Movie No. 22 (2019): PANDANGGO SA HUKAY

Pandanggo Sa Hukay (2019)
Director: Sheryl Rose Andes
Cast: Iza Calzado, Diva Montelava, Mercedez Cabral
In Tagalog, with English subtitles

Iza Calzado is Elena, a midwife with a son who lives with her mother. We see her prepare for an interview. We learn that she's applying for job in the Middle East. Then we see her ride a tricycle to a small maternity clinic where she works. This is her typical day.

Christmas is a few weeks away. We see her join her co-workers at the maternity clinic doing the routine, then later prepare for a dance presentation (Pandanggo Sa Ilaw) to be showcased during their Christmas Party.

This monotony is suddenly interrupted by an unfortunate event that leads to a series of dark twists and turns.

The film seems to comment on the plight of the ordinary Filipinos dreaming of a greener pasture called Middle East. This is also a closer look into the sorry state of pregnant women in the poor countryside.

Iza Calzado's underperformance is passable. The film is a leisurely ride until the unfortunate turn of events. It's like a rollercoaster ride after this, where the thrill and suspense are fun part of the entertainment. But, what happens in the conclusion is something that I don't expect. And it's a letdown.

Rating: 2.5/4.0
Date seen: August 4, 2019