- Cinemalaya 2018 officially opens on August 3 and runs until August 12, 2018.
- ML, which stands for Martial Law, is a Cinemalaya entry starring Eddie Garcia and Tony Labrusca, directed by Benedict Mique.
- This is Eddie Garcia’s third Cinemalaya film, and Tony Labrusca’s debut film, which will premiere on August 4.
MARTIAL LAW is coming back – at least, in a feature film in this year’s Cinemalaya titled ML, starring the iconic Eddie Garcia and the promising young artist Tony Labrusca.
The topic of Martial Law is even more relevant in a turbulent time like the one we are in, when some quarters fear a return to an authoritarian regime. For reasons that escape some, there are quarters who think that a return to military rule will do “good” for the country.
Discipline is the soul of an army, they would say. Still, the prevailing sentiment is that Martial Law brought havoc and sowed terror. And there is never justification for that.
That is why, ML, written and directed by Benedict Mique, is deemed very timely relevant in today’s milieu – a society replete with self-beatified ‘political analysts.’
Reading its short premise, we would easily be attached to the question it imposes: What if martial law came back – only in a more personal way?
In this movie, Tony plays the character of Carlo – a lad who wants to prove his history professor that Martial Law wasn’t all that bad, only demonized by politics. Confronted by his professor, Carlo sets out to look for a person who had lived through the martial law period to tell the tale first hand.
Finally, he meets Colonel, played by veteran actor Eddie Garcia, an old recluse living in a ramshackle house in Carlo’s neighborhood, suffering from slight dementia. Due to his advanced age and dementia, Colonel would think that it’s still the Martial Law era – which would put Carlo and his friends’ lives in danger.
What’s interesting about its premise is how it sounded both educational (historical, for that matter) and rather nail-biting, with its promise on suspense.
Apart from its story, the cast is also notable – a great contrast (primarily played by a veteran and a newbie actor) which really fulfilled the director’s faithfulness to his overall vision of screening two counterpointing worlds: the world of an unenlightened, politically detached Millennial and the world of a seasoned, politically immersed Traditionalist.
What Eddie Has To Say
According to Eddie Garcia, he believes that ML has an intriguing concept and it’s good to be shown to today’s generation.
“I think the film is very timely too, so it will be good if it will be seen by the youth of today. Magugustuhan nila ito, lalo na ang mga taong hindi pa buhay nu’ng panahon ng Martial Law. Para makita nila kung ano ang nangyari.”
When asked if the Philippines needs Martial Law, he said: “Well, kung ang mga tao ay wala ng disiplina, kailangan. Dapat, may latigo! Parang ‘yung role ko dito sa pelikulang ito, ako ang magdi-disiplina. Well, it’s just a role.
[Noong Martial Law times], kapag hindi ka makikialam, walang mangyayari sa ‘yo. Kapag nakialam ka, may mangyayari sa ‘yo.”
Tony Labrusca on working with a veteran
Anyone new would feel intimidated working with a veteran – and Tony admitted that he was very intimated at the start of the shooting of ML.
When asked about Eddie Garcia, he said: “He’s the man, he’s a legend. The fact that I was able to work with him, I’m such a new actor. It was such a humbling experience for me, and I have to admit, I was very intimidated.
“I stepped in there [on the set], not knowing what will happen, how our relationship be like, but it was really humbling and I learned a lot.
“This is an experience that I will always be able to tell people one day when I grow up, that ‘I did a movie with Eddie Garcia!’” says the proud newcomer.
To prepare for the role, he said he went through the script with Director Benedict Mique, evaluating each scene.
“I think my realization now is that, you just have to keep an open mind. Ako kasi, I’m not really a political person.
“But I think, after watching this movie, it’s just good to be very aware about your surroundings. I think, that’s the biggest thing. More than people taking sides, or to be aggressive or inactive, I think it’s just about knowing your surroundings, being more aware and just educating yourself,” Tony concluded.
