The Martlet

DONOR (PHILIPPINES)

In this film directed by Mark Afable Meily, Filipina actress Meryll Soriano portrays a woman named Lizette who must survive the exigency of slum life in Manila. When the financial demands of her disgustingly selfish boyfriend and her job search begin to overwhelm her, she sells one of her kidneys on the black market.

As far as social realism goes, the plot follows a typical premise: an impoverished young woman facing the familiar vicissitudes of a semi-abusive boyfriend and an unforgiving economic environment in a narrative motivated by a relentless need for absent money.

Nevertheless, the film deploys some interesting, episodic innovations. There are no long takes, and each scene lasts only moments before a fade out and time ellipsis. The filmic sense is one of a fractured life, living precariously from moment to moment. The tone of the film is equally perplexing. Lizette is astonishingly matter-of fact. Facing the horror of mutilating her beautiful young body, she maintains an ambivalent-seeming persona.

The performances are convincing and fully realized. Lizette’s fear and sadness are displayed through Soriano’s nuanced performance. Her work will not likely garner attention for its subtlety, but it deserves an Oscar.

This isn’t a movie about Filipino poverty. It transcends nationalism. It is a movie about real people in a real ghetto. It could be any ghetto. The film lacks any message of hope. There is only futility: a powerful reflection on the human condition and the environment we have created for the less fortunate in our overpopulated world. This is simple social realism in its purest form.

Donor will play at Capitol 6 Cinemas on Feb. 8 at 9:15p.m.

CLOUDBURST (CANADA)

Cloudburst stars Oscar winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker and is directed by Thom Fitzgerald in a re-imagining of his popular stage play of the same name.

Funny and intriguing from the outset, Cloudburst is a hybrid of Grumpy Old Men and Thelma and Louise, only in this case, the grumpy men are lesbian women. There’s even a Brad Pitt–esque, hyper-sexualized young drifter played by Acadian actor Ryan Doucette. He’s a hitchhiker who protagonists Stella and Dotty pick up while they’re escaping from Dotty’s homophobic, scheming granddaughter. Stell and Dotty make a run for the great bastion of liberal hedonism, Canada, where gay marriage is legal. Stella claims that “it’s like another planet, really.”

The taboos of homosexuality and golden-aged sexuality are burst wide open — refreshingly, unapologetically, and with pure hilarity. These two delightful dames suffer the same foibles as anyone who has ever loved, lost, or aged. Many stereotypes are inverted. All of the marginalizing characterizations traditionally constructed against women are comically projected back onto male characters throughout the film. In the 1950s, this would have been considered a horror movie.

Cloudburst will play at Capitol 6 Cinemas on Feb. 3 at 9:15p.m.

For tickets to these or any of the fantastic fare at this year’s Victoria Film Festival, visit boxoffice.victoriafilmfestival.com. Tickets are $10 each, and you must purchase a Victoria Film Festival membership ($2) to view any of the films.