5.07.2009

Wiggle your Hips, Bitches

Torn between two lovers...

Fuschia is an enjoyable film. Its absurd and outrageous scenarios could be the reason why the film works for me. It is definitely an assortment of different comedic elements ranging from observational to farce comedy interspersed with socio-political satire. Ricky Lee and Joel Lamangan made the script and Lamangan directs Fuschia with a possible inclination of camp style.

Mameng (Gloria Romero) lives with his second husband Gener (Robert Arevalo) in a provincial town. One day, she receives a letter from her first husband Mars (Eddie Garcia) that he will come back after four decades of living in Hawaii. To make amends with Mameng, Mars gives his newly acquired house to Mameng. Mars also confesses that he has a terminal illness. Mameng decides that Mars will live together with her recent husband Gener, who is also Mar’s best pal.

It is a type of comedy and the situations that are building up are well-executed by our country’s film legends. Mameng takes care of his previous husband with a shocking decision of a ménage à trois setup. The people within the community have expressed aversion to the arrangement. Mameng’s older sister Juana (Armida Siguion-Reyna) made it known to her in a condescending mode. This starts a conflict between the two sisters with primordial rivalry from the past now being brought up.

Of course Lamangan made it sure that the film will be fun amidst the seniority of the casts poking fun at how we think of life too seriously. Despite the film tackling death, corruption and even decadent behavior, the film’s output just made fun out of the serious topics. Even when it is fused with melodrama, it does not precipitate a disarray of the comedy that has been installed. It is a rare treat to see film legends in one film and despite the campy portrayal or the absurdity of the film, the execution is commendable. After all, Lamangan is not after the marginal merits but rather he's presenting himself as a filmmaker who is after the bizarre and outrageous bearing of a story that could possibly work in films. He could have taken inspiration from the early works of Almodovar and even our very own Gosiengfiao. Of course he could not take away his political remarks and it was layered within the story from land grabbing, rural urbanization, political killings and oppression. It is an indication that a comedy does not equate to escapism.

Fuschia has a good story backbone and the genre it tries to combine within the story is well manipulated to make it enjoyable. Liberation is not so easy in a democratic country that has already achieved liberation for more than a century. True recognition of liberation and truth is within us. There will always be laughter for hypocrisy and this film is a result. I would like to commend Romero’s performance. Despite her reputation, she deliberately played a character that is disgraceful, mannish in her principles but full of charm. For that, my respect for her is higher.


Charlie Koon's Rating:

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