The award-winning independent film Ang Babae sa Septic Tank has been chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines as the country’s entry to the Foreign Language Film category of 84th Academy Awards.
The indie directed by Marlon Rivera and stars Eugene Domingo bagged five trophies during the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in July. It made history for being the highest-grossing independently-produced movie earning more than P30 million, a feat which some mainstream movies failed to achieve.
The multi-awarded indie has made a lot of audience laugh because of its genuine approach to making a day in the life of three filmmaker wannabes interestingly funny. It’s very Filipino in other words. But choosing Ang Babae sa Septic Tank as entry only reminds us of Dead na si Lolo, another comedy indie f ilm that FAP selected in 2009 to be the Philippines’ entry to the Oscars. One thing, it’s only in the Philippines that a comedy film wins Best Picture. And with that, our slim chance of winning the elusive Best Foreign Language Film in the Oscars just became much slimmer.
The Film Academy of the Philippines has never learned its lesson. Every year, it sends an indie to represent the country and no trophy has been brought home yet. It could be that they do not have much of a choice but obviously, the people behind the selection process should reevaluate their taste in filmmaking and storytelling.
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank bested six other films in consideration like the period film Rosario, the coming-of-age Senior Year, 2010 MMFF’s Indie Film of the Year Presa, the horror movie Dalaw, the horror comedy Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington and the inspirational film Ikaw ang Pag-ibig.
VERY WANG 