Kalayaan

  • 115'
  • Philippines
  • 2012
Filipino soldier Julian is stationed on an uninhabited island. Another character jokes that the island once beat Vietnam at basketball. In the first half of the film, Kalayaan follows the everyday life of the soldier. He sleeps, fishes, watches porn and masturbates. Occasionally, he listens to the radio, which reports on a rebellion against the president. His only companion is a turtle.
In the second half, the solider's intense loneliness seems to be leavened by the arrival of two other soldiers. They talk about things like spirits and mermaids; conversations that reveal the start of the film - in which a mermaid gives a naked man a blow job - in a different light. Julian increasingly withdraws into his own world and loses his grip on reality.
Kalayaan makes beautiful use of the natural locations and takes its time to let us sense the boredom of Julian, played by Thai teenage idol Ananda Everingham.
  • 115'
  • Philippines
  • 2012
Director
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Country of production
Philippines
Year
2012
Festival Edition
IFFR 2013
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
International title
Wildlife
Language
Filipino
Producer
Arleen Cuevas
Production Company
Phoenix Features
Sales
Phoenix Features
Screenplay
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Cinematography
Albert Banzon
Editor
Aleks Castañeda
Production Design
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Sound Design
Ditoy Aguila
Music
Tereza Barrozo
Cast
Kiki Sugino, Ananda Everingham
Director
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Country of production
Philippines
Year
2012
Festival Edition
IFFR 2013
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
International title
Wildlife
Language
Filipino
Producer
Arleen Cuevas
Production Company
Phoenix Features
Sales
Phoenix Features
Screenplay
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Cinematography
Albert Banzon
Editor
Aleks Castañeda
Production Design
Adolfo Alix Jr.
Sound Design
Ditoy Aguila
Music
Tereza Barrozo
Cast
Kiki Sugino, Ananda Everingham