Salon Kitty (1976)

The movie opens in an elegantly decorated salon with Madame Kitty (played masterfully by Ingrid Thulin) taking center stage in a gender-bending song number, while a bevy of prostitutes entertain their clients. Set in 1930’s Berlin, this Nazisploitation flick follows the decline of a high-class brothel during World War II.

Power hungry SD chief Wallenberg (Helmut Berger) orders the recruitment of 20 beautiful women, loyal socialists, to work as spies. Young Margherita (Teresa Ann Savoy), who comes from an affluent family with strong socialist ideals, joins this group of women whose duty, according to a Nazi officer, was to “refuse nothing.”

De rigueur of films in this genre, there is a lot of perverse sex going on- the recruits are subjected to a salvo of lurid acts of depravity: bondage, sadism, orgies, sex with an amputee, a hairy brute, a midget. The women who pass these bizarre tests will become whores moonlighting as spies; those who don’t make it are promptly eliminated.

Wallenberg seizes control of the brothel, and replaces Madame Kitty’s whores. They are now housed in a different building, where microphones are hidden in almost every corner, and their every move recorded, unbeknownst to Kitty. Wallenberg intended to use the information on German officers and foreign diplomats to his end- blackmail and power-grabbing. Left with no other options, Kitty accepts, grooms and teaches the girls the arts of pleasing a man.

September 1939, Germany declares war against Poland. The wave of atrocities against Jews are shown in sequences, equaling the brutality and horror with a particular scene that left me disturbed- a slaughterhouse where pigs were suspended on meat hooks while men gouged their eyes or gutted their necks and a endless river of blood staining the floor. In the same scene, women were molested by the butchers, followed by macabre laughter.

It’s business as usual for Kitty. Margherita meets Hans, a ruggedly handsome pilot on leave from the front lines. He awakens her sensuality and the two start seeing each other outside the brothel. Hans reveals that he is reluctant to return to war, resolving later on to revert to the other side, and fight against Hitler. “Man belongs to humanity”, he says to Margherita, “not to a country, race, or religion.” Somewhat smitten by the soldier’s charms, Margherita makes no mention of this in her report.

However, Wallenburg still learns of the pilot’s plan from the recordings, and confronts Margherita. He himself fancied the girl, despite already having a wife. Later on, a comrade of Hans who solicited Margherita’s services told her of Hans’ fate- he was hanged on a meat hook for unpatriotism. Margherita shoots the man for mocking her lover, and she leaves the brothel to return home.

One by one, Kitty’s prostitutes fall. One got pregnant and wanted to keep the baby, but the Germans decided that she was to be eliminated. A girl dies from a seizure, while another takes her life.

Meanwhile, Margherita is now singing a different tune at home and is now defiant against socialist ideals. When Kitty visits her, the two eventually uncover the truth: that the brothel had been monitored all along, and that was how the Wallenberg learned of Hans’ plan to defect. The two hatch a plan to expose Wallenberg.

Armed with a recorder, Margherita seduces Wallenberg and manages to record his revelation that his wife’s grandfather is a Jew, and of his plans to use the secrets of German soldiers to gain power. She submits this to a higher ranking officer, who immediately sent orders to eliminate Wallenberg.

Wallenberg is caught in a bath house and shot in the chest. As he lay on the floor naked, bloodied, and dying, Margherita and Kitty toasted to the success of their plans with champagne. But the whorehouse is bombed, sending a shower of a million broken glass, and a thunderous shudder as the walls crumbled around them.

Sentiments of an Obsessed Cinemaphile

I still can't seem to purge the Love of Siam hangover, so in a cathartic effort I'll recount the story one last time...

As a young boy, Mew was referred to by his classmates as "that sissy boy". Frequently a loner in school, he seeks solace in the company of his grandmother who takes care of him. Next door lived Tong, a high-spirited boy about the same age, with an equally active and impish older sister Tang.

One day, as Tang teaches her brother to blow a bubblegum, Tong accidentally spits the gum and it lands on Mew's hair. Mew runs to his grandmother in tears, and she comforts him. She teaches Mew how to use music to express one's feelings and she explains why she favors a particular song- a melody Mew's grandfather once played to her to express his love.

One day at school, Mew gets bullied and Tong comes to the rescue- only to get beaten himself. As Mew tends to his friend's bruises, Tong sheepishly apologizes for the gum incident. Mew declares they are now even and from then on, the two become best friends.

On a family trip to Chiang Mai, Tang begs her parents to stay behind for a few days with friends. Her mother reluctantly agrees as her husband insists- "she is a big girl and can already take care of herself." Upon their return, Tong gives his Mew a present through a treasure hunt- Mew uncovers parts of his present all throughout the park, but only to find the wooden toy missing the last piece, as the tree where it was hidden in was cut down.

