CInema One Originals

1. POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
Department of Communication Research
Sta. Mesa, Manila
Cinema One Originals (Communication Theories)
Leira Saina N. Pura
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research

2. KABISERA
Of all the films that was shown by Cinema One, Kabisera is my favorite. The story has a great plot with great cast who are mostly veteran in acting. And it's not only a story about a father who wants to keep his control over his family. It is also a story of how someone could change when blinded by fortune including betrayal of an old friend. And some scenes in the film can actually be applicable into some theories that we learned in class. Andres' may know that pushing drugs is illegal and at some point he decided to stop because of conscience. But it is in pushing drugs that he earns a lot so he went back after his son got into an accident. And he thinks that through this business he'll make more money and make his children stay with him. It can be applicable in Attribution Theory which means that there is a factor pushing Andres to continue being a drug dealer. When Andres' son had an accident, Jose - Andres' best friend - came in the hospital to pay for the hospital dues. He acted worried but the truth is he plotted the accident of his godson to make Andres bring out the remaining drugs and sell it. It can be applicable in Interpersonal Deception Theory because Jose lied to benefit and it will also cause rift in their relationship. And Andres' expectation for his daughter is to move back with him but his expectation was countered. Later in the movie, Ramon - fiancé of his daughter - was killed. And this can be explained by Expectation Violation Theory. When our expectation is violated we tend to react in some ways. On Andres' part he was capable to kill a life. BLUE BUSTAMANTE Blue Bustamante is the movie where I laughed the most. It may seem like a typical story of a Filipino leaving his family to work abroad and give them a better life but it doesn't revolve that much on that. It revolves around George's dilemma on his work and his family's expectation on him. When he got fired from his job, George had trouble in finding a new one. Later, he took a job his friend, Roger, had offered. He worked as a stunt man for Blue Force. And in the scene where he was supposedly killed, he changed the scene in the last minute. It can be explained by Elaboration Likelihood Model. He made the decision in peripheral route. He just thought of it right away without even thinking that he'll lose his job. George changed the scene because he doesn't want his son to be sad. In Japan, he met a Japanese girl in a coffee shop who later became his stalker. One time, they went out and had a talk even though they didn't understand each other. During their conversation Ayumi - the Japanese girl - noticed George's wedding ring. She thought that George is single and he would marry her and have a happily ever after. She walked out because her expectation was countered. This can be applicable in Expectation Violation Theory. In the end, George learned to love his job already. When he thought that his job would make him a laughing stock in his family, he was wrong. He was his son's favorite character in his favorite cartoons. Since then he already accepted his job because this is way of making his son happy. And this will be a step for him to build a stronger relationship with him. This can be applicable in Reinforcement Theory.

3. SHIFTThe movie Shift directed and written by Siege Ledesma is actually one of my favorites but was not satisfied in the ending. I felt that there should be a continuation in Estela and Trevor's love story. But, yes, I liked it. The movie is about Estela Alano who works in a call center but has no interest in that field because she aspires to be a singer-songwriter or a photojournalist which is also the reason why she doesn't work efficiently. But things have changed when she was designated to be mentored by Trevor. Before they worked together they talked to discover things about each other. It can be applicable in Uncertainty Reduction Theory. In order to reduce uncertainty and build relationship you try to know the person by discovering things with other people. When they spend more time together they develop more feelings for each other. And that can be applicable in Social Penetration Theory where they not only reveal personal information about each other but they get connected personally. As the story goes along Trevor broke up with his boyfriend Monty leaving Estela hoping that he has a chance with Trevor. But Trevor found another lover and since then Estela was cold to him. She rejects his calls and ignores his chat. When Trevor asked if there's something wrong with them she said that she's just busy. That can be applicable in Interpersonal Deception Theory.
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Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon
The movie Ganito kami noon, Paano kayo ngayon directed and written by Eddie Romero is about knowing the real identity of Filipinos. This movie is about the search of a young man who wonders who the real Filipinos are. It is what Kulas' trying to figure out by asking every people he encounters. Eddi Garcia, who plays Don Tibor in the movie, said that Filipinos are those people who are willing to serve their country. On the other hand, Kulas' friend, Lim, said that he doesn't know who the real Filipinos are. But Kulas told him that he thinks that everyone who was born and raised in the Philippines should be considered Filipino. Lim then answered that he's a Filipino even if his parent's were Chinese. In the part of the Spaniards they are the Filipinos. They see us nothing but an Indio. Until the end of the movie, Kulas never really had a clear idea of who the real Filipinos. It was the result of receiving varied answers from other people. But in the end, he said that we must always remember that we are all Filipinos. I think that being proud and accepting that you are a Filipino is the message of the movie that it is trying to impart its audience. Another one is value for education. Kulas a slow-witted man and aware of his lack of intelligence tells Bindoy - Padre Gil's son - that it is important for him to go to school to not be like him when he grows up. He also told Bindoy that in order to be useful, he must be useful to other people. And therefore he must stay in school to be intelligent. So one day he'll manage his

4. father's dividends in tobacco and be with him in Spain. I think that the theory that I can apply in the movie is Elaboration Likelihood Model. And Kulas used central route in processing his belief that we are all Filipinos. Kulas didn't just believe what people said about the Filipinos. He have his own perspective based on his experience.