Art Film 101

Cinemalaya is in town again. I’m pretty sure that people who are into art film are really excited about it while art critiques will be as sharp as their pens. Here are some tips I’ve learned when watching art film:

Always have an open mind. Some genre may be intimidating, whether it’s a snobbish French film or a heart-warming Italian flick. Remember that watching film should be taken in a holistic perspective, from the script, cinematography, costume and set design, and the thespian skills of the characters.

Don’t be scandalized. Some art films are too graphic, be it sex, drugs or violence. The film is a mirror reflected by the director to epitomize society and that’s the difference between a commercial and art film. The director has no qualms in showing the audience what he thinks of an idea, whether seen or experienced.

Sub-titles could sometimes distract you especially in intense scenes. This nuisance should complement the whole art film experience instead. Anyway, sub-titles are less distracting compared to TV closed captioning.