The film entitled Biyaya ng Lupa is a 1959 drama film directed by Manuel Silos. The film depicts the life of a normal Filipino family living in the countryside. Filipino values are displayed throughout the film, from Maria and Jose's marriage to their work in the fields to their position as parents. Some of these Filipino values are positive values, and they are the ones that demonstrate love and respect between parents and children. However, I also noticed that the film highlights some of the problematic and toxic behaviors in our Filipino society that are still, sadly, prevalent today, such as beating a child as a suitable form of discipline, gossip culture, and the "nakapag Maynila ako, mataas na ako" mindset.
Biyaya ng Lupa, a Silos classic, is a family drama about a young married couple, Maria (Rosa Rosal) and Jose (Tony Santos), who are starting a life together by establishing a lanzones orchard in the countryside. They had five children: Miguel (Leroy Salvador), Arturo (Carlos Padilla Jr.), Angelita (Marita Zobel), Lito (Danilo Jurado), and Carmen, who dies in the first scene of the film.
I like how fast-paced the film is. It had the feel of an adventure slash thriller film. The minimalist Bressonian (French Director) style of editing efficiently delivers the story by removing uninteresting spots. The expectant father Jose's fear and excitement are conveyed thrillingly. The way they ran from one house to another to deliver messages and information. The scene's effectiveness was greatly enhanced by the quick cutting and energetic music. The sound design was right on the spot. It doesn’t give the film an overacting sound that may look horrible.
The story was written by Celso Al. Carunungan, while screenplays together with Pablo Naval is chockfull of references to Biblical characters. The presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary is felt throughout the film. The matriarch is named Maria. Several interior scenes show the family's altar with the statue of the Blessed Virgin. Jose narrates the legend of the lanzones. It was said that the fruit was poisonous. It took the intercession of Mother Mary to make the fruit edible.
Since the film was produced in 1959, I don't have high hopes for cinematography. However, Biyaya ng Lupa outperforms my expectations. I expected a lot of still shots in the film, but there's a lot of varied camera angles— panning, rule of thirds, plus the transition of the basket where Angelita is meant to deliver to her brothers, the overlays, and so on. It was an incredible attack from a black and white 1959 film.
This is a legendary gem of Filipino cinema that covers every facet of the human condition and the Filipino community brilliantly. There is a sense of universality in the story, yet the concepts and some events are entirely wholly Filipino, making this film highly relevant even today, and thus a timeless story.
Truly recommended.
Rating: 9/10
Watch the full movie here: https://vimeo.com/367412937
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