Those Little Secrets at Cinemalaya2012: MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM

"You reach a point in your life na ang nililibing mo na ay ang mga kaibigan mo,and its a painful thing" Those were the words of Direk Joey Reyes the moment I stepped inside the conference room.He was talking to a group of bloggers and film students about his entry in CINEMALAYA2012.

Direk Joey,being the brilliant talker that he is immediately caught my attention.I came late and I immediately looked at the posters plastered around the room.The movie on discussion is MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM which stars mainstream artists, Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado,Agot Isidro and Janice de Belen.

The director continued explaining how the movies' plot came into life.

"A few years ago,Direk Joey recounts, a very dear friend of mine passed away.We were the best of friends.And on the day of her neucrological service I was surprised to find out that I didn't have any part in it"

I imagined myself in that situation.Yeah,how would you feel when the person who died who you thought is your best friend,prepared a program for her death but didn't include you in it?
And that's where the revelations unravelled one by one.Mga Mumunting Lihim is about Those Little Secrets that we keep even to our closest of friends."You can never know somebody completely even you best friend"-----DirekJoey

 

MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM (Those Little Secrets)

Reyes emphasizes the MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM is a film about friendship created by friends.

The film centers on what happens to four female friends in their thirties----as they confront certain realities in their changing lives.It also dwells on the fragile chains that bind people together,the volatile nature of friendship and how the years of camaraderie do not and cannot guarantee a total knowledge of one another.It is those little secrets and heartaches accumulated through time that can make friendship stronger----or destroy everything that the years have put together.

Direk Joey didn't want to divulge much about the movie.Anu naman na ang panunuurin natin diba?

A discussion about a whole range of topics ensued later on.

ANOTHER INDIE MOVIE? Direk Joey sees #MgaMumuntingLihim as MainDie -------it's a Mainstream-Indie movie.Cool!I like that.A hybrid of mainstrean and indie.Actually,does anybody know that Kimidora 1 is an Indie movie with a mainstream appeal?So I guess we can also say that Kimidora1 was also maindie?

Whatever it is,this only shows how Philippine cinema is evolving and perhaps we are seeing the direction in which it is going to take.

 
  

I like it when the seasoned director kept repeating that he is promoting not just his movie but the whole festival as well.He strongly believes that making independent films is the new direction and true future of Philippines Cinema.

And take note, this is the first time that  Direk Joey Reyes joined Cinemalaya.It will be interesting to observe how this movie will fit in the context of Cinemalaya.Will it stand out?Will it compliment the Festival?Will it be a misfit? How will the general viewers welcome the film?

If it is true that "no mainstream studio will agree to produce a project that defies conventional storytelling and,more so,places popular mainstream actresses against their usual typecast"
is the Filipino public really ready to embrace this rebellious approach to storytelling?

 

 

Direk Joey Reyes with the bloggers



SCREENING VENUES and SCHEDULE

July 21/12:45PM – Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)
July 21/6:30PM – Greenbelt 3
July 22/11:00AM – Trinoma
July 22 /3:30PM – Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
July 23/3:30PM – Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)
July 23/9:00PM – Greenbelt 5
Complete List HERE:

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually in the month of July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film competition and festival that aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers – works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

MGA MUMUNTING LIHIM (Those litlle secrets) was written and directed by Joey Reyes under Largavista Entertainment, the independent production house of renowned director for Cinemalaya2012 (Directors' Showcase).

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Here's to their Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/MgaMumuntingLihimThoseLittleSecrets