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7 must-see films at QCinema International Film Festival 2016


The QCinema International Film Festival opened on a high note Thursday, screening Park Chan-Wook's "The Handmaiden" to set the tone of the event.

Park's adaptation of Sarah Waters' novel "Fingersmith" is a bold choice because it is, above everything else, a happy lesbian film. The women outsmart the (deplorable) men. The women make themselves feel good.

Presenting narratives outside of the fixed set of values imposed on people—women specifically—ignites conversations and inspires people to think outside of what they know.

In her welcoming remarks on opening night, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte took pride in providing a venue for filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike to tell these stories that are otherwise silenced.

The selection is wide—there's room for short films, regional cinema, classics, and queer movies—and Belmonte declared, "There's really something for everybody."

The full lineup is available at qcinema.ph, but here's quick guide to the movies you should not miss.

The Handmaiden
Park Chan-Wook

The South Korean auteur continues to impress with his twist on Waters' tale of two women who plot the course to their freedom. In "The Handmaiden", Maud and Sue become Hideko and Sookee (Tamako), a noble lady and a thief who fall in love while trying to perform a con.

Catch it on October 17 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (6 p.m.) or on October 22 at Gateway Cineplex 3 (8:30 p.m.). Tickets are priced at P150.

Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B
Prime Cruz

Screenwriters Prime Cruz and Jen Chuaunsu ("Sleepless") team up once again, but this time, their female lead has a slightly more difficult heart problem. Ryza Cenon plays the titular character straight out of Philippine folklore and the movie indirectly asks, "What's stronger—hunger or love?"

The movie premieres on October 15 at Gateway Cineplex 2 (6:30 p.m.)

Catch it on October 17 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 8 (9 p.m.); October 18 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (8:30 p.m.); October 19 at Gateway Cineplex 1 (3:30 p.m.); October 19 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 7 (6 p.m.); October 21 at UP Town Center Cinema 3 (1:30 p.m.); October 21 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (3:30 p.m.); October 21 at Gateway Cineplex 3 (6 p.m.); and October 21 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 8 (6:30 p.m.)

Tickets are priced at P150.

The Three Colours Trilogy
Krzysztof Kieslowski

QCinema pays tribute to Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski. In particular, they are screening his masterpiece trilogy "Three Colours", composed of three movies representing the colors of the French flag. Blue, White, and Red stand for the political ideas in France's motto—liberté (liberty), égalité (equality), fraternité (fraternity)—and these ideas are explored in each film.

Catch the trilogy in its entirety on October 15 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (3 p.m.) or on October 22 at UP Town Center Cinema 3 (4 p.m.). Tickets are priced at P150.

Focus on Mike De Leon
Mike De Leon

QCinema is screening Mike De Leon's classics "Kakabakaba ka ba?", "Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising", and "Hindi Nahahati Ang Langit" —time to get familiar or be reacquainted with the works of one of the pillars of Philippine Cinema, who brought to screen other classics such as "Batch '81" and "Sister Stella L."

Catch De Leon's films on October 22 at Gateway Cineplex 1 (1 p.m.) or on October 15 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 7 (1 p.m.). Tickets are priced at P150.

Patay na si Hesus
Victor Villanueva

Fresh from her Cannes win, watch Jaclyn Jose in this dark comedy Cebuano film about a mother who embarks on an impromptu road trip with her four kids after her estranged husband Hesus died. On the way to Dumaguete, expect a few revelations and truth bombs.

The movie premieres on October 16 at Gateway Cineplex 2 (4 p.m.)

Catch it on October 17 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 8 (6:30 p.m.); October 18 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 8 (1:30 p.m.); October 19 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (8:30 p.m.); October 19 at Gateway Cineplex 1 (6 p.m.); October 19 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 7 (3:30 p.m.); October 20 at UP Town Center Cinema 3 (9 p.m.); October 20 at Gateway Cineplex (3:30 p.m.); and October 21 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (6 p.m.)

Tickets are priced at P150.

Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo
Mihk Vergara

Who doesn't love a good underdog story? "Patintero" follows the story of the 10-year-old Meng, who as the title suggests has gained the reputation of being a loser. But she's not going to take that label lying down. She's going to play the game she loves and damn it, she's going to enjoy it!

"Patintero" won Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity awards in the previous QCinema festival.

Catch it on October 14 at UP Town Center (4 p.m.) or Robinsons Galleria (6 p.m.). Tickets are priced at P150.

Ilonggo Tales of Horror and Imagination
Eden Gilpo, Helen Strong, May Fatima Villarta, Elvert Banares, Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes

Ready to be scared? QCinema is screening five haunting short films from different directors that draw from our country's rich culture. On the lineup is "Lumon", "Mentis", "Kagat", "Impas", and "Tabang"—bring friends, because this screening is free!

Catch it on October 20 at Robinsons Galleria Cinema 9 (8:30 p.m.) or October 21 at Trinoma Cinema 1 (8:30 p.m.). Admission to this movie is free.

QCinema runs from October 14 to 22 at Trinoma, UP Town Center, Gateway, and Robinsons Galleria.

For more information, log on to qcinema.ph. —KG, GMA News

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