basement, as if it represents the compartment of the torturer's brain where that dark memory has been forever etched. It's interesting that the torturer is at the onset of Alzheimer's disease. 

I saw the lead actor in flesh on day of the festival. It's quite obvious that his advanced age is catching up on him. He stoops and walks like a baby on his first days of having learned how to walk. But, I never saw this in ML. In the movie he excellently personified ML. 

Tony Labrusca doesn't disappoint as a newcomer.

Rating: 3.0/4.0

Date seen: August 4, 2018