"It's ok," young Mew declares. Happy nonetheless at his friend's efforts.

But Tang did not return on the date she promised. Tong's parents left him in the care of Mew's grandmother as they return to Chiang Mai to search for their missing daughter. As the nights pass, Tong gets lonelier and his friend comforts him as they lay together on Mew's bed.

The day came when Tong's heartbroken parents decided that they should move away. Tong searched for his friend to say goodbye, and found Mew at their usual spot at the park by the river, sitting by himself. He told Mew not to let anyone bully him and that he should take care of himself. Mew did not say anything in response, later he just quietly watched the car sped away and wept.

Fast forward to the present- the boys are now adolescents. Tong is a handsome fellow with a beautiful girlfriend named Donut, however Tong seems distant towards her. His father had sunk into depression and became an alcoholic, much to the dismay of his fortitudinous mother.

Mew is now the lead singer and composer of a teen group called "August Band". Although their songs are popular, their producer urges them to compose love songs which would cater to an even bigger audience. "A love song should be easy to write at your age." He declares. But although Mew tries, he could not quite compose a good love song, even with his new neighbor and friend Ying's (who harbors a crush on Mew) silly provocations. ("If you like to know what it's like to have a lover, I can be your girlfriend!" to which Mew merely responded, "You're crazy.")

Tong and Mew's lives begin to intertwine once more when a chance meeting at Siam Square- a popular after-school haunt for teens- sparks Mew's old feelings for his friend. Along with this is Mew's ever-growing feelings of confusion precipitated during close encounters with his male peers. He even asks Tong if he has "something different from other people." To which his friend replies no.

As the boys continue to spend more and more time together, Mew's feelings blossom, enabling him to compose beautiful love songs. In one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking scenes in the movie, the boys lay in bed beside each other, just like when they were young, after a very late practice session. Tong asks Mew how he is, and Mew responds that although his music-playing is fun, he is constantly lonely. Juxtaposed in this sequence are scenes of Tong's mother, who is unaware of his whereabouts, worried sick and driving around the city looking for his son.

Mews narrates how his loneliness started when his grandmother died a number of years ago, and asks: "If we can love someone so much, how will we be able to handle it when we are separated?...Is it possible to love someone and never be afraid of losing them? Is it possible that we can live our entire life without loving anyone at all?"

Meanwhile, August band is assigned a new manager named June, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Tong's older sister. Tong, his mother Sunee, and Mew asks June to play the role of Tang in hopes of getting Tong's father out of depression and alcoholism.

Temporarily, the scheme works and a "homecoming party" for Tang was thrown. In the same party, Mew and his band plays a love song that Mew composed for Tong. As Mew sang, the chemistry between the two boys was palpable and June notices. After the party, sitting beside each other, Tong remarks how beautiful the song was. Mew replies,"Without you in my life, there would be no such song. Do you have anything to say after hearing it?" Tong puts an arm around Mew and kisses his friend. Unfortunately, Sunee accidentally sees the two boys and sulks at this new ordeal: a gay son.

Sunee confronts Mew the following day about his relationship with Tong. Mew insists that they are just friends, but Sunee asserts that whatever relationship the two have, they should stop immediately. Mew is devastated, and avoids Tong and playing with his band altogether.

After a no-show at a recording session, Mew receives a visit from a persuasive June and his band mates. Eventually Mew returns to become part of the band once more, June on the other hand is dismissed from her work as manager of the band.

Tong sorts out his feelings, and while decorating the Christmas tree he uses male and female ornaments to explain his feelings to his controlling mother. Finally Sunee gives her son her blessing to choose what he thinks is best for himself.

On the eve of Christmas, August band is to play at Siam Square. As Tong meets his girlfriend Donut, Mew's song plays on the video screen. Tong finally breaks up with Donut who haughtily walks away, then Tong runs toward the auditorium where the band is playing.

He joins Ying and waves to Mew. Ying glances at the beaming faces of the two boys and finally accepts that she won't have a place in Mew's heart- she quietly slips away. After the performance Tong congratulates Mew. His friend asks him the same question he asked the night they kissed:

"Do you have anything to say after listening to it?" Tong looks his friend in the eye and says: "I can't be with you as your boyfriend... but that doesn't mean I don't love you." He gives his friend a present- a missing piece of the wooden doll. The boys bid their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Sunee reads a letter from June wishing them well. Tong's family finally comes to terms and accept the fact that their beloved Tang will not return and that they must go on as a family. Back in Mew's room, he puts the last piece in place, on the present Tong once gave him as a child. Just like the toy that was missing a piece, Mew had an emptiness that he felt when he was lonely- but because of his best friend's love, he is whole once more.

