IF you haven’t heard yet, the Metro Manila Film Festival has started showing films in theaters nationwide.
Happening from December 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024, the festival consists of ten films:
- Family of Two
- Kampon
- Penduko
- Rewind
- Becky & Badette
- Broken Hearts Trip
- Firefly
- GomBurZa
- Mallari
- When I Met You in Tokyo
One film in particular is “Firefly,” directed by Zig Dulay. Dulay is best known for directing episodes of shows such as “Maria Clara and Ibarra,” “Magpakailanman,” and “Legal Wives.”
Firefly follows the story of a young boy named Tonton, who struggles with standing up for himself against those who bully him. Protecting him is Elay, a single mother who does her best to keep her child safe.
To brighten the world around him, she tells him the story of the island of the fireflies, which Elay sets off to find. Accompanying him in his journey is a brooding boy named Billy, a resourceful young woman named Erika, and a kind, older man named Louie.
As this story unfolds, the child-like illustrations quickly turn into much deeper revelations, and by the end, Firefly proves itself to be a film unlike any other. Whether it be the animation, the story, or the acting, this film truly doesn’t miss.
This film won the Best Picture Award during the Gabi ng Parangal for the festival. It also won Best Screenplay and Best Child Performer for Euwenn Mikaell Aleta.
Audience reactions
On December 26, republicasia held a private ”Firefly” screening at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The verdict? Audiences loved it.
Fifty-nine-year-old teacher Jessie Belle Chrisantos walked into this film without any expectations or knowledge about it. By the end, though, she found herself holding back tears at the beauty of its story, especially at the relationship between Tonton and his mother, Elay.
Chrisantos even mentioned that she wished she’d brought her mother with her to the screening because she knew the latter would’ve enjoyed it.
For her, the biggest thing to take away from this film is the love of a parent—specifically, the love of a mother toward her child.
“Yung love ng parent – mother and son – mafe-feel mo talaga, makaka-relate ka, lalo na yung mga talagang single mother lang [na] nagtataguyod ng anak,” she shared.
This film particularly affected 23-year-old Lea Alterado, who’s very close to her mother.
“Napakita talaga yung love ng nanay, yung bond nila, and yung trust ng bata sa nanay,” she said.
Christian James Domingo, 22, found himself smiling and laughing throughout the film, especially since he didn’t expect the result of the story of each character.
He added: “Pinatagpi-tagpi [siya,] at the same time, connected din siya doon sa folklore na nabanggit sa kwento, kaya naa-amaze ako sa pagkadirek at pagkasulat.”
For 22-year-old Sophia Nicole Berna, what makes this film particularly unique is how it mixes folklore and myths in different locations in the Philippines, particularly in Albay.
“Not all children, alam yung gano’ng story, so maganda na nao-open up ngayon in the modern era, kasi hindi na ganun ka-popular yung gan’tong story,” she said.
“Pero at the same time, [nai-incorporate] yung story or yung trauma nung bata.”
For 23-year-old Rose Cabeleon, this film would be great for bonding with the whole family, especially during the holiday season.
She noted that this film has something for all age groups; children will enjoy it for its magical story, parents for its inspirational nature, and teenagers for the kilig factor between two characters who will not be named. (No spoilers!)
“If you want a movie na inspiring, medyo magaan lang, yung tipong mae-enjoy ng lahat [na] maiiyak ka pero matatawa ka pa rin, okay [ito] para sa lahat,” said Alterado.
