Movie No. 53 (2014). Cinemalaya X: DAGITAB

Dagitab (2014)
Director: Derick Cabrido
Cast: Eula Valdes, Nonie Buencamino, Martin Del Rosario

Dagitab means spark. True enough, the movie used an overload of symbolism suggestive of a couple's marriage on the verge of falling apart. Cigarette is most prominent. Then there's the spark emanating from an electronic mosquito killer. Even the spark produced when the fat from pork skewer that falls on a live ember desperately needs attention. Then the fireflies in the final scene. Some of these make some scenes poetic. Some look contrived.

I can't complain about the performances. Eula Valdes and Nonie Buencamino are equally good, which makes them front-runner in the acting awards of Cinemalaya X. I guess it's screenplay is good on paper. Cinematography is one of
the best, particularly that one scene on the beach, which is reminiscent of the now famous scene in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Oh, there's another one, a copycat of the famous beach scene in From Here To Eternity. But the main problem, is the storytelling itself. This movie needs re-editing. There are lots of scenes that drag.

Rating: 2.50/4.0

Date seen: August 3, 2014


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