Heavenly Touch (2009)

Heavenly Touch (2009)

 

Director: Joel Lamangan
Writers: Manny Valera (story), Joel Lamangan,
Genre: Drama
Country: Philippines
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
Year: 2009
Duration: 90 min

 

Stars: Paolo Serrano, Joash Balejado, Marco Morales, Gwen Garci, Paolo Rivero, Jeffrey Santos

 

Medical student Rodel supports his schooling by working nights at the Heavenly Touch Spa; a gay massage parlour. He likes working with his hands and his knowledge of anatomy makes him one of the most desired masseurs. When he discovers that his high school crush, Jonard, is unemployed, Rodel decides to teach him both the ropes and the rubs that will secure him a job at the spa.

Sexy, homoerotic and gay to the core, goes without saying. Yet this is equally a film that alternates its "when you've found the right person, you don't want to let go" theme with a telling depiction of the violent underbelly of massage parlour life, courtesy of gun-trotting heavy Tong. That it comes complete with a happy ending, is a spoiler, but given the plethora of bleak gay films of late, frankly that's something of a welcome relief. And boy, how these boys do kiss.

 

 

Share (Video 2011)

Share (Video 2011)
Salo (original title)

Director: Miko Jacinto 
Writer: Miko Jacinto 
Genre: Drama 
Country: Philippines 
Year: 2011 
Duration: 95 min


Stars: Paolo Rivero, Kristoffer King and Anita Linda

Miko Jacinto’s “Salo” (Share) is a surprising work. Unlike most pink films, Jacinto engages and dives into his narrative - frame after frame - with hardly a spoken word. In fact, most of the spoken lines are left hanging, i.e. there’s hardly an exchange of words. This eventually creates semblance of mood and nuances. “Salo” also benefits from Romy Suzara’s beautifully composed scenes, giving the impression that this isn’t your hurried, shoddy, one-take production.

But there is a problem where narrative details are concerned. Perla Bautista’s character, for example, bewilders. She’s the coquettish “tita” who “barks” loudly, spewing lines like: “Bumangon ka na. Masaya ang mundo. Naalala mo pa ba, dati sabay tayong nanlalalaki?” You aren’t sure this was meant to be spoken by an elderly matron. In another scene (where she gazes at the driver washing the car), she said: “Type ko siya. Matrona ba, magaling ding maghugas.” When told that Levi’s spoken for, she replied: “Kahit gawin mo pa akong kerida, ok lang!” And as if to seal the real identity – or sexual preference – of the character: “Nakadami ka na ba?” Though I understand that her character was meant to stir vitality to an otherwise dour story, her character is a tad too uncouth to be believable. You only have to see how matronly she dresses to feel this incongruence to her peculiar manner of speaking.

Visit: Orvel.Me

Antonio's Secret - aka: Lihim ni Antonio, Ang (2008)

Antonio's Secret - aka: Lihim ni Antonio, Ang (2008)

Ovo je četvrti filipinski film na ovom blogu. Svaki od njih je vrijedno imati u kolekciji! Izgleda da filipincima nije ništa strašno prikazati penis u erekciji, a u scenama seksa se baš i ne trude da sakriju previše. Da li je to kulturološki ili ja izvlačim preuranjene zaključke na osnovu malobrojnih filmova ne znam.
Ovaj film me je ostavio zatečenog! Kada je završio našao sam se u čudu, nekako zbunjen. Priča je počela sa odrastanjem jednog 15-togodišnjaka koji sa majkom živi u nekom gradu na Filipinama. Otac mu živi u Dubai i koliko se da zaključiti iz filma dugo godina ga nije vidio, povremeno se čuje sa jim preko telefona i to je sve. Tradicionalo odgojen, kao i svi iz njegove okoline radovao se božiću išao u crkvu, pjevao pjesme u crkvenom horu...
Antonio, kao i svaki tinejđer stalno preispituje sebe u svim aspektima, pa tako i u seksualnom. Shvata da ga privlače i muškarci i stalno istražuje sebe.
Kada se povjerio svom najboljem drugu, ovaj nesretnik mu je postavio toliko smješnih dječjih pitanja da sam se slatko nasmijao. Išao je toliko daleko da je po internetu tražio razloge zašto je neko gay ,a zašto ne.
Film je djeluje iskreno da sam na trenutak pomislio da se radi o nekom istinitom događaju. Pun emocionalnog naboja gledaoce sigurno neće ostaviti ravnodušnim!
Posebno me se dojmila Antonijeva majka. Njeni glumački izrazi, puni emocija od iskazivanja zadovoljstva, sreće, strepnje , brige, straha, razočaranosti, bijesa, su dostojni mnogih holivudskih glumaca.
Nakon što sazna da njen muž u Dubaiu ima drugu porodicu sa dvoje djece, vraća se kući i zatiće kako Antonijev Stric Joe siluje njenog sina.
Možete li zamisliti emocionalnu krah u kojem se našla jadna žena?
Mislim da će te uživati u ovom filmu, tim prije što obiluje lijepim scenama seksa, nagih muških tijela, masturbacije, oralnog seksa....
Sve to je začinjeno dobrom pričom, muzikom, glumom. Šta više očekivati od jednog filma?
Pogledajte ga, nećete se pokajati.

