AWARD-WINNING. Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino star in the critically-acclaimed Yapan film, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa. Screenshot taken from actual film.
2011 CINEMALAYA entry Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa was shortlisted by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) as the country’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category in the 85th Academy Awards in 2013.
The film, which explores sexuality, poetry and dance, was directed by Filipino Department Chair Alvin Yapan, PhD and was produced by Ateneo alumnus Alemberg Ang.
“I am very flattered and honored because it involves a lot of luck to get into the shortlist,” Yapan said.
The production had previously bagged several awards, including a sweep in the recently concluded Gawad Urian.
In the said awards, the film won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Yapan, Best Cinematography for Arvin Viola and Best Music for Christine Muyco and Jema Pamintuan. It also won acting accolades for Paulo Avelino, awarded Best Actor, and Jean Garcia, awarded Best Supporting Actress.
Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa was reviewed by the eight-man committee from the FAP.
On September 14, however, the FAP selection committee had announced Cinemalaya 2012 film Bwakaw as the country’s official entry for the 85th Academy Awards.
A mirror of culture
“Our film showcases the literature of the Philippines, [specifically] the creative arts,” said Yapan. “There’s literature, painting, architecture, sculpture, dance and music all joined together in one film.”
Yapan believes that “it’s an unusual feat for a third-world film to do that because third-world films usually focus on the condition of poverty and societal issues in the country.”
He further explained that although the film touched on such issues, the movie tackled them in “a very different and literary manner.”
“The rise of independent cinemas [is] really booming here recently,” said Loyola Film Circle President Will Fernandez. “I think Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa is a perfect example of what the independent movement in the Philippines is.”
For him, Philippine cinema is not caged in a specific culture, and it is through that diversity that Filipinos find their identity.
“That’s what’s good about independent cinema. It tries to achieve a certain taste for the Filipino audience to appreciate, and part and parcel of it is the Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa,” Fernandez said.
He lauded the screenplay and direction of the film and had hoped that it would be the country’s official entry for the Oscars.
Unexpected reviews
Variety’s Richard Kuipers viewed the film when it was showcased at the Halekulani’s 2011 Hawaii International Film Festival.
Called by Philippine Star contributing writer Ricky Lo as “the bible of Hollywood,” Variety identifies itself as the premier source of entertainment news and publishes various film, television and Broadway show reviews on its website.
The online review by Kuipers reads: “Dance, poetry and desire commingle in ‘The Dance of Two Left Feet,’ an elegantly assembled drama about an unconventional love triangle that springs from a college student’s infatuation with his much older teacher… Well-produced on a modest budget.”
Yapan takes pride in this critique. “Among the [eleven] films, we are the only one reviewed by Variety favorably,” he said.
However, Communication Department Associate Professor Fr. Nicasio Cruz, SJ was not as hopeful on the chances of the film. “I don’t think the foreign audience will understand it because the poetry behind is too local; it’s not universal,” he said.
Qualification and nomination
The selection committee included committee chair and National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, FAP Deputy Director-General Robert Arevalo, Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. Secretary Jose Carreon, Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association President William Mayo, Production Designers Guild of the Philippines President Manny Morfe, United Film Editors’ Guild of the Philippines President Jess Navarro, director Elwood Perez and director Gina Alajar.
The FAP on its website said that to qualify for nomination in the Oscars, the Philippine entry for the category must have been commercially shown in cinemas for at least seven consecutive days during the period from October 2011 to September 2012. A Filipino must be in two of the three capacities as film producer, director or scriptwriter.
The other films in contention for nomination included 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Picture Manila Kingpin: Asiong Salonga Story directed by Tikoy Aguiluz and Gary dela Cruz, 2011 MMFF entry Segunda Mano by Joyce Bernal, A Mother’s Story by John-D Lazatin, The Witness by Muhammad Yusuf and Busong directed by Aureus Solito.
The rest were Mga Mumunting Lihim directed by Jose Javier Reyes, Graceland by Ron Morales, Migrante by Joel Lamangan and Captive directed by 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza.
