Arguably, this approach makes Big Night! more socially impactful-it reels audiences in with big stars and levity, but then forces them to confront the extent to which they’re complicit in the Philippines’ current sociopolitical environment. Through comedy, Big Night! offers a take on the drug war that’s very distinct from the brutal action flicks that usually depict the conflict. He brings his characteristic underdog presence and good humor to draw a resonant contrast against a decidedly dark topic. Bables offers an exceptional performance in the film. In the film, Christian Bables stars as Dharna, a homosexual hairdresser who gets incorrectly put on a drug watchlist and spends a “big night” trying to clear their name. The film provides a star-studded satire of the ongoing Philippine War on Drugs, offering great social commentary alongside entertainment. Big Night!ĭirector: Jun Lana | Starring: Christian Bables, Nico Antonio, Eugene Domingo | Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedyīig Night! was the big winner at 2021’s Metro Manila Film Festival, with 8 awards to its name. Through Salas’ struggles, it helps audiences more viscerally feel the corrosive effects that corrupt authoritarians have upon not only society, but also the lives of individuals. Given the ongoing struggle over media freedoms and strongman politics in the Philippines, On the Job: The Missing 8 is exceptionally timely and relevant. However, when the mayor targets Arnel in an act of bloody political suppression, Salas begins to reassess his corrupt ways. Salas defends La Paz’s corrupt mayor, which puts him at odds with his best friend and former journalistic colleague Arnel. In On the Job: The Missing 8, John Arcilla plays a reporter named Sisoy Salas, who lives in the city of La Paz. It’s also a sequel to the hit 2013 movie On the Job, which similarly won international praise at the Cannes Festival when it debuted. The film won plaudits at the prestigious 2021 Venice International Film Festival, and John Arcilla won the festival’s Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay Man it Panahon)ĭirector: Erik Matti | Starring: John Arcilla, Dennis Trillo, Dante Rivero | Genre: Crime, ThrillerĮrik Matti appears yet again on our list of 2021’s top Pinoy movies, this time for On the Job: The Missing 8. The film is set during the 1950s, and contains ample sociopolitical context - its events occur in the wake of Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay‘s untimely death, and elements of Cold War socialist revolution are rife. He decides to only speak through a puppet named Ha, and ends up joining a sex worker, a teen boy, and a nun on a journey to explore the purpose of art and meaning of life. History of Ha centers on a ventriloquist who returns to the Philippines from an international tour, only to discover that his fiancee has married another man. For those newer to FIlipino art house, this is probably one of Diaz’s more accessible movies. If you’re into more artistic cinema, the film should provide a welcome respite from the romcoms and blockbusters elsewhere on this list. Lav Diaz is one of the Philippines’ most renowned art house filmmakers, and he returned in 2021 with the film History of Ha. Read on to learn more about 2021’s best Filipino movies! When available, we’ve included links to stream these films on platforms like Netflix.ĭirector: Lav Diaz | Starring: Lav Diaz | Genre: Drama Those who follow stars like Daniel Padilla, Janine Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes, and so forth will also see them represented in this list. Furthermore, we tried choosing Pinoy films that are not only entertaining or artistically distinctive, but also have societal significance. We’ve selected both blockbuster and indie movies across genres like romance, comedy, fantasy, action, and more. So, of those that managed to release, what were the Best Pinoy Movies of 2021?Ĭinema Escapist’s staff has curated this list of 10 top Filipino films (feature-length, not shorts) to answer that question. However, international festivals and the limited reopening of cinemas during fall ensured that a decent number of Filipino movies could still reach audiences. 2021 remained challenging for Filipino cinema, with Philippine theaters still closed for much of the year.
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