Director: Joselito Altarejos
Writers: Lex Bonife (story)
Lex Bonife (screenplay) ...
Release Date: 13 February 2008 (Philippines)
Genre: Crime | Drama
Plot Keywords: Clinic | Grandmother | Nurse | Grandparents | Identity
Cast: Kenjie Garcia ... Antonio
Jiro Manio ... Mike
Nino Fernandez ... Nathan
Honey Grace Capili ... Kathy
Josh Ivan Morales
Shamaine Buencamino ... Tere
Ricky Ibe ... Eli
Jay Perillo ... RT
Ajit Handasani ... Robin
A.A. Fernandez ... Female Choir Member
Aimee Fernandez ... Female Choir Member
Agatha Behar ... Female Choir Member
Lui Manansala ... Lola Ester
Ernie Zarate ... Lolo Pepe
Annelle Durano ... Nurse
Also Known As: Antonio's Secret (Philippines: English title)
Country: Philippines
Language: Filipino
Color: Color
Filming Locations: San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila, Luzon,
Philippines
Company: Beyond the Box
Soundtrack: Awit Para Kay Antonio


Good film but intense ending, 20 May 2008
Author: Aragorn-Elfstone76 from Singapore

In essence, this film was good. It tells the coming of age story of a 15 year old Antonio who's discovering his sexual identity. At first, I thought it was boring with lots and lots of conversations. But as the story progresses, we are not only delved into his relationship with his mother but also his friends and community, in which he was involved as part of a choir for the Christmas carol.

We also see how Antonio's relationship with his uncle, Jonbert, soon became an incestuous one. The climax of the film grew even more intense with two simultaneous occurrence going on at the same time...

One, Tere (Antonio's mother) discovered the secret marriage of her husband in Dubai. The other was the rape scene in which Jonbert (Antonio's uncle) forced anal sex on to the 15-year old. I believe this latter scene was the most intense throughout as we could see Antonio's torment during the rape.

As a result of the two occurrences collided, Anotnio's mother got home just in time to save her son by stabbing Jonbert thus killing him in the process.

At the end of the film, audiences would be left with a feeling of disturbed emotions as Antonio and his mother were escorted by the authorities.

Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good Filipino film so far that I've seen.




Pictures, trailer, description
Click HERE

Masahista (2005) - The Masseur

Masahista (2005) - The Masseur

U Blogu sam već postavio Dva Filipinska filma, Bathhouse (2005) i The Man in the Lighthouse (Lalake sa Parola, Ang (2007)
Kako je produkcija iz ove zemlje zaista obimna, predstavljam vam još jedan film Masahista, snimljen 2005. godine.
Inače film je dobio nagrade na mnogim festivalima , između ostalih u Locarno 2005, (Golden Leopard), Toronto 2005, Vancouver 2005, Chicago 2005, Vienna 2005, Thessaloniki 2005...

