A family’s matriarch is often the one to hold everyone together; hardships and turmoil have surpassed them to make them stronger and protect the younger generations. A death in the family hits particularly hard, and this is what prolific director Brilliante Mendoza (Slingshot, Foster Child) touches on as the matriarch is thrown into disarray once more.

With an opening scene as bleak as they come, we find Lola Sepa (Anita Linda) and young Jay-Jay (Bobby Jerome Go) lighting a candle at the spot where Arnold was stabbed. Through monsoonal rain it’s the first glimpse of poverty-stricken Manila, which doesn’t relent as the story continues. As Lola Sepa meets Lola Puring, grandmother of the accused (Rustica Carpio), we discover the matriarchs share much in common. While Sepa as the victim tries to pawn things off for Arnold’s funeral costs, Puring as the accused does the same to protect her grandson from a lengthy jail sentence (believing his innocence). In both families we see poor living standards, personal issues and corruption; Sepa worries about accused Mateo (Ketchup Eusebio) getting away with her grandson’s murder while Puring cheats customers of their change as an illegal vegetable vendor. It’s all a bit shady but it’s how they must live to survive.

Mendoza works well with DOP Odyssey Flores to give us striking pictures; handheld camera use is rarely a distraction as we get up-close and personal with the matriarchs. It’s just as much a story about the senior generation as it is about Filipino society; living day-to-day with so little that they must grasp everything that means something to them. While Lola slows down as we get closer to finding out Sepa’s decision (on whether to press charges), it remains intriguing throughout with long takes and an emotive performance from Linda as Sepa. Mendoza delivers a dramatic package.

Verdict
An interesting look at Filipino society through the eyes of its senior citizens.

Lola screens as part of the 2011 Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival.

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