Karnal

Around the turn of the century, a city woman finds herself in the middle of nowhere with her new husband to meet and settle with his family. Slowly, she discovers how things are in the area AND why his husband's family is center of a lot of the town's rumors.

I love this film.

I do not really have a lot of info about Abaya's work. Her works seems to have solidly been made for Philippine audiences or has not yet been appreciated abroad. So, there's a lot of short reviews in letterboxd about her films.

The film do have a weird anti-rural allegory though I think its more about men's power over women's presence AND the biases they face. Often times, women in this film are biased against AND forced to be in uncomfortable situation AND ultimately as the narrator suggest be in 'hell' itself.

The writing for this film is so tight. Somewhat familiar with Ricky Lee's work and this is definitely one of his best written works. Its high melodrama with a smartly added narrator. By the way, that a weird way to have a narrator. I think that is probably the most audacious thing the film does. A fully visible narrator. Her presence really added to the mystique of the story.

Acting wise, its fine. Vic Silayan is amazing. Salvador and Castillo were pitch perfect BUT could have been acted by someone better.

I think the biggest positive about this film is the cinematography. It just so crisp. I saw the ABSCBN restoration AND its so pristine to look at. Everything about this really pops. You could not really see much of the time had passed.

Highly Recommended.