Dvadesetogodišnji Iliac radi kao maser u jednom lokalu gdje se uz masažu uglavnom podrazumijeva sex. Dok masira klijente Iliac sluša njihove životne priče , tješi ih kad zatreba i ukoliko plate sve to začini seksom.
Tipična prostitucija na dalekoistočni način.
Ljubaznost i spremnost da se udovolji klijentu je sastavni dio posla.
Kada Ilijacu umre otac, porodica ga zove da se vrati kući i da se prihvati novih obaveza koje se od njega očekuju. Hladna majka, nervozna cura, neodgovorni brat učine mu se manje prijatnim nego ono što doživljava i osijeća na poslu....
Film ima dva audio kanala, Filipinski i Španski pa izaberrite sami. Uz fajl koji sam priložio nalazi se dobar titl na engleskom.

Director: Brillante Mendoza
Writers: Boots Agbayani Pastor (screenplay)
Release Date: 19 October 2005 (Philippines)
Genre: Drama

Plot Keywords: Beautiful Woman / Sex / Massage Parlor / Funeral / Gay Sex
Awards: 9 wins & 2 nominations more
Cast
(Credited cast)
Coco Martin ... Iliac
Jacklyn Jose ... Naty
Allan Paule ... Alfredo / Marina Hidalgo
Katherine Luna ... Tessa
Paolo Rivero ... Andrew
Kristoffer King ... Lester


Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Masseur (International: English title) (New Zealand: English title) (festival title) (Philippines: English title) (USA)
Runtime: Philippines:76 min / Canada:80 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country: Philippines
Language: Filipino / Tagalog / English

English:

Following the death of his father and a chance meeting with an abusive romance novelist, a masseur working in a gay massage parlor struggles to make sense of his unfulfilling relationships while simultaneously assisting his mother in preparing his father for burial. Twenty-year-old Iliac (Coco Martin) may not be the best masseur in the parlor, but when he catches the eye of a cold and calculated romance novelist looking for a cheap thrill, the icy indifference displayed by his paying lover does little more to warm the spirits than his sexually charged but emotionally distant girlfriend. Despite the resentment Iliac feels towards his late father for abandoning the family and embarking on a suicidal alcohol binge, the lovelorn youth nevertheless makes the journey home to be there for his grieving mother in her time of need. As he prepares his father for burial and his mind wanders back to the previous night's encounter at the massage parlor, Iliac's increasingly complex love life disturbingly begins to mirror his troubled family life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The Man in the Lighthouse - aka: Lalake sa Parola, Ang (2007)

The Man in the Lighthouse - aka: Lalake sa Parola, Ang (2007)

Kada sam pročitao da je ovaj Filipinski fim označen kao x kategorija, pomislio sam opet neki gay softcore fim. Međutim iako film obiluje erotskim scenama, daleko je od jeftine xx produkcije.

U filmu se radi o jednom momku Mateu koji dolazi iz ruralne sredine da potraži svog oca koji ga je ostavio kada je imao pet godina. Saznaje da mu je otac otišao u Dubai te odluči da ga sačeka, i da radi u jednom svetioniku, u kojem se nastanjuje. Tu slika za svoju dušu, ima dijevojku i potpuno se uklapa u sredinu.

Na ljetovanje dolazi momak po imenu Jerome sa kojim se mateo sprijateljuje. Međutim prijateljstvo se vrlo brzo razvije u jaču emotivnu vezu koju mateo uporno pokušava da ignoriše i sve svede u granicama druženja , zabave i seksa.
Oće li Mateo preći granicu i postati gay?





English:

Ang Lalake Sa Parola (The Man in the Lighthouse) is a new indie movie
starring Harry Laurel, Justin de Leon, Richard Quan and Jennifer Lee.

Synopsis: Lalake sa Parola is homo-erotic journey in finding one’s
true self Mateo (Harry Laurel) has been searching for his father
(Richard Quan) who left when he was five. His search leads him to
Lobo, Batangas only to discover that his father is in Dubai. Awaiting
his father’s return, Mateo works as the caretaker of Lobo’s
lighthouse. Here, he meets Jerome (Justin de Leon), a gay man from
the city. What ensues soon after the meeting is the beginning of his
homoerotic journey, while Suzet (Jennifer Lee), Mateo’s girlfriend
struggles for his love and attention. What begins as a search for
one’s father evolves into a search for one’s self. Will Mateo, in
the midst of his conservative rural community, cross the thin line
between being straight and being gay?

