I was expecting myself to cry, to feel nostalgic about it, to feel the warmth and force of the people's movement to move me but I couldn't. It might be because at different junctures, I can't point out what the docu is about. Is this about Leni? Is this about Maria Ressa? Is this about Rappler? Was it to analyze what happened with a historian and a singer-activist who randomly pop up, eating and not eating at different restaurants? Or is this about the campaign that was led by the grassroots as its storyline says?
It was so disconnected from its mentioned plot. Where is the grassroots being referred to? Is Ressa part of it with her language and accent? Because she got more exposure.
I had problems with how it was stitched together. It lacked form and direction — where is this going? Most especially, I wish they focused on and interviewed people who made Leni's campaign a true People's Campaign — like the Miss Gay Bicolandia and their gown sponsor. The film made them side characters to the point they are so invisible, you can only see them as pink dots from the air. If you'll base it on their own promo storyline, the film failed to showcase what it really wanted to tell.
Or maybe, it's just plainly about what the ending was. You know how we just try to connect things and say, Whoa! OK, that should make sense!? A part of me thinks that's how Ramona tried to make it work. How the title connects with Leni's lines during her Thanksgiving Rally — Ito ang simula. And So It Begins.
Was the It being referred to the start of the fight against injustice, like what Leni implied (at least based on my understanding)? But as far as I know, the fight against it never stopped. It's on the streets. It's with the rallyists who we call nuisance. It has been there ever since. Or the It means change? (We've got Change is coming last time.)
Maybe we're just so good with celebratory rallies. Rallies that glimmer with colors which we hold on to as hope. But not with movements and demonstrations outside of it. Because if we are, where are those "pink onions" we saw on screens during those times? Or today's not just the right time? Or is everyone just tired and indifferent because you've put in a mammoth of hard work, energy, and hope only to end up disappointed? Disappointed and blaming others because we proudly conclude they are "wrong" and we are "right" all along.
Despite all that, when you see those "pink onions" in the film, you'll ask, Tang ina. Paano tayo natalo? even if you already know the answer. The closing of the film sucks. We were there when it happened. And you'll know it would still hurt even if you already saw — experiencing even — that ending.
And So It Begins is still showing. See list of cinemas here. If cinemas near you ain't showing it, call them.
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What do you think, Awesome?