The movie ends with Mew saying a tearful "Thank you." as he gazes at Tong's gift.
To all the loves that bring us to life.- The Love of Siam

Pêuan ... Goo rák Meung wâ

I just saw Bangkok Love Story on an impulse as I stumbled upon it in an online video site. It had no subtitles and I did not understand a word of what the Thai actors were saying, but I suppose the gestures and nuances were enough to tell the story.

Certainly a quality gay movie (as opposed to most of our “indie films” here, which usually is just an excuse to bare and fornicate on film so aspiring actors can get their 15 minutes of fame), reminiscent of Brokeback Mountain. The cinematography romanticized the otherwise dreary surroundings in urban Bangkok, and one particular scene was my favorite: This scene is now officially included in my all-time favorite love scenes, bumping From Here to Eternity’s famous romp on the beach.

It had all the elements of a Greek tragedy, although I think it may have gone overboard. I was hoping the movie would end with the scene where Chaiwat Tongsang visits Mhek in prison. It was bad enough he went blind, the following scenes were even more depressing- Mhok hanging himself, Mhek’s eventual release from prison, only to be shot. Enough! I don’t want to cry a river for this movie.

But like all past relationships I’ve had, I always return to the good times and not dwell on the tragedy. So, I moved the cursor and clicked on the scene where the assassin and his prey first made love with the world seemingly all to themselves.

Oh Diego..

Bored teenagers Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna) meets Luisa (Maribel Verdu) at a wedding. The boys try to impress the woman of their knowledge of a secret beach they know called Heaven’s Mouth. After a confession of infidelity from her lover Jano, a distraught Luisa calls Tenoch and bids to join their fictitious trip to Boca del Cielo.

The boys scramble with their preparations, and guided with a map and directions from their perpetually wasted friend Saba, they pick Luisa up. The journey is fraught with revelations and emotionally charged sexual encounters between Luisa and each boy. Yes, she does them both, so to speak.

Luisa calls Jano telling him where she had gone, while the boys themselves deal with their friendship issues. Apparently both of them slept with each other’s girlfriends- several times. At some point during the journey Luisa threatens to abandon the trip because of fights between Julio and Tenoch.

Seeing their prey walk away, the boys kiss and make up. Luisa makes them agree that from then on she’ll call the shots and there will be no more fighting between the two; she hops back in and the trip resumes again. A desperate Julio, worried that Luisa would soon find out that the secret beach was a hoax, swerves into a dirt road just as his friend had told him.

The car gets stuck in the sand, and the three spend the night. Luisa wakes up the next morning, and found that they were indeed at a beach. A family from a nearby island invites them on a tour around the islands for a fee, and the three agreed. In the distance, Luisa sees a white sand island with emerald waters, and asks the man what the name was. Lo and behold, it was indeed Boca del Cielo.

In her last phone call to Jano, Luisa breaks up with him. The three spend the night toasting over Tequila, all the screwed up things in their lives. This, of course, ends with a threesome, with a heated kiss between Julio and Tenoch. Boy, they really do know what the viewers want.

The morning after, the boys decide to go home, while Luisa stayed to explore the local coves. After the trip neither Julio nor Tenoch mentions to their families anything about the trip. They stop seeing each other.

Months pass, and one day they run into each other and decide to have coffee. After catching up on each other’s lives (Tenoch got accepted at the university to study Economics, while Julio plans to study Biology at the community college), Tenoch tells Julio about Luisa. She had died of cancer a month after their trip. The boys bid goodbye, and they never saw each other again after that.

The movie Y Tu Mama Tambien is about the beauty and recklessness of youth- the days of inexperience, experimenting, and excitement. Of course, I hope Tenoch and Julio grew up into men eventually, but the trip certainly captures that wild abandon that the young are prone too. Luisa, in a way, had helped turn them into men- at least sexually. She tells them to do it “slowly and with finesse” (this tip she gave, after episodes of pre-ejaculation from both boys). The last thing she said to them was: “Life is like the surf, so give yourself up like the sea.”

The one thing I learned in this movie is to do it slowly- real slow, and with finesse. (Wink,wink.)

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

I've searched the net for a video clip of my favorite character Maxie, but I could only find a copy of the movie poster. I realize now what made this film so unforgettable for me- I remember my own blossoming way back in high school, and mind you, our hunky neighbor who was my crush looked like JR Valentin (who plays the cop, Maxie's love interest).

So as Maxie steals a glace at JR, who puts on his briefs after his shower, I am reminded of the kilig feeling I had when I accidentally, passing by their house, see him in his room through the window wearing only white briefs. I was about first year or second year high school, and he was in college I believe. Haaay.

Maxie lives in the slums with his two brothers and his father (who are all petty criminals). With the absence of his mother, Maxie takes on the role of the female of the family, taking care of the men and doing the household chores. Victor, a handsome rookie cop, rescues Maxie like a knight in shining armor as he is teased by neighborhood bullies. The two soon became friends.

