5 Pinoy Movies Inspiring my Art Practice

About a year and half ago, I began radically searching for ways to reconnect to my Filipino heritage.

As a painter, I shifted my art practice to center on my identity as a way to meditate over cultural ideas and experiences.

But feeling as though I was limited to understanding myself in context to only a few aunties and their migration stories, I quickly realized how important it was for me to expand my own cultural knowledge outside of the small Pinoy community that I grew up in.

As I began to find footing in a new Pinoy community in Missoula, Montana, and after joining online communities of Pinays looking to reconnect with their culture as well; I realized I was ready to begin exploring my identity outside of just the diaspora, but also in relation to the motherland.

To begin, I started learning Cebuano on Italki from a teacher in Mindanao so that I could better communicate with my family.

I was lucky enough to have some great music recommendations from Instagram pen pals, to begin finding public figures that I resonated with.

And just recently, I began looking to cinema as a way to wet my feet with the motherland narratives, as I save up to go back and experience it for myself.

5 of the most influential Pinoy movies I’ve watched so far are…

1. Pamilya Ordinaryo

One of the first movies that plunged me into the Social Issue Drama genre of the Philippines was Pamilya Ordinaryo directed by Edwardo W. Roy Jr.

Pamilya Ordinaryo follows a young couple living on the streets of Manila whose baby is stolen.

I recommend this movie for anyone interested in the perspective of homelessness, economics, and human trafficking in Manila.

Having only been to Cebu, I first approached the movie curious about what Manila was like, hoping to get a glimpse in shots from this film.

Instead I fell into a deep reflection on upward mobility in the Philippines.

Pamilya Ordinaryo movie poster from IMDB

2. Babae at Baril

About a year or so later, after watching a number of Pinoy rom-coms, I went searching for something a little more meaty. That’s when I found Babae at Baril or The Girl and The Gun on USA Netflix.

I was looking to find more movies like Pamilya Ordinaryo when I found this movie directed by Rae Red.

Babae at Baril tells the story of a woman that works in a shopping mall in Manila, and what she endures just to make ends meet. The movie also follows the independent story of the gun, establishing its lore and how she comes to find it.

Rae Red’s film was a visual masterpiece, making me hungry and certain that there were more of these gripping films, plunging me further into Philippine independent film.

Babae at Baril movie poster from IMDB

3. Birdshot

After googling Rae Red, I learned she comes from an extremely talented family of indie filmmakers. Which led me to finding her cousin, Mikhail Red.

I actually watched one of his other films, that I mention below, first. And after realizing that his films were just as cinematically beautiful as his cousin’s, I watched one of his most famous movies, Birdshot.

Birdshot had me in tears throughout the movie.

I think because it was more relatable to me than the previous films shot in the city. Birdshot takes place in the province, following a young girl, her father, and a new policeman.

The main character, Maya, shoots an eagle not understanding the significance of the animal, or how this event would collide with the investigation of 10 missing farmers.

With a little bit of lore mixed in the film, anyone that grew up listening to their lola’s stories of spirits will find this film both nostalgic and deeply disturbing.

Birdshot movie cover from IMDB

4. Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

Needing a break from such heavy narratives, I found Goyo on Netflix.

The entire time I was watching this film directed by Jerrold Tarog, I was feeling like I was missing some information. Later I realized I was, there is actually a prequel called Heneral Luna that I am yet to watch, but it’s first on my to-watch list.

Goyo takes place in the months between the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American war.

After watching this movie, I began reflecting further on what it means to be a Filipino American, and what role we in the diaspora are to play in relation to the Motherland.

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral movie poster from Starmometer.com

5. Eerie

Eerie is another Mikhail Red film, but focuses on entertainment rather than social narrative. I recommend sprinkling this movie and other less heavy dramas between watching the other four films.

This horror movie takes place in an all-girl Catholic school, following the death of a classmate. The guidance councilor who can see and speak to spirits, begins investigating the source of these horrific events.

This movie was a much needed breather between heavier dramas, but had all the beautiful color grading and symmetrical shots as expected from a Mikhail Red film.

Eerie movie poster from IMDB