By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Starring: Coco Martin | Jiro Manio | Kristoffer King | Nathan Lopez
Original language title: Tirador
Country: philippines
Year: 2007
Running time: 86
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097267/
Bruce says: “Brillante Mendoza, director of MASSEUR which I saw at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, has come a long way in a few years. He still uses many untrained actors although the four leads in SLINGSHOT are actors with considerable experience. Coco Martin and Kristoffer King appeared in MASSUER, Jiro Manio has an impressive resume and Nathan Lopez starred in THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS.
“Mendoza’s storytelling has improved and the roughness in his visual design, often a function of his budgetary constraints, meshesvwell with the coarseness of the SLINGSHOT characters. Most directors could not get by with blurred objects and faded out colors but Mendoza carries it off. Often the camera is inches away from the action; Mendoza refers to his style as ‘a real time mode of direction.’ Mendoza chose to film SLINGSHOT during Holy Week as the central theme of the film is the relationship of religion and politics and how the poor are affected by those alliances. In the Philippines, a political endorsement by a religious leader is a guarantee of a sizable percentage of the votes.
“As the film begins, jerky, hand-held cameras define the mood of chaos and confusion as a nighttime police raid is carried out in a rabbit warren style housing slum in Manila. We hear, ‘My husband is innocent.’ ‘Whatever you’re looking for, you have the wrong house.’ Then, ‘I’m arthritic; I can’t get out of bed.’ Soon we learn that no one is as innocent as they pretend. Everyone needs cash for one reason or another: back rent, lotto, food, drugs, baby needs, health care, pedicab rent and dentures. This is a world where cockfights, prostitution, street café gambling and thieves running through the streets are commonplace. Some petty thieves run a student sting where they hit on the well healed university students with cellphones, iPods, computers and hopefully lots of cash. If the thieves and gamblers get caught they become victims of police brutality and torture. Women are marginalized for the most part – given the double edged choice of neglected wife or prostitute. While the women worry about putting food on the table, caring for the children and nursing the wounded, the men busy themselves with excessive sleeping, gambling and whoring around.
“As elections and holy days get nearer, the politicians and political posters become ubiquitous. The politicians are not at all subtle – votes are purchased with money and the exchange is a formality which transpires in broad daylight. The religious leaders are not so subtle either. Mendozsa’s strength is that he conveys his message so efficiently. We come to recognize the main characters in crowed bazaars, busy streets and religious ceremonies. The many vignettes in the film have an additive effect, contributing to a larger picture. Like CITY OF GOD, SLINGSHOT is relentless. 4 cats
“SLINGSHOT screened at the Toronto International Film Festival”