The Affair

I know that Sid Lucero is making a Cinemalaya movie called "Muli" a few months back (according to his tweets, yeah, I follow him) but I never knew that it was a gay movie until it created some buzz during its stint in the event, and apparently in UP theaters afterwards. Had I known what the premise of the film was, I would've stormed the CCP on its opening! LOL!

Anyways, I read somewhere that it's getting a big screen release without cuts (yay!) via some gay friendly cinemas (Robinsons, etc?) but there's no way I'm watching it there (go figure)! I'll just wait for the DVD release.(hello, discreet gay here)

So in the mean time, here's what I've gathered around the net about "the best gay film in recent years".

disclaimer: photos (rddantes.com) , comments and reviews are not mine, credit to the owners

Muli (The Affair) is a film based on Jerry Gracio's Palanca-winning screenplay, the film chronicles the spanning love story between an underground activist/inn keeper (Lucero) and a lawyer (Domingo) in Baguio City whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the ultimate power of love.

 "Muli" registers the resonance of being the first pilipino gay movie that genuinely delivers the remarkable positive ending on love and life!

Several accomplishments set the film apart:

A strategic, substantial and crafted cinematography that reinforces, rather than overpowers the message intent.

A refreshing slew of superb actors proficiently guided by the master of the film.

Despite the period portrayal of condemnations, tribulations and human weaknesses, the film courageously refused to fall into the trappings of unnecessary age old pilipino gay theme exploitations or succumb to the follies of doom and passe (much like the confusion and weary excesses of a joel lamangan or a mel chionglo).

For once, my ears did not bleed from score overkill (as the general case in most, if not all, pilipino movies when they insanely drag a scene).

The film manages to remain driven on the older, wiser processes of the two lead characters and their journeys towards loving, bearing, losing, hiding and hoping. These stages are darn heavy yet interestingly, the film floats effortlessly with grace and quiet discipline.

Most noteworthy is how the screenplay managed to balance an otherwise leaning towards contrite certainty. The critically significant character of a son who, during his child years had been neglected by his father, ended up as the very same soul who managed to embrace, accept and liberate his father’s desire for a secret love and earnest choice of life, once again.

Sid Lucero proved to me with this movie, that he is the best young actor working. He was beyond perfection in "Selda" and with "Muli", words can not describe how superb he was. It was like everything that he bottled up in "Selda" exploded in "Muli" and it was tugging and devastating. The longing and desperation to be with the one you love, the emotion was strongly conveyed, it stings, and pierces deep.

And the year may not be over, but for me hands down, Sid Lucero gives the best acting performance of the year. As for the movie, it is the best movie I have seen so far this year, and the year, finally started.

"Muli" stand firmly as the best gay-themed movie ever put to screen in the Philippines

 The photos alone make me very much interested!