Raul Arellano as the main character Raul is able to show the frustrations of the common man without going over the top. There is a quiet intensity in his performance. Photo is from http://www.raymondred.com

Written by

Jude Bautista

Editor’s note: Catch Himpapawid’s screening January 27-28, 4 & 7pm at the UP Film Institute. I could never forget the awe that I and some film makers felt meeting Raymond Red for the first time in 2007. It was an informal lunch with French director Michel Hazanavicius organized by Martin Macalital. Paolo Villaluna whispered, “Ang bait pala ni Raymond Red. (I didn’t realize he was so nice).” Villaluna is now the co producer, writer and director for ANC’s “STORYLINE.”

From left: PDI Chair Marixi Prieto, Himpapawid director Raymond Red, FDCP Chair Briccio Santos, MTRCB Chair Grace Poe Llamanzares, cast members Mon Confiado, Ronnie Lazaro and Raul Morit. Photo by Jude Bautista

‘Himpapawid’ director Raymond Red is one of the most revered names in Philippine Independent cinema. After winning in Cannes for his short film “Anino” in 2000 it wasn’t duplicated by another Filipino until Brillante Mendoza won for his feature “Kinatay” (Execution of P) in 2009.  Many people have long awaited Red’s feature film after a WWII historical docudrama was shelved by a network studio some years back. “Himpapawid”(Manila Skies) is Raymond Red’s much anticipated masterpiece. It has the distinction of being the first Filipino film in the main competition of Tokyo International Film Fest. In 1992 his feature film “Bayani” was in the Young Cinema category of the same fest.

One of the reasons that it has taken some time for Red to follow up on his success is his insistence on using (celluloid) film and all the cost and difficulties tied to using it. As a solution he shared that with the RED camera, digital technology has now been able to replicate the ‘film look’ which he requires in his work. The Cannes winner’s opinion on this matter is highly regarded with his extensive experience with film that has ranged from 8mm, 16mm all the way to 35mm film. In the 2010 Gawad Urian Awards Raymond was given the Best Cinematographer award while his cast John Arcilla and Sue Prado earned Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress respectively. “Himpapawid” also won Best Drama Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay (Raymond Red) at the First Phil. Movie & Television Review & Classification Board Film Awards.

Brothers and co PDI Inquirer Indie Tribute Awardees Raymond and Jon Red. Photo by Jude Bautista

Apart from award winning short films he has produced countless TV commercials most recently for MERALCO and Canon.  The similarity of the Red digital camera with his name is merely a happy coincidence. RED Camera is a Hollywood based firm which has also been used to shoot films like “The Social Network”. Raymond is neither an investor nor an endorser of the Red mobile cellular phone network.

Poster is from HIMPAPAWID facebook fan page. Posetr features Actor and artist (Painter) Raul Arellano

“Himpapawid” is based on a true story of poverty and desperation where one man tries to change his destiny by taking a plane hostage. What makes this film unique or better than other poverty films to come out of the Philippines is that it shows the root causes of it. Unequal distribution of wealth, over population in urban areas and unemployment are obvious reasons. But by showing how they are related through the story, Red is able to suggest a solution to the problem of poverty as well.

The film is rich with symbolism and well thought of images. Raymond Red is a master at expressing and compressing complex statements via composition and even editing, much like a painter but with moving images. The shot of a child dissolving into Raul as a grown man is a statement with many layers. One interpretation is that the child grew up but that is only one of many statements that can be peeled away as part of the story in “Himpapawid”.

Himpapawid cast: John Arcilla, Producer and Editor John David Hukom, Sue Prado and Ronnie Lazaro during the screening of Himpapawid as the closing film of Cinemanila 09. Photo by Jude Bautista

Raul Arellano as the main character Raul is able to show the frustrations of the common man without going over the top. There is a quiet intensity in his performances. Arellano has earned an Urian award for his role in Lav Diaz’ “Batang West Side.” Raul is also a celebrated painter in Los Angeles, whose works have been sold by several galleries. Sue Prado is cast as the seductive prostitute Diana but actually has multiple roles. Somehow Sue has so much sex appeal she is able to make something as polishing her toe nails seem erotic. It is the scene which drives Raul over the edge and touches himself because of it.  John Arcilla, Nonie Buencamino, Soliman Cruz, Ronnie Lazaro, Karlo Altomonte, Raul Morit, Archie Adamos, Tony Mabesa, Mon Confiado, Jess Evardone, Mike Lloren, Flor Salanga and Ronron Villar round out the main characters.

Cast mates: Perry Dizon and Ronnie Lazaro. Photo by Jude Bautista

As evidence of the stature of Red, he was able to cast a number of well respected actors and even film makers themselves. Sometimes the cameo appearances are funny. Lav Diaz is cast a neighborhood drunk in the background as Crispin (John Arcilla) tries to recruit Raul for their heist. Lav would butt in with the word, “Wasak!” as actors in the scene would try to deliver their lines. Tanghalang Pilipino’s Head Nanding Josef is a heartless boss. Pen Medina is a laborer interviewed on TV during their strike. Film maker, writer and actor Nick De Ocampo also joins the drinking session. Even French Film critic Max Tessier plays a foreigner with a really young girlfriend. Writer director Emman Dela Cruz is an airport inspector.