Trouble starts when one of Maxie's brothers accidentally kills a man during a hold-up incident that went ugly. Victor suspects one of Maxie's brothers as the killer and pressures Maxie to spill the beans. Maxie's brothers are fiercely protective of Maxie, and they decide to beat up Victor amidst Maxie's protests. Maxie goes to Victor's house and attend to him, mending his wounds. The next morning, the shower incident I mentioned earlier happens. Maxie prepares breakfast for Victor and then kisses him on the cheek (kilig!). I always laugh at the next scene, where Maxie does a cartwheel, seeing that look of being in love plastered on his sweet young face.

Maxie writes a love letter and confesses his feelings to Victor. Sadly, the letter is not well received and Victor dismisses it as nonsense. The hunt for his brother intensifies, and Maxie's loyalty is torn between his beloved family and Victor. In the climax of the movie, Maxie's father gets shot and dies, in an encounter with the cops (which included Victor), with Maxie looking on.

The final scene shows Maxie, preparing for school, while his older brothers do the chores he once did. He walks to school, and suddenly Victor cruises by in his jeep. He stops the vehicle, and steps out, with a look in his face like he wants to speak with Maxie and console him. But Maxie just walks on, without looking back.

Ah, the pain of lost love. Nathan Lopez is brilliant as the 12 year old Maxie, in this film about lost innocence.

Ishmael Bernal's Himala (1982)

Nora Aunor shines as Elsa, in one of the most important Filipino films of all time. Aunor's most remarkable quality is her ability to express a myriad of emotions through her eyes, without even saying a word. This quality is scarce, even more so at present, where new actors and actresses are born out of reality shows and thrust into the limelight by sheer looks alone.

Himala tells the story of religious fanaticism, faithlessness, and how people rediscover real faith.

Set in the desolate town of Cupang, where poverty-stricken residents await a miracle. Hope comes in the person of Elsa, who claims to have seen the Virgin Mary. With mysterious healing powers, she starts to cure the residents of their ailments. Her fame quickly spreads, and soon, an avalanche of tourists from all over the country visit the town to see Elsa. People quickly succumb to greed as they build businesses for the tourist's money. Trouble escalates as a cholera epidemic takes the lives of children, while Elsa herself experience loss in the death of her friend Chayong, who hung herself after she was raped. Because of the deaths, the tourists leave town.

In her final act, Elsa gathers the people in the desert-like dunes where she had her visions. Before the crowd she finally confesses, .."Walang himala!.. ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao.." A shot is heard, and Elsa falls to the floor, clutching her bloody chest. All hell breaks loose as a stampede ensues and many people perish.

With the loss of Elsa and the others, the people of Cupang finally pray and discover the true meaning of their faith.

Classic Booba

Dumb blonde took on new meaning as the buxom Booba exploded into the silver screen a number of years ago. I enjoyed this movie so much (so campy and outrageous!) I even bought a copy. Let us look back at the most hilarious elements and scenes of the movie:

The Cast
Ruffa Mae is in her element playing Booba. I love the way she talks! I get laughs even when she’s not delivering a punchline. Remember when she played VJ Bongita (impersonating Donita Rose) on Bubble Gang? Love it!

Aiai delas Alas is her cruel older sister who runs a syndicate. I couldn’t stop giggling when she says to Booba (who only wore panties and stars on her breasts) in the end, “Ang laswa mo talaga! Ang mga bituin, dapat sa langit, hindi sa suso!”

Gina Pareno as their red-blooded Lola. We soon learn where the girls got their endowments as Ms. Pareno reveals major cleavage throughout the entire movie.

Hilarious!

Booba walking away from the burning bahay kubo, where she thought Gina Pareno lay dead. Gina: “Booba, putang ina mo buhay pa ako!!!”

Booba replies: “Ganyan talaga ang buhay, parang gulong. Minsan nasusunog.”

Booba after taking a bath (with a lot of peeping toms looking on) says to the landlord: “Dapat takpan nyo yung mga butas sa CR, kasi baka magka-numonya ang mga boarders nyo.”

After a kidnapper gropes her breast: “Magkaka breast cancer ako sa inyo, e!”

They had a chinese antagonist named “Eng Bitin”

Booba rides Gary Estrada on the table, cries out “Mabuhay and bansang Pilipinas!!”, has an orgasm, them kisses Gary on the cheek. “Thank you ha.”

As Gary Estrada (Booba’s paramour) lies dying on a hospital bed, Booba revives him by giving him a blowjob! Funny!! There were more actually, but my copy was borrowed by my cousin (for about a year now) and hasn’t returned it. I want my Booba back!!