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2012 Year-ender:
18 Viva La Revolucion Films of the Year
David Michael M. San Juan A number of the movies included in this article were snubbed by typical commercial media critics and/or ignored by mainstream moviegoers and/or unscreened in Philippine cinemas. Hence, while some of these films are known to most viewers, this article is still a must-read. At the outset, its probable that some people who consider themselves radicals or revolutionaries will object to the inclusion of some of the films. Thus, all readers are reminded that the author uses the term revolutionary to describe any film that tends to directly oppose or subtly subvert mainstream perspectives on culture, politics and the economy. Simply put, the author considers any film that promotes positive social transformation however slightly as revolutionary, regardless of what a revolution means for most politically active citizens (a number of them will always insist that only armed movements are revolutionary, and I disagree with them, without necessarily disagreeing with their over-all social vision). Just a caveat, most of the films are of course English language films as the author like most Filipinos lack ample access to non-English language films. One final caveat: some of the films listed are based on literary hits and such fact was conveniently ignored in making this article (simply put, only the movie versions will be scrutinized, not the books). The Viva La Revolucion Films of the Year 2012 are as follows (in no particular order): 1. Cloud Atlas Ignored by all local mainstream critics, Cloud Atlas is a wonderful patchwork masterpiece that weaves love stories from the past, present and the future to highlight humankinds struggles against social evils such as slavery, gender bias, racism, hegemony, tyranny and even capitalism. Featuring Korea as its main futuristic setting a capitalist haven where the consumer is boss, at the outset, but a living hell for the fabricated (yes,

synthetic, man-made) robotic working class, in reality Cloud Atlas emphasizes that the struggle for positive social transformation, the revolution, may not triumph today but it is still necessary because it is good and correct to change the world for the better. The film also narrates a corporate conspiracy to silence people who know about its nuclear project. At times seriously funny, romantically political, and nostalgia-inducing, the film wont disappoint even the most apolitical moviegoer. Its excellent quilt of sundry but interconnected lives across history is a tough act to follow.

2. Chakravyuh A Bollywood film, this one proves that political movies need not be boring. Featuring mainstream Indian actors and actresses, this movie depicts the roots and the events that sustain the communist Naxalite armed rebellion in what has been labelled as the worlds largest democratic country. Tackling land grabbing, corporate greed, and state fascism through a combination of song-and-dance numbers and epic fight scenes, the movie is a brave political act by a mainstream Indian director. Packaged in a story of love and friendship, Chakravyuh explains why there are revolutions and revolutionaries despite the brutal suppression that governments around the world bring upon them.

3. The Lorax Ignored by young professionals and older moviegoers as a mere childrens movie (a movie musical, actually), The Lorax is the Anticapitalist Movie of the Year 2012. In narrating a kids quest to discover what happened to the genuine trees in their literally all-plastic world where even good air is sold in plastic bottles, The Lorax exposes and criticizes capitalisms fascist and financial excesses exacted against the environment while letting the audience enjoy its plethora of impressive song-and-dance numbers. Its soundtrack How Bad Can It Be is a comprehensive critique of capitalism while Let it Grow is a song that mirrors every anticapitalists hope the hope for a future where the seeds of love and sharing will fully grow. For moviegoers who find anticapitalist movies such as Capitalism: A Love Story or Inside Story too boring, The Lorax will be a good starter.

4. Supremo Surprisingly ignored by most mainstream critics, Supremo is a melodramatic film that features the life story of the Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, entwined with the lives of his fellow revolutionaries such as Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, and Macario Sakay. It ends with the heartrending murder of the Supremo (supreme leader of the revolution), perpetrated by the lapdogs of a man, an opportunist and traitor, called El Presidente by another film (which unfortunately did not qualify for this list). All throughout the film, the Supremos working class credentials, his man-ofthe-masses image is emphasized as fellow revolutionaries such as Mabini warned against the possibility of the Philippine elite wresting control of the revolution from the masses. Supremo outranks Sakay in the high heavens of Filipino historical films, but future film directors can certainly do better. In a nutshell, it is a story of the revolution betrayed that succeeds in immortalizing the Supremo as a martyr of the mass-based revolution who perished at the hands of bourgeois traitors, and in reminding the people that his revolution is incomplete and hence must be revived or continued. One last shameless promotion: watch out for the beautiful soundtrack at the end of the movie.

5. The Three Stooges A mere funny film of the physical type where fun is generated with slaps, hits etc. says most critics, The Three Stooges is actually a veiled attempt to criticize private health care in America. Yes, it was private health insurance that made the Three Stooges orphanage go bankrupt. Blasted as an anti-Catholic film, Catholics and non-believers should just focus on its anticorporate health care message.

6. No A Chilean (Spanish Language) film, this narrates the struggle of the movement against the fascist US-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet, at the level of a professional tasked with creating a plan to defeat him in a referendum. At a time when young people seem to think that dictatorships are good, this will be a good film to watch. One final tidbit: theres no chance this film will be screened in the Philippines, except via the Spanish Film Festival, perhaps two or three years from now.

