MODULE V: Dekada 70

The film is set during the Marcos Regime, during a time when the Philippines was in turmoil. With Marcos in power, many changes were made and with the declaration of Martial Law, many problems arose as well. As the film is set during this time, the focus of the film is based on a family, and their experiences living in the Philippines when Marcos is elected president in the 1970’s.

I personally enjoyed this film the most, out of the other films we’ve watched for this class because it was a story within a story, but all connected in some way. The 70’s in the Philippines during this time was when women began to question their roles in society. In this film, we are introduced to a middle-class couple with conservative ideologies who must deal with their five boys, Jules, Isagani, Emmanuel, Jason, and Bingo. As these siblings struggle to accept the differences of their ideologies, the mother and father also struggle with their differences.

The story of the family is told through the mother, who realizes throughout the film, the needs of her own self as she discovers who she is as a wife. Through her, the story of the family is told and each member has a story of their own. Over time, they become aware of all the political policies that have led to a state of martial law. With these political policies, each member of the family approaches what is happening differently.

The mother, Amanda, who feels like she lives within a dictatorship has to deal with the contradictions with her husband and five boys. Her husband Julian is stuck on the idea of being the “man of the house” and dismisses the idea of her need to work because her duty is only to be a mother and a wife. While refusing to accept Amanda’s wishes of getting a job, he also supports their eldest son Jules, in his efforts to revolt against the government. Jules later becomes part of the underground movement, takes a revolutionist name, and eventually causes some kind of distress within the family. The second son, Gani, eventually enrolls in the U.S. Navy, after getting his girlfriend pregnant. The third son Emmanuel is a writer for illegal political exposes. The fourth son, Jayson, becomes a victim to a corrupt police government. And the youngest son Bingo is still a boy. The story unfolds when the condition of the Philippines gets worse and martial law is heightened.

Although this film was one of the best one’s yet, it is still a difficult film to take apart. It really has a lot of historical reference to a time when the Philippines was struggling and the story of this family was only a portion of what really happened during that time. What made this film appealing is the different feelings you get from it. At one point, you’re saddened by the death of a family member and the next you’re laughing by the humorous remarks made by the wife. It really sets the standards for what a great film looks and feels like.

R.M. Aurellano