Politika SA LIKOD NG HIMALA

Posted by Jojo Devera , Labels: , , , ,


Sa Likod Ng Himala

Ang lipunan sa pelikula ay larawang hinango sa lipunang ating kinaroroonan ngunit ang mga sangkap ng imaheng ito ay nagdaan na sa isang prosesong kinasasangkutan ng mga negosyante, manlilikha at teknikong may kani-kaniyang imahinasyon, motibo at kasanayan. Samakatuwid, ang lipunan sa pelikula ay hindi ang lipunang ating ginagalawan sa mga sandaling ito, larawan lamang ang mga ito na madalas nagpapakita ng mga tao, pook at institusyong kilalala natin at manaka-naka ay gumugulat, umiinis, nagmumulat sa atin dahil kakaiba ang mga naroroong mga salita, situwasyon at resultang isinasalaysay. Mainam ang pagkakasalin sa Tagalog ng pararilang Ingles na tumutukoy sa mahika at siyensiyang nagbunga ng nangaunang pelikula. Mga aninong gumagalaw ang itinumbas sa moving pictures. Tunay na akmang-akma sa puntong panayam tungkol sa lipunan sa pelikula, higit pa kung daragdagan sa pinilakang tabing. Mga aninong gumagalaw sa pinilakang tabing. Ang mga tao, pook at institusyong inilatag ng aparato sa iskrin ay anino lamang ng mga tao, pook at institusyong kilala natin. Higit pa itong pinapatingkad ng mga katagang pinilakang tabing ang kaibahan ng mga tao, pook at institusyong itinatapon ng liwanag sa ating harapan sa kadiliman ng sinehan.

May filmmaker sa Himala (Experimental Cinema Of The Philippines, 1982) na naniniwalang ang kanyang sining ang pinakamahalaga sa kanyang buhay. Nagtungo siya sa Baryo Cupang na biglang nagkabuhay nang may dalagang nagsabing pinagmilagruhan siya ng Mahal Na Birhen. Hindi sang-ayon ang kanyang prodyuser sa pelikulang nais niyang gawin, ngunit itinuloy pa rin ang kanyang proyekto at pinagbigyan ang tawag ng kanyang sining. Sa pagkuha niya ng mga imahe ng mga tao, lugar at pangyayari sa baryo, hindi niya pinagplanuhan ang tutunguhin ng kanyang obra. Naging saksi siya, kasama ang kamera sa paggahasa ng dalawang durog na tinedyer sa dalaga ng mga himala at nagsimula siyang mag-isip na may kaugnayan sa buhay ng mga tunay na tao ang mga larawang kanyang tinitipon sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kamera. Bagamat hindi siya relihiyoso, natutuhan niyang sumangguni sa pari sa kompesyonaryo. Ang paring hindi kumbinsido na may himala ay nalagay sa posisyong kailangan niyang magpahayag ng kanyang paniniwala. Sa isang sermon, sinabi niyang may pagkakataong ang kasinungalingan ay siyang higit na kailangan ng tao kaysa katotohanan. Ang himala sa pelikula ni Ishmael Bernal ay hindi ang himala na kinikilala ng simbahan matapos nitong suriin ang mga pangyayari at ang bisa ng pagsuspinde sa mga batas ng kalikasan ay opisyal na tanggapin ng mga may-kapangyarihan. Ang sinasagasa ni Bernal dito ay ang kombensiyunal na paniniwala ng mga deboto sa inaaral ng simbahan. Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga himala! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at ng mga Diyos! Sa kapanahunan ng diktaturyang Marcos, may politikal na implikasyon ang mga salitang binitiwan ng dalagang sa simula ay pinagpakitaan ng Birhen. Ipinakita ni Bernal sa Himala ang kabilang mukha ng reyalidad na hangad ipatanggap ng mga naghahari sa lipunan. Ang tao ang gumuguhit ng kanilang tadhana, hindi ang siang taong umaangkin sa kapangyarihang babago sa lipunan. Ang putok na pumugto sa buhay ng dalagang natutong magsabi ng totoo ay simbolikong pagpapasabog sa reyalidad na nais ipatanggap ng Bagong Lipunan sa mamayang Pilipino.


Direksiyon: Ishmael Bernal
Dulang Pampelikula: Ricardo Lee
Sinematograpiya: Sergio Lobo
Musika: Winston Raval
Editing: Ike Jarlego, Jr.
Disenyo: Raquel Villavicencio
Prodyuser: Experimental Cinema Of The Philippines

20 Response to "Politika SA LIKOD NG HIMALA"

  1. Ronald says:
    3:27 AM

    Society always mirror the movies and vice-versa. But did you notice the perversion of the character of Spanky Manikan in Bernal's HIMALA?

