Cavite

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Audience Member Although the idea is intriguing, the presentation is disjointed and tedious. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review walter m In "Cavite," Adam(Ian Gamazon, who made this film with Neill Dela Llana), 32, works as a security guard in San Diego when he gets the call to return to his native Philippines. Along the way, he finds out that the worst place to find out his girlfriend is breaking up with him and intending to have an abortion is at a pay phone in an airport. Upon arriving in Manila, he finds himself in an episode of "Mission: Impossible" when he discovers a carefully placed cell phone and handset in his backpack. The voice at the other end of the line gives very detailed directions and, despite his karaoke aspirations, makes perfectly clear what will happen to Adam's sister and mother if Adam does not follow them to the letter. Of all its early tone shifts, the one "Cavite" is not really aiming for is suspense, as it slowly and carefully dispenses information while showing off the Philippines to their worst advantage, much to the consternation of the local tourist council. As much as the movie wants to have something thoughtful to say on the local situation, one has to wonder whose side the movie is on, not just politically, but also philosophically, especially with a protagonist as feckless as Adam.(Anytime someone uses a specific age north of 30 in a movie is not out to be kind.) The kidnapper uses homophobic slurs, not so much to be hateful, but as a way of going after Adam's masculinity while also questioning the level of his beliefs. And as much as the movie wants to shock us with racism in the epilogue, I am pretty sure nobody has ever said those exact words before. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Focusing on the bag thief eating McDonald's while the mark was in the bank was a great way to break the tension and get around filming inside the bank. It's incredibly stupid that he didn't give the phone number to a police officer though, especially after he got the money. I know he is a security guard and not a negotiator, but he could have at least got one of his relatives back by refusing to hand over the money. So gullible, he is in good company with his dim girlfriend; "I can't have a Muslim baby" Like superstitions are inherited? Decent guerrilla film-making, would make for a good remake. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Adam, a young filipino-american, travels to the Phillipines for his dad's funeral. When he arrives, he discovers that is mother and daughter have been kidnapped and if he doesn't do exactly what the kidnappers say, they will be killed. Adam is wrapped up in a terrorist plot in Cavite, and the terrorists lead him via phone throughout the streets making him do what they deem necessary. Cavite is a low budget film shot entirely with hand-held digital cameras that are constantly moving. The actor playing Adam is pretty bad but the film does a pretty good job of dissecting the terrorist ideologies through a character that has become Americanized. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member A real indie film (look and feel) about a American Muslim Filipino who goes to the city of Cavite in the Philippines only to be used by a terrorist group to carry out a mission. It is a political thriller with a bit of documentary thrown in. It makes you think. The movie is jarring visually and shows parts of the Philippines society that you normally don't hear about. True indie film making. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member I know I am late doing this. But I am still compeled to make a comment. I have visited Manila, and Cebu. I am an American married to a Filipina. This is a reality most Americans never see unless they have been in the military or peace corps and spent time in the P.I. I have walked around in squatters camps and personally smelled the stinch or the garbage in some streets. Yet the Filipino people survive and can be very friendly to visitors to their country. In the US we are very material minded. Therefore facing reality is not something we are mature enough to accept. We take for granted all we are blessed with. Surprising that even when you ride a jeepney. You can pass your fare from one rider to another and nobody tries to keep or steal the fair. They like many Mexican people are extremely hard working people. They are frank to the point and do not play games like many other people from other countries (like ours) do. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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