STA. NINA(The Review)

What I like in this movie?  It made me cry.  While I was seated on a bench in the theater lobby, I overheard two young ladies recommending this movie to a middle aged lady who was having difficulty deciding which movie to watch.  Well, it is understandable because for me this is the best of what Cinemalaya had offered as far as the line up of the films is concerned.  I had no regret on the choice I made for a film to watch, especially Sta.  Nina.

By now, Cinemalaya is a week over and awards would have been bestowed to the deserving winners.  This movie is my choice for best film, best actor, best actress, best supporting actress awards even if I was not able to watch all the films.  Hehehehehehe!  This movie put back my belief in Coco Martin and Alesandra da Rossi as competent actors.  I am a fan of these actors since the start of their career.

And what is the movie all about?  The opening scene of the movie introduces Pol(Coco) as a laborer in a lahar covered area in Pampanga.  Their tractor accidentally exhumed a coffin that was swayed by the flood during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.  And the corpse inside the coffin happened to be the two year old daughter of Pol named Marikit, that has not decomposed even after ten years.

Thinking that the incident was a miracle, Pol brought the coffin to his home.   The news spread to the whole town and people flocked to Pol's house to offer prayers and expect miracle from the dead girl.  But there are those who are skeptics especially those who knew how Marikit was conceived.

Yes, Marikit was conceived through an incestous relationship.  Pol and Madel(Alesandra) were cousins.  Their relationship scandalized the whole town.  Marikit got sick and died.   Pol and Madel's relationship fell apart.  Madel got a family of her own while Pol remained unattached.

Upon knowing that Marikit remain lie at Paul's residence, Madel asked Pol to bury their daughter immediately.  Pol was unsure about burying his daughter especially when people who flocked to their house and pay homage to Marikit got healed and miracle took place in honor of Marikit.  This encouraged Pol to push for the sainthood of his daughter.  He had the backing of many people including the governor and his wife.  But the church refused to grant Pol's request.

Burdened by the guilt of his incestuous relationship and thinking that his difficult life was brought about by his past mistakes, Pol, did what he thought would end his guilt, he carried and cross and had himself crucified on it.  Madel, who followed the crucifixion accidentally dropped the coffin she was carrying.  The glass broke and the corpse suddenly decomposed.

The following scene shows Madel and Pol in the grave of Marikit.  Madel made Pol realized that he has to forgive himself.  And that perhaps what Pol was not able to do.

That I think is the message of the movie.  The challenge of forgiveness and the miracle it brings once it is given.  One of the greatest miracle is the miracle of forgiveness.  It is in this moment that I couldn't help but cry.  I identified myself so much with Pol and felt his burden of trying to earn others' forgiveness.

I hope that the movie will have a regular theatrical run so that more people can see and touched by it.