Timely, relevant, brave! A gritty eye opener for today's youth...
-- Nonoy Lauzon, UP Film Institute
Powerful!
-- Jason Jacobo, Film critic
If you are looking for thought-provoking, a plausible plot or even an over-all message in a Filipino film, you must see Idol: Pag-asa ng Bayan, a digital film, written and directed by a neophyte filmmaker, Cesar Buendia. The film belongs to the coming-of-age genre, a story about four high school students who were the beneficiaries of a final exam leakage, perpetrated by one of the boys, Elly.The plot is simple and thin but the build-up of suspense is sustaineduntil the end. Will Elly, the culprit confess his crime or not? How willhis parents deal with this problem? Will the school authorities cancel the graduation or not? More than a simple story, Idol attempts to show how "utang-na-loob" and friendship wins over the value of honesty and integrity.Except for Michael de Mesa and Jaclyn Jose, the main characters are unknown but their acting is superb, thanks to the inspired directing of Cesar Buendia. The movie is definitely not for pure entertainment, although there some funny situations which will entertain young audiences, because they will see themselves in the charcters in the movie.The movie does raise a lot of questions, which will require disacussion at the end of the movie for the enlightenment of the young audiences who will watch it. Idol starts with a formula beginning, goes on to reveal that it may not end as you think it will and then, in a way that you never thought it would--or would not.I highly recommend this film not only for students but also for teachers and parents, to open their eyes to the reality that exists in the world today, especially the prevalence of cheating in our society, be it in school, home, church, politics or business. The movie is a wake-up call.
-- Fr. Nick Cruz, S.J.
Film Professor, Admu
Panunoorin ko to mamya sa may megamall... 4pm dko pa to napapanuod pero nagbibigay na ako ng comments.. astig ano?? Pero mukhang ayus to kse halos lahat ng tao ay nandadaya na... Ikaw? sasabihin mo bang di ka pa nandaya??? eh kung ang PRESIDENTE nating ngayon ay nandaya.... ikaw pa kaya na simpleng nilalang na nabubuhay sa pagbabasa ng blog ng iba.. diba?
--KULYAN
(feeling) FILM critic