This story is a search for oneself as seen through the lens of rural
homosexuality, myths, and fairies (superstitions/belief?); and the
lies that people create to escape the bitter realities of life.
Directed by Joselito Altarejos, realeased by Viva Entertainment and
Beyond the Box coming out this August!

IMDb:

Director: Joselito Altarejos
Writers: Joselito Altarejos (story)
Lex Bonife (story)
Genre: Drama
This plot synopsis is empty. Add a synopsis
Plot Keywords: Lighthouse / Male Frontal Nudity / Father Son
Relationship / Caretaker / Sex
Cast: Harry Laurel ... Mateo
Jennifer Lee ... Suzette
Justin De Leon ... Jerome
Sheree ... Diwata
Richard Quan ... Fernando Atienza
Dexter Doria ... Lucy
Adela Ferrer ... Woman 2
Mariel Valera ... Anna
Arman Enriquez ... Arman
Tita Lee ... Resort Employee
Also Known As: The Man in the Lighthouse (Philippines: English title)
Country: Philippines
Language: Tagalog / Filipino
Color: Color
Filming Locations: Punta Malabrigo Resort, Malabrigo, Lobo, Batangas,
Luzon, Philippines
Company: Beyond the Box

Bathhouse (2005)

Bathhouse (2005)

Moram da priznam da sam bio skeptican citauci na netu o ovom filmu! Filipinski film mi nije bas nešto blisko. Ipak sam odlucio da ga skinem sa neta i pogledam. Zanimljivo!
Filipinska undergound kultura se ne razlikuje mnogo od Evropske, samo što je malo drugačije upakovana.
Gay populacija koja se okuplja u "Klub Hombre", sa sadrzajima prilagodjenim svim gay ukusima, je glavni akter ovoh filma!




Director: Crisaldo Pablo
Writer: Jet Alcantara (writer)
Genre: Drama

Cast:
Jet Alcantara
Andoy Ranay
Rey Pumaloy
John Lapuz (as John Lapus)
Ray An Dulay
Country: Philippines
Language: Tagalog / Filipino / English

English:

Bathhouse: a place where gay men can go to relax, kick off their shoes (and clothes) and enjoy each other's company. “Bathhouse” takes you into this world of towel clad men, back room sex and the search for that ever elusive perfect boyfriend.

One night while at the baths, young campus nerd Rico (Ray An Dulay) meets heartthrob Cris (Jet Alcantara), the chemistry between them is immediately hot and intense. Once that fire cools Rico thinks he has found the ideal man but finds himself on a roller coaster ride of love, jealousy and infidelity as Cris continues his conquest of the baths.

Made in the same guerrilla style of his earlier film, Cris Pablo once again uses striking images and strong characters to tell the story of gay life in the Philippines.
REVIEW
Filming on a miniscule budget, gay Filipino filmmaker Crisaldo Pablo has created a sweet, involving drama about a young gay man's coming of age. But this is not a standard British/US coming-of-age film, it's the story of gay man's sexual awakening in a Manilla bathhouse. Exotic and filled with hot Asian boys, Bathhouse is definitely a treat we loved.

A young college student Rico, who lives at home with his close-knit family, hits the baths looking for someone he has had text and phone conversations with. When that boy doesn't pan out he explores this new world of men seeking sex. The host of the baths is the convivial femme boy Genesis who makes sure he's the only femme in the club! This bathhouse is for "men" only he says. Rico spies the older Cris, a hunky guy in his thirties. After very hot sex, with no full frontal nudity guys, Rico tries to get some kind of committment from his new trick. After all, he doesn't want to have sex with just anyone. When you meet a guy at the baths, don't expect marriage proposals!!! Anyway Rico continues to explore his newfound sexuality and desires. His life hits the rocks when he dramatically comes out to his family, but love wins out.

Without any of the high-pitched drama one associates with Filipino film, Bathhouse tells it's story with sensuality, romance and just plain compelling storytelling skills.

Download: