MMFF: The Kingdom

We went to watch The Kingdom because of my good friend Pamy Villa, who has a cameo role in the movie. We watched out for her and gasped with surprise when she came on screen with Piolo Pascual. Her subdued acting shone through despite a brief appearance. 

The premise of the movie is what if we were not colonized and still governed by the tradition of babaylans and Bathala? 

But the movie went on to showcase both uncolonized, colonized, and modern-day topics on the fight for power (local and international), greed, and family struggle. What I noticed about the movie is its beautiful features of our fabrics and designs from Indigenous people and the air of spirituality and mysticism, which to this day still pervades in many sections of our society. 

I commend the creative interspersing of different traditions that have developed through our culture over the years. There’s studied history, and there’s calculated fiction that works all together to make the movie successful. 

The performance of the major actors is compelling. Knowing Vic Sotto as good in comedy roles but shines through in this dramatic role is commendable. He is commanding yet restrained in this film. No histrionics of struggle but plain narrative of character. If given the chance, I would have given him the Best Actor award. 

It’s a MUST-watch movie!