Diane Ventura's TheRapist - Living with the Other

After being accused of rape, Alex (Marco Morales) attends a psychotherapy session with a psychiatrist (Cherie Gil) who listens to her client’s impassioned defense. He recalls the incident that transpired. He met Shar, the alleged victim, at a frat party. But a few drinks later, Alex is in a bedroom with Shar. Things happened. 

 Alex insists it was consensual, and bemoans this double standard against men. The shrink concedes and says it is indeed “discriminatory and prejudiced”. Before long, Alex is assured by the doctor - “You’re not a bad person.”

She opens up saying that her profession actually contributes to the abuse because “probing into the psyche of another person is a (form of) violation.” The session ends. But as Alex walks out of the room, we realize that Alex was never in the room. Door closes, and we see a sign that reads: "Dr. Alex Laney."

"TheRapist", as titles go, is a clever word play descriptive of the theme. Director Diane Ventura's psychological drama indubitably justifies how a good story doesn’t require protracted screen time to tell a thought-provoking tale. Like her main feature "Mulat", she tackles urgent psychological issues; i.e. schizophrenia and psychological abuse. Both Gil and Morales shine in this provocative short, a fully realized cinematic achievement.

Marco Morales, Cherie Gil, and director Diane Ventura

Marco invites you to his boudoir.

Please read our post on Cinema Bravo and why we sometimes feel nginig about Web Criticism:
- http://makemeblush2.blogspot.com/2016/10/cinema-bravo-film-criticisms-execrable.html


#Therapist   #cheriegil   #marcomorales

Diane Ventura's "Mulat (Awaken)" - Eyes Wide Open

Despite her mother’s appeal, Samantha Manuel (Loren Burgos) will not be stopped from marching down the aisle with reluctant fiance Vincent (Ryan Eigenmann) who’s given an ultimatum to propose or risk losing her. When Vincent finally acquiesces, the struggling artist couldn’t contain her happiness. On their way to a prenuptial appointment, Sam is awakened by a disturbing dream that seemed so real. She realizes that hot-tempered Vincent is unfit as a husband, so she walks away. 

In the succeeding days after her breakup, jaded Sam meets charismatic and sensitive Jake Inigo (Jake Cuenca). Before long, the adorable couple start spending more time together. Whenever Jake asks about her past relationship, they end up arguing. But all is not well with Sam who develops recurring nightmares with visual and auditory hallucinations. Jake decides to take Sam to see a psychiatrist to address her concerns.

The story is told in two constantly shifting timelines: one that involves Vincent, the other Jake. Newcomer Burgos confidently plays the befuddled protagonist. But Cuenca runs away with his superior performance. He evokes empathy though almost nothing is revealed about his past.  

In mid-chapter, the script tends to dwell on rebarbative arguments that intermittently annoy. “What do you want from me?” asked Jake. A second later, you hear Sam ask the same. Most of these arguments are too petty to be life-changing for the characters. But just when you dismiss the whole caterwauling, a final twist will shake your consciousness.

One realizes that the mind has potentials that defy confinement or limitations. Reason, author Christopher John Murray argues, becomes the weaker concept when imagination takes over. Imagination is able to move beyond the limits of the natural, i.e. physical world. Murray adds, "The mind can make itself sensible of the sublimity of the sphere of its own being, even above nature."  This could explain how Sam tries to rectify a discordant situation in her life that somehow reaches over to Jake. It’s all inexplicably bizarre but if you open your mind, you can’t resist the possibilities. As psychological dramas go, Ventura’s “Mulat (Awaken)” is a gem that shouldn’t be missed.  

I want churros, implored Loren to annoyed Ryan.