7. Un cuento chino An Argentinean (Spanish and Mandarin language) film originally released in 2011 but shown only in the Philippines at Greenbelt cinemas via the 2012 Spanish Film Festival, this is a charming and heart-warming story of an insensitive battle-hardened Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands War veteran who rediscovered his humanity, did away with his boring and monotonous life, and overcame his apathy by helping a Chinese migrant find his lost relative, and finally seeking out the love of his life whos always there for him. If only all humans will be able to overcome their insensitivity to other peoples plight, the world will certainly be a better place to live in.

8. Total Recall An action flick remake, Total Recall outdid the previous film version by increasing its social relevance. It divides the futuristic world into the First Worldish United Federation of Britain, and the Third Worldish Colony where a struggle between the oppressors and the oppressed predictably occurs, initially as a dream which actually is real. Guess what? The oppressed trumped the oppressors! Another world is possible, the film reminds us. In a nutshell, Total Recall is a combination of elements reminiscent of The Matrix and Inception.

9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Of course, for very obvious reasons, the director, and the writer of the book from which the film was derived if he were alive will both protest against the film being included in this list. But at least, in this list, their opinions dont matter at all. How in the world is The Hobbit a revolutionary movie? Well, just think of the landless dwarves as the landless farmers of the Third World. Meanwhile, imagine Gandalf and Bilbo as the well-meaning individuals of the First and Second World secure in their own abode yet willing to take risk so that the poor will have their own. Think of the elves as the peoples of the First World at times insensitive, at times, caring, at times, helpful, at times, seemingly hostile. Of course, Smaug the greedy dragon is the epitome of capitalist greed that need to be slayed! And what

could me more revolutionary than the thought of providing a Hobbits pantry to the entire worlds people?

10. Les Misrables Its inclusion in the list is of course very obvious. Its just so unfortunate that only the middle class and the bourgeoisie can afford to see the movie version of the so-called peoples musical that features a stirring song reminiscent of LInternationale the international hymn of socialists. Do you hear the people sing...? Yes, but not only in English for the revolutionaries are in every corner of this world...

11. Dateline: The Reign of Impunity It was originally released in 2011 but Dateline had more public screenings just in 2012, hence, the author decided to include it in this list. Mainly featuring the shocking murders of journalists in the Philippines, Dateline also provides insights on liberative/liberational religious ecumenism (how people of various faiths can unite against social evils that plague Gods people), state fascism, and political dynasties. Its a shame this film was never screened in most popular cinemas.

12. Promised Land Released on December 2012 in America, chances are slim that this film will be screened in the Philippines. This is a film starring Matt Damon as a corporate man tasked to promote hydraulic fracturing or fracking (an environmentally-damaging method of extracting natural gas or petroleum under rock formations) up against the anti-fracking activists in the community where the project is to be implemented. Amidst the tragedies caused by environmental degradation in the country, this film is a mustwatch.

13. The Campaign

Dismissed as not hitting politicians as much as it should be, the film is nevertheless a gem against corrupt politicians who are so common in the Philippines. Its a classic tale of political corruption packaged as a comedy. Parodying American politicians who would want to favor everyone from capitalists and workers, Mexicans (in the film, the Mexicans were actually Filipinos) to religious crazies (who engage in spiritual encounters with snakes!) but end up as lapdogs of corrupt businessmen who control the media through paid propaganda, the movie is a success. Punching babies, sex tapes...Politics is crazy and the film proves it in a funny way. This is a political movie that will make you laugh even if you hate politics. One added star: it beautifully ends with the hailing into courts of the corrupt businessmen (of course that will never happen in the real world).

14. Brave This is a mere childrens story according to most mainstream critics but this is actually the first animated film in recent decades that features a brave young woman who challenges all known traditions with regard to fixed marriage and warrior culture in a kingdom mired in good and bad traditions. Breaking gender barriers is revolutionary, hence, this animated film is revolutionary too.

15. How To Reduce Poverty in Poor Countries A short film screened at the Indiependensya 2012, an independent film festival sponsored by the College of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines, this is a parody of typical international organization advertisements. An excellent anti-World Bank, pro-Dependency Theory masterpiece!

16. Pangarap sa Buhay Another short film screened at the Indiependensya 2012, this is a sarcastic condemnation of the Philippine governments plan to align Philippine education to global standards via the K to 12 scheme which is nothing but a ploy to transform the country into a supplier of cheap and docile labor.

17. Comrade Kim Goes Flying Co-produced by a European consortium and a North Korean production team, this movie seems to suggest that great dreams such as the dreams of woman mine worker to be a pilot in a male-dominated world are possible to achieve (like the dream for the brotherhood of all peoples living in peace and prosperity). In a world where people no longer soar in their dreams, this is revolutionary.

18. The Hunger Games Of course everyone knows the story but not everyone knows that it is reminiscent of socialist George Orwells dystopian novel 1984. Hence, even in its movie version, The Hunger Games echoes the condemnation of the capitalist pseudo-paradise a world where we are all forced to dehumanize ourselves for survival as the elite spectators who own the world and make the rules laugh.

26 December 2012