Pinoy indie film 'The Red Shoes' competes in Paraguay's 22nd Film Festival

Three years after it became one of the much-talked about Filipino independent films, Raul Jorolan's "The Red Shoes" continues to capture the hearts of movie-goers and film critics in various film festivals abroad with its novel approach to telling a classic love story.

A few weeks ago, the Filipino film was personally handpicked by no less than the founder and director general of Paraguay's International Film Festival, Arts and Culture, Hugo Gamarra, to be shown in Paraguay's 22nd Film Festival this month. It is the first-ever Filipino film that participated in the festival, a major cultural event in Paraguay.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Filipino film, bearing the Spanish title "Los Zapatos Rojos," will be competing against other movies for the festival’s Panambi Award for the Audience’s Choice for Best Film. It premiered to positive reviews on September 16 at the film fest event billed as La Noche del Cine Filipino (The Philippine Cinema Night).

The hit indie film follows the story of a young boy (Lucas Munozca, played by Marvin Agustin) who stole a pair of shoes from the infamous collection of former First Lady Imelda Marcos after the fall of dictatorial rule in the Philippines in 1986.

The shoes, one of which Lucas gave to his mother and the other to the love of his life Bettina (Nikki Gil), turn out to be a central metaphor in the movie's narrative, which spans three decades.

"The Red Shoes" has won various accolades following its premiere in 2010, from the Best Movie Award in the 32nd Catholic Mass Media Awards to the Special Jury Recognition Award (Mencion de Honor) at the 27th Bogota International Film Festival. It has also been chosen for exhibitions in film festivals in China and Vietnam.

Ambassador Rey Carandang said during the film's premiere night at the Paraguay Film Festival that including "The Red Shoes" in the festival's roster of entries is a "fitting tribute" to Philippine-Paraguayan diplomatic relations, whose 50th anniversary is being celebrated this year.       

According to the DFA, Paraguay nationals who attended the screening were able to relate to the film's depiction of the Philippines experiencing Martial Law since Paraguay also underwent and toppled a dictatorship in the 1980's.

"[The audience] praised the talent and sensibility that were behind an ordinary love story recounted in a novel way that alternated 'seriousness' with 'humor," the DFA said.

The Paraguay Film Festival, which will run until October 3, will show "The Red Shoes” in select theaters again on September 27 and October 2. — Xianne Arcangel/KBK, GMA News