Director Chris Martinez' comedy about a boy with a speech defect shines in Nestle short films anthology

WE SAW Nestle’s “Kasambuhay Habambuhay Anthology of Short Films” for its centennial celebration at its premiere night and we’re impressed. They obviously spent millions for this film project. Since those who made it are TV commercial directors, we get a lot of dazzling beautifully photographed visuals, especially in Raul Jorolan’s “Unplugged” and its splendid rustic surroundings shot at Hacienda Luisita. This is about a football coach, Marvin Agustin, who takes his athletes to train in the farm of his lolo, who in turn teaches them to get rid of their electronic gadgets that distract them and go back to basics. There’s a funny twist in the ending about the lolo, superbly played by Eddie Garcia. Kaye Abad appears as a village lass and she’s never been more lovably photographed and it even has original music and song by Noel Cabangon. A touching vignette is Jun Reyes’ “Silup” or Pulis, with the ever reliable Sid Lucero as a dedicated young cop who helps an old man victimized in a holdup. There’s also a moving twist with the appearance of Gloria Romero in its final sequence. A musical episode is “Oh Pa Ra Sa Ta U Wa Yeah”, featuring the talents in the Nestea commercial starring newcomer Neil Coleta. Jillian Ward makes a scene-stealing appearance here. Most of the songs are mediocre but the one that really works for us is “Abakada ng Matamis na Oo”.

Some of the episodes try to be different. They probably appear great on the drawing board but weren’t that successful when transferred on the big screen, like Sid Maderazo’s “Isang Tasang Pangarap” that pays homage to Nora Aunor’s “Himala” and an unabashed plug of Nescafe 3 in 1 (it’s meant to be a comedy but is not really funny), “Sign Seeker” where John Lloyd Cruz is paired with Solenn Heussaff, and AF Benaza’s “Sali-Salita” about a little boy (Migs Cuaderno) who starves for his writer mom’s attention (Judy Chua) and finds comfort in his visiting grandpa (Kuya Bodgie) who tells him stories about a wizard that comes alive on screen. It’s a tribute to Chris Martinez (“Here Comes the Bride”, “Temptation Island”) that he’s the only one who gets to meg two episodes: “Cooking Mo, Cooking Ko” (a Romeo and Juliet kind of story about two warring carinderias) and “The Howl and The Fussyket” (so titled because that’s how the leading character, a little boy, pronounces “The Owl and The Pussycat”.) This last mentioned episode is actually the most effective for us and it’s because the little boy who plays it, Gerald Pesigan, is truly a standout. He should be nominated as best child actor for his hilarious performance here. Despite his faulty diction, he desperately wants to join their school’s declamation contest. His mom, Eugene Domingo, and sister, Kiray Celis, along with his OFW dad who’s seen only in Skype, support him, getting him a speech coach, an acting coach, and making a special costume for him. We won’t tell you what happens to him but the episode is a homage to maternal love and a subtle plug for Bear Brand Milk. You have until today, Sunday, to watch the free showing of these short films at SM Megamall Cinema 3, Southmall Cinema 6, Rosales Cinema 1, Davao Cinema 1 and Cebu Cinema 7. You can even win P10,000 just by voting for your favorite short film which we think would be won by Chris Martinez.