My Perspective on “Patay na si Hesus”

My Perspective on “Patay na si Hesus”

(Comedy, Victor Villanueva, Jaclyn Jose, Bernard Catindig, Chai Fonacier, and Melde Montañez Oct. 16 ,2016)

At first, I thought “Patay na si Hesus” was a religious movie because of what the title suggests. But when I watched the movie, it was not what I expected it to be. The title seemed serious yet the movie was the exact opposite. Hesus was not referred to as Jesus Christ but as Jaclyn Jose’s husband in the film. The narrative of the film was structured with flashbacks. However, these flashbacks are only narrated and not directly displayed for the viewers. The point of view in the film was first person. The characters stated their lines according to their perspective just like in a normal conversation with one another.

The setting of the scenes was in various parts of Cebu and Dumaguete. It was true to life and most places relate to the natural environment. It was amazing because they used the movie to highlight the wonderful culture in these places. Some props (Bo’s Coffee, Titays, Sans Rival and etc.) in the movie also showed love and support for local products by showcasing it throughout the film. The main characters in the film are Iyay, Bert, Jud, and Jay. They are portrayed by Jaclyn Jose, Bernard Catindig, Chai Fonacier, and Melde Montañez. Iyay was the mother of three children (Jud, Jay, and Bert). Her costume and make-up was a typical fifties to sixties Filipina mom. Bert was the eldest child of Iyay who had down syndrome. He was an easy-going type of person. His costume also suited his character well. Next was Jud, she was the second among the three siblings. She was a hardworking call center agent around late twenties to early thirties and she was also a tomboy who had a hard time with relationships. Her outfit was also appropriate for the role she played. The youngest child of Iyay was Jay. He was a joyful twenties person who always finds a way to be hilarious even in the most unexpected places. His costume was also fit for his role. The characters used different languages (Bisaya, Filipino, and English) in the movie. The film was mainly in Cebuano since the characters live in Cebu. Filipino was also used because of the character of Iyay who was from Manila. And English was utilized to bring extra flavor to the movie. The character I liked the most was Iyay, Jackyn Jose, her acting skills together with her personality in the film was outstanding. She did not give up on life and continued to love her children no matter the challenges or problems they encountered. The scene that stood out was the part when Iyay comforted Jay who got his girlfriend pregnant. On the contrary, the character I liked the least was the one played by Mailes Kanapi, Lucy. At first, she was okay but as the movie progresses, her character started acting weird. It seemed that she appeared for no good reason.

The primary conflict in the movie was the fear of facing the truth. It was solved after Iyay’s family went on a road trip from Cebu to Dumaguete. They got the chance to be open with each other's issues and problems. In addition, they strengthened their bond and relationship through the different scenarios they faced. The film’s soundtrack somewhat created a feeling of compassion. Hahahasula established sympathy towards Jud’s emotion. I don't know the exact titles of the Bisaya songs in the movie but I think all of them were perfect for the different parts of the film.

The movie motivated the viewers to face their problems in everyday life. Faith, hope, and courage were evident in the film. Although there were countless hilarious moments, it still inspired the viewers to possess these three important attitudes in life. The society here in the Philippines really follow dominant ideologies in the film specially that Filipinos are close to their family. They always make sure that their family are aware of their current situation. Aside from that, Filipinos show care like no other whether they are in bad times or in good times. The film had no bias in terms of sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and nationality. They were well taken in consideration and respect for all was promoted. It was nice to see that the film was balanced in terms of these factors. The theme of the film was explored in a new way by the way it was presented. It may seem very funny but if he/she will analyze the movie, he/she can understand that the movie had something to teach its viewers.

The number one strength of the movie was its entertainment value. Unlike other films, this one was a perfect combination between humor and content. It did not sacrifice important matters just to make the movie entertaining. On the other hand, the only weakness I saw was the use of too much inappropriate language and the scene when their aunt Lucy was nude. It could be better if they reduced these to make the movie suitable for everyone. Nevertheless, “Patay na si Hesus” was still a great film. I recommend everyone to watch the movie specifically the millennials because they will get something from this and most of all, it supports the Filipino film industry.