It is amazing how the Philippine directors have shaped their art of film-making. It is a striking mix of sensitivity and thrill, of poignancy and violence, of good and evil, and this film by Lav Diaz is no exception. A masterpiece in my opinion, and of the type that all audience will enjoy. It is no mind-bender or a film with symbolism, but in its portrayal of a simple story riddled with human vices, Naked Under the Moon can become a humbling lesson in life for each viewer. We follow 7-8 characters in their everyday life and struggles, as a family, recently bankrupt, tries to gather the pieces and move on. The story is psychologically brutal as circumstances pull them to a halt every time - mistakes slowly accumulate to overwhelm them in a relentless attack. Diaz narrates the episode beautifully, never wavering from his mission, never indulging in over-melodrama, but only relying on the natural anguish that certain truths can invoke, and watching it is painful at times. Screams seem natural, dreams make you moist and the pathos is inconsolable, but yet, there are rays of hope, as indeed you can recover from the tightest of corners. But Diaz does acknowledge that some traumas are indestructible and impossible to solve, and yes, that is true and very much a part of an average life. Diaz' depiction of adultery and physical relationships drip passion, and that is the ace feature of this film, it captures emotions at their most honest and irrational and thus it is able to give an awesome shape to the elusive concept of 'life'. Must watch, Philippines is the true powerhouse of melodrama, brilliantly juxtaposed in an economically unsure environment.
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