Sunday, August 27, 2017

Patay Na Si Hesus: A Movie Review


I was never a fan of Filipino mainstream movies. I find it overrated, overhyped, and sometimes, it’s not worth my money. Sometimes, the plot and story lines are often overused. I’m this type of movie goer who overanalyzes every element of the movie (on rare occasions, however, I watch flicks that don’t need critical thinking). Since the advent of Filipino indie movies in the early 2000s, it had touched several subjects that were considered taboo in mainstream media. I have never seen a movie that is so funny, so poignant, and so insane in many levels. 

There are so many movies that portray the typical life of a Filipino family, but none of them portrayed it like Patay Na Si Hesus did.

Set in Cebu City, the story follows Iyay (Jaclyn Jose) as she forces her family to travel all the way to Dumaguete to attend the wake of her estranged husband. As the movie progressed, we get to witness each and every family member's frustrations on love, career, and life in general. Armed with the superb writing and screenwriting, everyone performed well, not to mention watching Jaclyn Jose cursing in Bisaya language with no awkward Tagalog twang. The family road trip did not just take you to the verdant landscapes of southern Cebu and Negros Oriental - it is a trip of life. Along the way, we meet some speed bumps - frustrations and disappointments - but ultimately, it's our family who would give us support and help us continue to move on.

Whether you're a certified bisdak or not, you'll certainly love this movie. There was never a dull moment in this movie, and the humor was just on point. Well, you can't go wrong with the Bisaya punchlines. A few might think that some punchlines were overdone, but I didn't mind it at all. As the movie progresses, the emotions start to build up until the end of the movie.

Beyond those crunchy verbal sparrings and insults, Patay Na Si Hesus celebrates love, friendship, forgiveness, and the value of family. Every Bisaya speaking person shall watch this. It may not be your typical indie movie, but it's worth your time and money. It is so refreshing to watch a Bisaya movie on a silver screen. I couldn't be prouder!

Rating: 9/10

1 comment:

Whatchasay?