Various local independent films have again lined up for this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival last August 6. Among the several film entries, we got the opportunity to witness the gala night of the film “Kusina (Her Kitchen)” that was directed by Mr. Xenon Palomares and Mr. David Corpuz. Before watching the film, the directors explained that this film was made for all mothers and women in the world as it portrays the different life experiences of a Filipina. Judy Ann Santos is the film’s main character that plays the role of Juana, a generous Filipina who dedicated her entire life to her loved ones by means of giving them sumptuous food which has a significant ingredient — love.
SEQUENCE OF THE STORY
The film has explicitly shown the different stages that every woman encounters in her life. From the worst experiences of young Juana brought about by the Japanese occupation in the Philippines down to her death due to her old age, it was illustrated as if the audiences were reminiscing their memories back then. However, I observed that the flow of the story was fast. It was fast in a way that it did not show detailed actions especially the performance of the actors. For me, the film was more like a recorded theatrical play because of the film setting and the fast phased changing of characters and emotions. It was quite deviated from the conventional standards of film as it tried to surprise the audiences with its rapid sequence.
TECHNICALITIES
The very first part of the film was a bit disturbing due to its unexpected sudden technical problem. Although I do not have any knowledge if it is because of the quality of the copy of the film or if the theater’s projector broke down, it still disturbed the attention of the audiences as the movie hangs while they were focused on watching the film. Based from what I observed, I love the way how the cameras have been angled and how these angles gave emphasis to the important elements of the story. The film had also the right choice of lights to be used in a particular part of the film that would match to the tension and emotion of a particular scene. In addition, the film had a proper choice of music instrumentals that would add up to the beauty of a particular scene.
CHARACTERS
I admire the whole production staff and members in choosing such great actors and actresses that would portray the characters of the film. They had a good casting in which these actors and actresses were assigned to the roles that really fit their body composition and personality. Also, I observed that these actors and actresses have similarities in facial features which I think made the film more effective to comprehend. In terms of performance, I loved how the actors appropriately portrayed their character in the film. To be honest, I do not have any idea what it feels like to be born between 1920's and 1970s but when I saw how these characters act as if they were born and grew up in those years, it gave me goose bumps that I come to realize that our country and our countrymen had extremely suffered during the Japanese occupation and during the Martial Law.
COSTUME
The costumes worn by the actors have clearly illustrated the evolution of fashion in the Philippines – from plain and simple baro’t saya to a retro-type of wearing bandanas, checkered polos, and bell-bottom pants. What disturbed me the most is the way how their costumes were worn in a certain scene. For example, Juana is wearing a plain, broidered, white dress when she gave birth to her first child and then she is still wearing the same dress when her child had already grown up. There should have been differences in the manner by which these characters wear their costumes in different periods.
SYMBOLS
Hands down to the directors and writers of the film for they have used a unique way of presenting symbols in the film that would connect to the plot of the story. I observed the consistency of the film in a way that the setting of the entire film was mainly focused on Juana’s kitchen. It gave an authentic embodiment of the film’s title that it revolved in Juana’s kitchen which also symbolizes her “life”. In addition, I admire how the writers used food, specifically Adobo, in describing the various experiences that Juana encountered in her life – tamis, asim, anghang, at alat. I also love the way how the film introduced the Filipino cuisine such as Sinigang na Baboy, Dinuguan, Leche Flan, and the like. Most importantly, I admire the whole production team for promoting and reviving Filipino culture such as the significant Filipino traits.