After the sweeping victory of the newly-elected President and his assumption of power, he has been criticized not just by local organizations even the international groups that advocates human rights as well as news agencies for his war on drugs as extra-judicial killings (EJK); and this is the premise of the film titled—‘Kabisera’ in which the one and only Superstar—Nora Aunor is the lead star as Mercy De Dios.
Also inspired from true accounts, the film is a socio-political drama that centers on a family placed in danger when they were suspected to be involved in a violent crime.
Newton’s ‘Third Law of Motion’ applies in this Film?
Do you remember this line—‘for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction’?
Oh yes, there was also a passage in scriptures (Matthew 5: 38) that says: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” However, when someone is suspected to be involved in a crime, will he not be subjected to any investigation rather be haplessly gunned down?
To some it would be easy to say that the man deserves to suffer or even die. Even me, I have to admit that I would agree and would resort to retaliation in the height of my anger. But does that distinctly separate me from any brutal animal? Definitely NO!
And if you find yourself in a similar situation that Mercy went through along with her other four children as they witnessed the murder of the head of their family portrayed by Ricky Davao, would you not cry ‘foul’, too?
That’s actually EJK.
The ‘Seat of Power’ is vacated, what happens next?
As a wife, and as a mother, in family dining tables, normally she sits next to the Chair or the one sitting on the Power Position (Kabisera). Such arrangement is very similar to business table setup.
As someone who sits beside the head of the family, it is but appropriate that when the seat of power is vacated—Mercy could take over.
And she did, one day. No matter how she struggled with it.
Despite the ladylike bearing and submissive traits of Aunor’s character, she was effective in reflecting what she needed to do as the widow of her murdered husband. But mind you, nothing much of a new stuff from La Aunor here.
Aunor as Mercy showed courage not just as a woman, but as a wife and as a mother to four sons and a daughter. And she simply managed to earn that authority by fighting for their endangered lives; seeking justice for her family.
She became a ‘challenger’ to a rotten system.
Another Must-See Film in MMFF 2016.
It is not because Nora Aunor is the star of this film, which makes this a must-see, but it is rather a timely issue that Filipinos as a nation must be able to stand up against EJK.
A crime is not corrected by committing another crime. There should be a due process. Though the story have been inspired from a bank massacre eight years ago, probably—still citizens must be vigilant in not duplicating as such.
The screenplay is written in a way that the audience can identify with the family as victims. I think that is enough to evoke the emotions needed for the dramatic scenes.
This Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido-helmed movie also assembles a stellar cast of actors like Jason Abalos, JC De Vera, Victor Neri, RJ Agustin, Ronwaldo Martin and more.
‘Kabisera’ is one of the eight official entries in the current Metro Manila Film Festival 2016.
