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The Year I Did Nothing
USA 2019
produced by Ana Barredo for Vandelay Films
directed by Ana Barredo
starring Nora Lapena, Jared Xander Silva, Faith Toledo, Rhandy Torres, Maria Noble, Bianca Buena, Lyndon Apostol, Rhianne Casey Ramos, Grace Baldiserri, Abe Pagtama, Noreen Lanie (voice), Tita Pambid, Shekinah Paguirigan, Katrina Crespo, Jeannie Cajayon, Layla Garcia, Jake Tyler Galang, Hayden Ramos, Ethan Torres, Mary Ann Lumba, Pramode Kumar, Sophia Ramos, Martinne Rein Mediavillo, Kiersten Almacen, Mary Dishigrikyan, Edward Towe, Alina Ludim Mansano
written by Ana Barredo, music by Brandon Moore
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Manila, the Philippines, 1985: 15 year old Christina (Nora Lapena)
learns that the application her parents (Rhandy Torresm, Maria Noble) have
put in at the US Immigration Office 10 years ago is finally being
processed, and as school's to start again in a few days time, Christina
persuades her parents to let her and her brother George Washington (Jared
Xander Silva) and sister Elena (Faith Toledo) stay home for what's to be
their last few days in Manila. Thing is, the US immigration process moves
much slower than anyone would have expected, and while not going to school
sounded fun in the beginning, it soon becomes slightly boring, especially
when the parents cut their allowance for the sole reason that they need to
save every penny for the trip. So the three kids, plus their cousin
Belinda (Bianca Buena) and Belinda's little daughter Angeli (Rhianne Casey
Ramos), are looking for creative ways to spend their time, including
selling coconut juice at a street stand. But while they live their lives
in the innocence of youth, big changes hit the Philippines, changes that
eventually lead to the ouster of the country's dictator for 20 years,
Ferdinand Marcos ...
The Year I Did Nothing is basically a film that does it
right: It tells a compelling little story with much heart, but even more
of a pure willingness to simply entertain. And the film manages to roll
big political themes into its narrative, but without them standing in the
way or taking over the plot, nor is the film's main story too sugar-sweet
to gloss over the historical context it's set in. And the main reason this
works so well is that the main characters are very relateable and
believable, as are their actions and emotions. Now add to this a solid and
again believable cast, and a subtle directorial effort that doesn't put
too much of an emphasis on the nostalgia aspect without ignoring it, and
you've got yourself a pretty good movie!
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review © by Mike Haberfelner
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Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now from Amazon!!! |
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