Why ‘Fatherland’ is rare, truthful cinema

In this day and age when romantic comedies, horror/slasher flicks, wham-bam action spectacles and superheroes and their multiverses are the movies preferred by audiences with purchasing power and time to watch in cinema houses, rare are the truthful motion pictures that get a greenlight and cinematic run. That is why when one arrives, it is important to celebrate, support, view and spread the word about it.

One fine example of such is Fatherland which Joel Lamangan directs. The screenplay writer is Roi Iglesias. The producers are Bentria Productions and Heaven Best Productions.

This latest cinematic opus from the film master not only delivers contemporary truths and realities that bite, scald and sting, it wakes us from our collective apathy and numbness about facts that matter.

Honor thy father

In a nutshell, Fatherland is about Alex (Inigo Pascual), a young Filipino-American who longs to establish a connection and relationship with his absentee father.

The narrative becomes more current and gripping when Alex finally arrives in the Philippines. Even with the assistance of relatives and well-meaning acquaintances, the search for his biological father is not a walk in the park.

As Alex explores connections and leads, he learns that his father (Allen Dizon) has three distinct personalities: Philip, the farmer and the original personality of his dad; Fayez, a morally conflicted Moslem; and Teban, a gay janitor.

Adding more complexity are the trials and tests that each of his father’s personality encounters, namely, farmland grabbing, the advocacy of a cultural community to political separation and the boom of Chinese immigrants, which affects his old man’s emotional and mental health.

The road to the father and son reunion is not easy and whatever is left for them to salvage, they do not have the benefit of time.

A plus, plus

One of the major pluses of Fatherland is Iglesia’s screenplay and how it incorporates the many ills of our present-day society, politically charged and morally bankrupt.  

How these issues unfold on the silver screen and how Alex and his father deal with them, are never easy on the eyes and make you want to scream.  How the complexities are presented in the movie is difficult to bear. In some scenes, the accuracy is intense and straightforward. The confrontations are authentic, devoid of melodramatic excesses. Some moments in the film hurt even more because they triggered nervous guffaws.  Iglesias’ screenplay tells the audiences that this nation needs change.

The dynamic duo of lead actors give their feels and vulnerability to their respective characters, the always competent and credible Allen Dizon and truly Papa P’s (Piolo Pascual)son, Inigo Pascual.

Dizon’s performance is unforgettable and remarkable. His portrayal of three personalities is genuine, nuanced, textured and on point. His rendition of Philip, Fayez and Teban is distinctive yet kindred, never going over the top. They are always grounded in the humanity of each character and their precarious situations.

As Alex, this is young master Pascual’s career-defining performance. What he gives to this son longing for his father without a doubt are confidence, depth and a deep sense of emotional fortitude. In the vernacular, ginalingan at sinagpang talaga ni Inigo ang kanyang katauhan. When he cries and when it’s only his eyes who does the talking, you feel how invested he is in being Alex. Despite sounding like his father when he speaks, Inigo gives his best in this one.

Also, a plus factor of the film: Lamangan’s direction and his mastery of the material. Because of these, the film does not feel forced, lacking, or uneven. The courage, passion and honesty are seen and felt in this motion picture with its timely societal issues presented with clarity, perspective and precision that jolts, awakens and makes you want to do something concrete and tangible.  

Kudos to its producers for gambling on Fatherland. Yes, they know that there’s more than a chunk of the movie-going pie that prefers films that are intelligent, riveting and emotionally stirring, not just the one that caters and offers kilig, romance, testosterone overload and the rising of body heat.

Other stellar cast members who make impressive marks in the film are Ara Mina, Angel Aquino, Mercedes Cabral, Richard Yap, Max Eigenmann, Jeric Gonzalez, Yasser Marta, Bo Bautista, Abed Green, Kazel Kinouchi, Ara Davao, Jim Pebanco, Rico Barrera and Cherry Pie Picache.

Yes, Lamangan’s Fatherland is a rare and truthful cinema that makes all of us stop, feel, ponder, dare and encourages us to do our share in making this nation great once more.  

Fatherland opens 19 April in cinemas nationwide.