Cavite (2005)

Adam, a security guard who works in San Diego , travels home to the Philippines for his father's funeral. Amid struggles with his pregnant girlfriend who is considering abortion, Adam arrives in Manila to be immersed in a saga of distress and quandary. Through the alley of the rough streets of Cavite , Adam gasps as his distant home country welcomes him back with frightening news: his mother and sister have been kidnapped. A terrorist organization captured them and he is forced to follow obscure instructions to save his family from death.

Directed, written, acted, produced, and filmed by five people, this picture screams "independent" and "low budget" at its top. Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana received the well deserved "Someone to Watch Award" in 2006 (keep an eye out for these guys in their future projects) for this film. I have to confess that I was so stressed after watching this movie that I had nightmares that night!

Cavite is clearly a very talented creation: the ironic and omnipresent terrorist's voice on a cell phone traveling with Adam through the vicinities of Manila is worth seeing. However, this can be a very difficult film to watch -- not only for the single camera's constant movements, but for the extreme poverty, harsh reality, and stressful situations that are simply thrown at the viewer. Nonetheless, Cavite has a flaw; it tries too hard to make its point through images that it forgets to explain the background. This film possesses as much raw reality as it lacks historical or economical context to support its narrative.

Is this a movie that I would recommend? Yes. Is this a movie that I will watch again? No. But regardless of my opinion, you need to hurry to catch this art flick before it leaves the silver screen. It is playing at the E Street Cinema for one week only, ending its run this Thursday. Lastly, but not least important, if you are interested on watching independent films, drop me a line to join our small community of moviegoers.