A movie set in war-torn Iraq entitled “Kick Off” won the Best Picture award (New Currents competition) at the recently concluded 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF). “Kick Off,” a tragic anti-war movie which was among the films we were able to watch at the filmfest, is the second feature film work of Iraqi-Kursdistan director Shawkat Amin Korki. “Kick Off” is his own indictment against war but presented in a light, even humorous fashion.

Like most of Filipino indie movies that have made waves in international film festivals, “Kick Off” presents poverty in its core, with their makeshift dwellings similar to our own barong-barongs. But unlike our poverty-themed movies, which are often bulgar, graphic and bold in sexual content, it is wholesome, even entertaining in its humanity and in the simple, ordinary people’s preoccupations. The coyness of the lead character (a single father named Aso played by Atug Asu) in expressing his love to the lady of his affection is also something akin to Filipino culture.

Korki said in an interview that his family fled to Iraq to Iran when he was just two years old. “I grew up in a very difficult situation during wartime and I want to show the horrors of war and tell the stories of my country.” The set of the movie that highlights “humanity in the face of military brutality” is an abandoned stadium where impoverished families had settled for lack of a place to go after losing their homes to explosions during Saddam Hussein’s reign. Despite many attempts by the military to drive them away, they wouldn’t budge because they had nowhere to go.

The male settlers are all soccer fans (avidly sharing the national pride when the Iraqi national soccer team won the Asian championship in 2008) and the lead character and his friend Sako (Anwar Sako) thought of putting up a friendly soccer competition among the various groups (Kurds, Arabs, Turks and Assyrians) in the displaced communities. Despite the obstacles, e.g. lack of funds to buy the uniforms and the trophy, he was able to make his dream a reality. But alas, another explosion happens while he and his friend are buying a trophy, and the hero dies.

“Kick Off” is a co-production between Korki’s own Narin Film, the Iraqi Kurdistan Cultural Ministry and Japan’s NHK. Korki was able to seal the deal when he attended the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival where his first feature film “Crossing the Dust” made its debut.

Another winner is the Korean entry “I Am in Trouble!” which is about a misfit poet’s sexual and social gaffes. It is a charmingly wry comedy according to film critic Maggie Lee. It tells of the unsuccessful attempts of a poet out of college to adjust to the realities of the world.

‘Astig’ got Special Mention

“Astig” (“Squalor”), produced by Boy Abunda and Boy So, was the only Filipino indie movie in competition at the New Currents Section of PIFF. And it got Special Mention, which was good enough according to producer Noel Ferrer who said “we are happy to have brought honor to our country in the PIFF. I’m particularly happy with the fact that with ‘Astig,’ we are able to highlight the best of indie and mainstream efforts and get recognized for it. Here’s looking forward to more collaborative and unified action in the future – magtulungan tayo para mapaunlad ang pelikulang Pilipino.”

Noel added: “The jury wanted to award a mention to ‘Astig/Squalor’ for its boldness – in its form and its narration – and for its courage to approach without concession the hard life of young Filipinos confronted to struggle to survive in an unequal society. By its acrobatic scenario, ‘Astig/Squalor’ juggles with the story of several characters. GB Sampedro approaches the sexual commerce as a means to survive. His images are harsh, poignant and he sets the relationships between money and sex and the exploitation of women. Very inventive, ‘Astig/Squalor’ is a politically correct film and by this Special Mention, the jury is determined to greet the director for his courage.”

Dennis Trillo, one of the four lead actors and who was in Pusan for the gala presentation of “Astig/Squalor,” said, “Ang galing talaga ng ‘Astig.’ Ang daming nakapansin at ang daming nagkagusto. Proud ako na ito ang first indie movie ko.”

Edgar Allan Guzman, on the other hand, said “Sobrang honored akong humarap sa foreign audience sa Pusan. Nakakatuwa na pinalakpakan nila ng todo at nagtanong pa sila sa Open Forum. Interesado talaga sila sa ‘Astig.’ At nakaka-inspire gumawa ng magaganda pang projects. Sana mabigyan pa ako ng chance tulad nito.”

Well, I share their pride. The poverty in Manila was successfully pictured in “Astig” and I cried deep inside of me while watching it in Pusan, because I was very affected not only by the reality of life among the poor, but most of all, because there seems to be only shadows and darkness and no redeeming light, and that there is no other option than to succumb to sexual perversion in exchange for money. Is there no other choice?

“Astig” is another slum movie like its predecessors that have put the Philippines in the world map of films. But we can definitely do better – beyond the poverty and beyond the sexual perversions that seem to prevail in our indie movies. Sana we could do films that are happy and positive, set in beautiful backdrops which we have in abundance, and with characters that inspire and entertain.

Brilliante’s ‘Lola’

Brilliante “Dante” Mendoza’s “Lola” was exhibited in the Window on Asian Cinema Section and that was why Rustica Carpio was with the Philippine delegation to represent the film since Mendoza and the other members of the cast couldn’t come.

Anyway, “Lola” stars two remarkable veteran actresses, Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio and with them in the cast are Tanya Gomez, Jhong Hilario and Ketchup Eusebio. It tells the story of a young man (Lola Sepa’s grandson) who was killed by a cellphone snatcher. Lola Sepa (Anita Linda) is poor but she wanted a decent burial for his beloved grandson, but she and family couldn’t even afford to buy a coffin. She also wants justice but how can she go through the legal process without money to do so?

“Lola” is Mendoza’s latest indie movie, coming after his much talked about films that went the round of international film festivals, among them “Masahista,” “Foster Child,” “Tirador” and “Serbis.” Now basking under an internationally celebrated status for winning the Best Director award (for “Kinatay”) in this year’s Cannes Film Festival, his absence was strongly felt at the Pusan film festival. Was it because he encountered problems with the immigration or customs agencies in Korea the last time he was there? This was the rumor we got at the Philippine Night reception at the Grand Hotel.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 20 go to Ms. Gina Pareño, Gloria Cabrera of New York, Chona Trinidad, Dr. Raul Guanzon, Consul General of Kazakstan Edward Ferreira, Rudy Genaskey, Aida Sevilla Mendoza, Mag Cruz Hatol, Irene Cortes, Christopher “Bong” Pizarro, Nadine Teves, Che Serrano, Michael Raleigh, Lynn Romero, Letecia Clariño, Gunther Grupp, Raul and Mary Sharmaine Castillo, Thermina Ann Akram,Ghie Espiritu, Dory Simio and Reynald Zabala, Anni Chong, Raoul Chee Kee, Anna Teresa S. Velasco Maureen Guese of Star Magic, Rina A. Concepcion, Eric Matthew Martinez, Tim Aaron Zach B. Patanao and Joseph Gregory Arriola, first-born of Ge Arriola and Tessa Mauricio.