Ikapito Nga Adlaw: Peter Nery's Hard-biting, Passionate Revolutionary Ilonggo Short Film

I said your film will revolutionize Ilonggo filmmaking not only visually (sort of) but through concept and controversy. Ilonggos love to shy away from controversy as if they had enough of it or at least it shows they’re a bit hesitant to break away from social norms. Indie filmmaking in the region tends to be playing safe for a while now. And knowing this talented writer-filmmaker, he’s a sucker for controversy, and yes, some amount of fame.

Palanca Hall of Famer and multi-awarded Ilonggo writer Peter Solis Nery cemented a name in the region’s filmmaking industry with his first full-length movie “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa” where he appointed me as Managing Producer in 2012. The film was one of the official entries of Sineng Pambansa 2012, the first instalment of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) pet project that boosted regional cinema. “Bakunawa” was Nery’s greatest work so far. If he were a music artist, it’s his “greatest hit.” The project drained us creatively since it was shot for merely 6 days but allowed us to rediscover our strength, our passion and shaped our vision as artists. His film crew were Hollywood-based indie filmmaking group Hopeboat Productions and opened a lot of opportunities for us in the field of multimedia arts. The film reached the shores of Greece as part of the Thessaloniki Film Festival 2012, where our film was screened by European movie buffs and enthusiasts.

This year, his guts and creative instinct was reawakened, massively big time! Though shorter than his last ambitious film, “Ikapito Nga Adlaw” (7^th Day) is far more monstrous in both creative and concept since it sums up what most Ilonggo filmmakers are hesitant to tackle – SEX and more! As a friend, I know how brave and bold Nery when it comes to envelope-pushing vision, especially in the concept where he is more passionate, fluid and (over) confident, haha. He gained notoriety back in his newspaper columnist days in Iloilo (The News Today, Guardian and Panay News). This time, he sinks his fangs beyond his writings and print persona into a more visual bravura.

"Ikapito nga Adlaw" is a short film entry submitted for the fourth edition of Cinekasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival from December 1 – 21, 2016. The film is not more than 15 minutes but created a noise for tackling sex, blood and poetry. The script itself is as short as you can imagine but he is able to transcend a message deeper and sincerely through the different facets of love. It touches the concept of God resting in the seventh day and allowed humanity to express love in various erotic forms. An 18-year-old guy falling in love for a woman in her 50s. Imagine a guy-to-guy sexual hook-up and end-up dying for each other ... Romeo and Juliet theme? An innocent girl experience gang rape that pushes her childhood lover in committing suicide. Then, there’s breaking the norm: nudity done in poetic passion, I guess so (hehe). It’s wonderful how the film delivered different voices, messages and dilemmas with a short repeated script but long enough to define forever,  a glimpse of infinity and dramatic bravura.

When Nery allowed me to see his film during our meeting prior the film festival submission (we exchanged favour by allowing him to watch my non-competing film where he has a cameo role), one thing strucked a thought in my mind: it’s a moving, fluid poetry expressed by an artist who saw love as a bare-naked definition of being human.

My impression never changed even after he shared, re-shared and made my mini-film review of his film in the social media – it is thematically and visually revolutionary, brave and bold, passionate and artistic. Even though his actors are first-time performers and hand-picked from his hometown in Dumangas, Iloilo, Nery is adamant to push his style, push the envelope further even in its raw form to make his cinematic vision work. I have to be honest that it’s beyond perfect since I’m a “little bit” of a filmmaker myself, but I think his poetic “mida’s touch” transcended and manifested in this film. Shorter in terms of cinematic time but cleverly-biting and creative in many ways. So, after watching his film, I actually told him this: Your film is not perfect but it’s perfectly moving and poetically expressive. It’s the literary monster “you” transforming into a cinematic experience.  Can I call this: IKAWpito ka Adlaw? I think this is so “Peter-Solis-Nery style” talking and rampaging in the form of a film, just kidding.

“Ikapito Nga Adlaw” is one of the competing films in this year’s Cinekasimanwa 4: The Western Visayas Film Festival screening tomorrow, December 8, 3:30PM and 5:30PM at Cinemateque - Iloilo together with ABS-CBN restored Filipino film icons “Karnal” and “Virgin People.” Another screening will be set on December 14 at SM Cinema 1, 8PM.  Ticket price is Php 120. If you’re a lover of films in the most daring ways, never miss this one. Hopefully, it’s the first of its kind Ilonggo film, making waves in Western Visayas regional film community. Go watch the film!

Check out the film's official social media page: https://www.facebook.com/PeterSolisNery/?fref=ts