'Suntok sa Buwan' shows boxers beyond the ring

I must confess that I'm not a fan of boxing. When I was little, my lolo would always watch fights on television. To me the sounds of the punches and the cheering crowd were background noise, punctuated by my lolo's exclamations. Boxing still doesn't interest me, although of course I can appreciate how difficult it must be. Still, it's unlikely that I would choose to watch a fight, or anything about boxing, for that matter. Given this bias, I was apprehensive as I got a ticket to see “Suntok sa Buwan.” I wasn't really sure what to expect. All I knew was it was about boxing, it was one of three films that were produced with the theme "Modern Heroes" in SM Cinema's Bigshot digital film festival for student filmmakers, and it was made by Jono de Rivera and Bianca Catbagan. Due to some confusion about the schedule, I had been to three different cinemas before I finally got to see the film. I thought maybe this was just the universe playing tricks on me. Or maybe it was the movie's title demonstrating its meaning, as in, suntok sa buwan makanood ng “Suntok sa Buwan.” The film began, and I began to relax. It opens with a day unfolding. The characters are introduced. The aged boxer Lauro (Daniel Fernando), who may be old but he won't quit yet. Cel (Jacinta Remulla), his girlfriend, a flower vendor, and the sunshine in Lauro's life. The young boxer Al (Joem Bascon) who has to win, or else. So far, there isn't a lot of boxing. The story unfolds the way one might leaf through a scrapbook, slowly, pausing at certain photos. The viewer is given plenty of time to absorb the scenes and feel what the characters are feeling. If you were hoping for an action-packed blockbuster, “Suntok sa Buwan” is not what you want. While the film is about boxing–highlighting the struggles of training, the danger of this kind of career where sweat, blood and tears isn't just a figure of speech–it's more about the boxers. Just like anyone else, they love, lose, fail, win, doubt, fall, and so on. But more than anything, they fight. The question, as it is put in the film's synopsis, is this: When a boy with everything to lose faces a man with nothing to lose in the ring, who will win the fight? This question is answered in the end, but it didn't matter as much as everything in between. I felt that what made “Suntok sa Buwan” special, apart from its quietness, is the honesty in the small scenes. The heart of the story The relationships were at the heart of the story. When Lauro and Cel fight, you can feel the frustration, especially when they argue in that funny way that couples do where neither make sense and both are upset. When Al and his father fight, you can feel the frustration, too, and the saying "mahirap magpalaki ng magulang" comes to mind. The film presents the life of a boxer outside the ring, and shows another side to it. Of course we know that it isn't all glamorous, but it's nice to be reminded. It's also nice to be able to relate to the characters and realize that in a way, they're like you or me. Things are tough, so we try to be tough. Challenges are given, so we prepare to face them. Sometimes it looks hopeless, but we fight. Whether it's for love, or money, or even for the sake of fighting, giving up isn't an option. While the fight at the end was shot beautifully, it was the moments leading up to that final encounter that really hit hard. The film was produced with a P500,000 grant from SM, with a P100,000 grant from the Film Development Council of the Philippines. – KG, GMA News