  2. Jojo Devera says:
    4:22 AM

    i couldn't agree more... what was Orly's perversion?

  3. Ronald says:
    5:28 AM

    Filming the actual rape scene of Elsa and her companion in the movie.

  4. Jojo Devera says:
    4:54 PM

    oh that... well i've always thought of his decision to film Elsa and Chayong's rape as the break he's been looking for, although he felt guilty in doing so hence his confession to the town priest.

  5. Ronald says:
    5:02 AM

    Activists cited HIMALA as their 3rd Best Filipino Film of All Time. According to them its the most provocative among the films done by Bernal after NUNAL SA TUBIG. And Nora Aunor's greatest performance ever.

  6. Jojo Devera says:
    6:47 AM

    i personally think Himala is Bernal's best film, even better than Nunal Sa Tubig although he has quite a number of great films under his belt. i just love the cynic in him which was evident in Pagdating Sa Dulo and Manila By Night. Spanky Manikan's character is similar to that of Eddie Garcia's in Pagdating. there's a weird commection between the two. having seen both films, don't you think so?

  7. beektur says:
    12:04 PM

    jo -- i've never realized how much i have missed by not visiting your blog regularly. work, etc. i agree, himala is one of the best -- if not the best -- of bernal's work. but i also liked working girls, it has the morals of moral and brutal without the strained polemics.

    i'd be off work this week and will ready every single post you had in the past :) also, i used an image sindak in my blog without your prior permission. i know you' be cool with that. keep writing!

  8. Jojo Devera says:
    6:05 PM

    thanks a lot beektur! i miss reading your comments as well... Himala is definitely one of Bernal's best films, although i suggest that you also watch his lesser known classics. send me an e-mail and maybe i can persuade you to take a little of your time so you can appreciate Bernal's greatness. you can use whatever image without asking permission from me, feel free to do so. i linked your blog to mine so i can easily read your posts which i find truly interesting. take care!

  9. victormanalo says:
    3:45 PM

    The million dollar question is: Sino ang pumatay kay Elsa sa Movie?

  10. Jojo Devera says:
    3:43 PM

    I believe the identity of Elsa's killer is unimportant otherwise it would take away the mystery surrounding Elsa's death. It makes for interesting discussion, wouldn't you think?

  11. Ronald Selorio says:
    6:54 AM

    I think I've posted this opinion before; filming the rape makes him legally an accomplice of sort, right? If he plans to show this video, wont he be charged for it? He thinks that it's the big break that he's waiting for? What, jailtime? Hehehe.

    But, that aside, Himala is one of the partheon of the Philippine cinema!

  12. Jojo Devera says:
    7:00 AM

    I believe so. There will be legal ramifications for his action unless a complaint is filed. I'm not quite sure what punishment will be given to the offender under Philippine Law.

    That said, Himala is and always will be one of the great Filipino films ever made.

  13. Ronald Selorio says:
    7:07 AM

    I know and one of my favorites. I revisit this film all the time and i like it better everytime i see it. It's one of the most visually poetic pinoy films around, coupled with biting satire, legendary acting and perfect location.

  14. Jojo Devera says:
    7:21 AM

    Direk Elwood mentioned that he wanted to film Silip in Paoay, Ilocos Norte where Himala was shot.

    If he was still alive, I wonder how Bernal would react to Himala's timelessness. Other films have been long forgotten and yet, here we are still discussing and constantly revisiting this classic.

  15. Dennis says:
    11:15 AM

    Hi Jojo!

    What was Direk Elwood's reason for filming sana Silip in Paoay?

    Everything about Himala is timeless. Interesting thoughts as always.

  16. Jojo Devera says:
    11:46 AM

    Direk Elwood thought it would give the story a sense of realism...

    Thanks so much Dennis! Himala was a film ahead of its time and now, 30 years later it still holds the distinction of being one of the greatest Filipino films ever produced.

  17. Dennis says:
    6:29 AM

    If only Himala was given a much decent dvd released.

  18. Jojo Devera says:
    9:02 AM

    That would be great! Maybe there are plans to release the high definition remaster of Himala on Blu-ray very soon...

  19. Ronald Selorio says:
    11:11 PM

    That would be the day. Btw, Jojo, does Cinema One broadcast now in HD or even digital? Maybe they'll show it there first!

  20. Jojo Devera says:
    2:47 AM

    I read a post from the head of Cinema One on facebook about the high definition remaster although they still broadcast in SD...

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Karapatang Magpalathala 2006-2013. SARI-SARING SINENG PINOY Lahat Ng Karapatan Ay Nakalaan. Disenyo Jojo Devera