First, let me remind you that you should remove your prejudice with this film, especially if you are a critic of the man and his religion that was depicted in the film. Just think of this as another movie from another day with historical value not only for the members of the religion but also the Philippine society.
Summary:
The story is a romanticized life of Felix Y. Manalo, founder of the religion called "Iglesia Ni Crito" (Church of Christ). The movies tells the man's faith in God and his search for answers for the right religion. Unable to find any religion that he believe is right, he researched more about Bible in days. That's the time decided to preach people what he believes is right and was written in the Bible. But that didn't go easy for him. He went through many hardships. He was ridiculed, despised and was threatened by those who didn't want to listen to him. But those weren't enough to make him stop. His religion continues to grow even during Japanese occupation where any religious sects are eradicated by violent and horrifying means. Due to his persistence and faith, he triumphed and survived the Japanese occupation. His church even grew bigger. The movie ends with his death and his son's (Eraño) succession as the leader of the church.
The movie is an emotional roller-coaster. You will sympathize with the characters, even if you are not a member of the church. Cast are composed of established and popular actors from the protagonist, which was played Dennis Trillio up to minor roles like Heart Evangelista, Gladys Reyes, Jacklyn Jose and many more actors and actresses. The performance of the casts are also well-done, especially Trillio,who did a great justice of the character he portrayed.
Production is also great. They did a great job portraying the life of the Filipinos in the late 19th up to early 20th century. No certain glitches like vehicle noise in the community of early Filipinos or accidental capture of a plane in the sky. Musical scoring is where the movie really excels. They really captured the atmosphere of the scenes and will push your emotional limits. The use of CGI effects were also apparent, but not to the point of ridiculousness. I think it's safe to say it's Hollywood-realistic and not overdone, granted it was only seen for a brief time.
This movie is really good, but it also has its flaws. Some scenes felt disjointed and rushed. There is no build-up on how that scene developed. The over emphasis of the church over characters is also a negative. I know it's an autobiography of a religious leader, but doctrines shouldn't be the main priority on making a movie over the expense of character development. Talented casts are wasted due to their brief minor roles, but there is only much you can do on a 3- hour movie. The story also missed some important events on Manalo's life, like the unbirth of his child from his first wife and the Rosita Trillanes case.
Overall, I still say it's a great movie for families to watch, despite it's shortcomings. One of the few Filipino films in recent years that I got emotionally attached. Yes, this one of Joel Lamangan's finest film to date but could have been better as a TV series. Whether you are a member of INC or not, it's definitely worth watching.
The good:
+ Strong casts of popular actors/actresses + Excellent settings + Outstanding musical scoring and atmosphere + Strong emotional impact + Very interesting autobiography
The bad:
- Some disjointed scenes - Rushed events - Too preachy at times
I give this film a solid 9/10
44 out of 92 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
