"Ramblings after watching a Law school-themed movie"
(or Notes after watching Kip Oebanda's "Barboys")
At first, this person is ought to say that the movie he watched yesterday is more than just a recollection of every lawyer, but of every professional. And thank "God" that in spite of having things to done at work there's a time to watch it before its too late.
At first glance, Barboys looks like your usual school/college-themed movie, for in every scene depicted, the movie, in spite of being made by an independent producer, is somehow like any other campus-themed movies both from the 80s and 90s: of "Burgis", "18 Going Steady", "Bagets", "When I Fall in Love", to "Mangarap Ka". And within it also features a somewhat redux of both Brockan and Gosiengfiaoesque twists with serious tones embedded in hints of a melodrama.
Paraphrasing Vic Teano's review, Barboys tells the story of three men, who usually meet for late night computer games and macho talks, end struggled to finish their degree in Law. It was meant to be four, only that one of them (played by Kean Cipriano) end failed, choosing to gave up and settled on modeling.
The remaining three seriously pursued their desire to become lawyers, and their desire to finish law school (and eventually becoming lawyers) was carried by different motivations: Toran (played by Rocco Nacino), known for describing himself as a "lion", was seen by his family members as their "hope"; while Christian (played by Enzo Pineda), known for his Bourgeois upbringings, wanted to study in the Philippines and to show his domineering Father that he's different from him in pursuing a path; and Erik (played by Carlo Aquino), who was a poor but deserving student supported by his parents in taking Law, also out of a better future like Toran.
As described by yours truly, every scene from the movie seemed to be Brockan or Gosiengfiaoesque as it features bourgeois lifestyles peppered with proletarian hardships. In the case of Erik Matti, a film director, he described the film as "nostalgic and sentimental" as he reminded him of Maryo J. de los Reyes' "Bagets" and Jake Tordesillas's "High School Circa '65"; with scenes that somewhat supposed to be done in the past. And from those scenes there studying habits, joining in a fraternity, relationship struggles, financial matters, terror professors, and various forms of sacrifices hath been the issues that both hinders and strengthens the friendship of three (or four) men; and still end succeeded in their fields as lawyers (and a model).
The remaining three seriously pursued their desire to become lawyers, and their desire to finish law school (and eventually becoming lawyers) was carried by different motivations: Toran (played by Rocco Nacino), known for describing himself as a "lion", was seen by his family members as their "hope"; while Christian (played by Enzo Pineda), known for his Bourgeois upbringings, wanted to study in the Philippines and to show his domineering Father that he's different from him in pursuing a path; and Erik (played by Carlo Aquino), who was a poor but deserving student supported by his parents in taking Law, also out of a better future like Toran.
As described by yours truly, every scene from the movie seemed to be Brockan or Gosiengfiaoesque as it features bourgeois lifestyles peppered with proletarian hardships. In the case of Erik Matti, a film director, he described the film as "nostalgic and sentimental" as he reminded him of Maryo J. de los Reyes' "Bagets" and Jake Tordesillas's "High School Circa '65"; with scenes that somewhat supposed to be done in the past. And from those scenes there studying habits, joining in a fraternity, relationship struggles, financial matters, terror professors, and various forms of sacrifices hath been the issues that both hinders and strengthens the friendship of three (or four) men; and still end succeeded in their fields as lawyers (and a model).
And because of that, this person, like others concerned who afforded to watch that movie found it approvingly good and therefore suggesting everyone to watch it; better if to repeat it all over again, watching that movie and internalise, reflect, and rethink about the times, as these once students also felt how hard taking a desired course be it Law, Medicine, or Engineering, only to realise its worth. After all, according to its intro, it was based from a recollection of some once-law students who took, passed, flunked, and struggled to retake and pass just to become members of the bar.
***
For Karen Testibia (the assistant Producer) and Isagani Tan Jr. (The Barboy himse)