Filmmaker Erik Matti has plenty
to say about the way things are done in the Philippines, particularly when
power whether in religion or politics gets involved. Many of those things are
rather negative, perhaps exemplified in his movie “On the Job” for Star Cinema
back in 2013. If the premise of convicts being given temporary freedom by
powerful figures in return for contract work as hit-men was not cynical enough,
Matti’s new subjects in the sequel “On the Job: The Missing 8” might even be
worse, to the point that he could describe the upcoming film as his “angriest
work” yet. He is not angry about its release prospects, though.
According to Inquirer.net, Erik Matti is actually very happy with the various
venues his sequel film “On the Job: The Missing 8” is getting into, well before
any of those dates actually come. This past Tuesday, August 31, Matti commented
on Instagram that he is looking forward to the movie premiering not just on the
Venice International Film Festival Friday next week, September 10, but also on
the Asian iteration of cable channel HBO, two Sundays from now on September 12.
The latter release will see the 208-minute feature will be edited into six
episodes and screened as a miniseries.
“Showing both the film and series
in Venice and [HBO] respectively give us so much pride not just for me as a
filmmaker but as a Filipino director part of the larger Filipino cinema
community in the Philippines,” says Matti, who wrote his caption to a photo of
himself brandishing his knuckle-tattoos spelling out the Filipino slur “T#NGINA!”
similar to the character portrayed by Gerald Anderson in the 2013 movie. The
director expressed surprise that “The Missing 8” managed to land great premiere
deals to be showcased outside of closed movie theaters, seeing it as indicator
of foreign respect and appreciation for the Philippine moviemakers.
“On the Job: The Missing 8”
follows a daily newspaper reporter (played by John Arcilla) who stumbles into
some hot and dangerous news that may have something to do with the
disappearance of some of his press colleagues. He realizes the peril he is in
when Roman (Dennis Trillo), a convicted prisoner, is sicced on him. This is the
only Filipino entry to the 2021 Venice Film Festival, and Erik Matti is
inviting those who can to catch it in Italy, or in HBO Asia.
Image from The Hollywood Reporter
0 comments:
Post a Comment