Kisapmata (The blink of an eye)

Kisapmata is a 1981 drama film directed by Mike de Leon, written by de Leon and Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., and based on Nick Joaquin's 1968 article entitled "The House on Zapote Street".

It was a breakthrough film as it was the first major treatment of incest in Philippine cinema. The movie was both a critical and box-office success, establishing De Leon as one of the great directors of the new generation. The movie garnered 10 major awards in FAMAS, was presented in Cannes in the Director's Fortnight, and was adjudged by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as one of the 10 Best Films of the 1980s. Information from wikipedia.

Main Cast

    Vic Silayan as Sgt. Diosdado Carandang
    Charo Santos as Milagros Carandang
    Jay Ilagan as Noel Manalansan
    Charito Solis as Adelina Carandang

The couple, Mila and Noel

Mila being sweetly confronted by her "Tatang"

Mila dreaming about signs.

Plot:
Milagros Carandang, shortened as Mila (Charo Santos) admits that she is pregnant and explains that the father is her boyfriend, Noel Manalansan (Jay Ilagan). Her father Sgt. Diosdado Carandang (Vic Silayan) however, agrees to let her marry her boyfriend. But everything gets suspicious after the wedding, where Mila's father still intends the couple to live at their home and the couple is put into situations that separates them.

Noel's Father (right) and Adelina, Mila's mother (left) with the inferiority look

The head of the Family, Tatang stating that beer is the key for being young

Story Analysis:
Kisapmata is a film that shows how men are dominant over women in the old days. Kisapmata shows issues of domestic violence, incest and the struggle to freedom.

The film shows a realistic form of obstacles in life which is primarily portrayed by the father of Mila - Diosdado Carandang, called Tatang (Vic Silayan). He shows that all people might be kind in the outside, but there are also hidden desires inside that lives inside of them. These desires however, if not controlled can result in evil intentions and eventually evil actions that can consume not only an individual, but others as well.

In the other hand, Tatang's daughter, Milagros Carandang - called Mila (Charo Santos), faces the struggle to be free of her Father's possessive and later destructive treatment to her by finding ways to be away from him, eventually finding out that love might be able to help her, that is why even though her Tatang dislikes it, she chose to get married to her fiance, Noel Manalansan (Jay Ilagan) which later shares her fear towards her father and eagerness to escape the tight grip of Tatang on their necks.

Adelina Carandang (Charito Solis), who is Mila's mother is a witness of Tatang's possesive and incest acts towards her daughter and have always experienced domestic violence from Tatang. This makes her fear Tatang as well and turn very submissive towards him. In the end, it is shown that she has still love left for Tatang, because she is secretly jealous of Mila because of her receiving more affectionate acts than her and somewhere inside her, she wants the family to stay together and maybe fear together? Despite all of these, she still chose to be with him believing that there is no future for her which is the opposite of Mila's struggle for freedom.

Each people can be like "Tatang". As much as we want to be kind, we still have carnal desires all over us. But we are still human, we have control of ourselves to differentiate right from wrong. If we let our desires control us, it will consume our humanity.

Rating:

-Sound:   

-Cinematography: 

 -Actors:

-Story:

 -Personal Interest:

 -Overall:

Sounds. Sound effects and Sound track are convincing. It effectively adds to the eerie mood of the film. Tatang's suspense theme song sunk into my brain.

Cinematography. Shots are symbolic. Lighting has also helped in establishing the impression of suspense.

The spirit of Christmas.

Selective lighting adds to Adelina's confession of hidden jealousy

One of the scenes where Noel crippled and wasn't able to control his feelings of despair. The scene where he looked so Gay despite being married. Lol JK

Actors. Impressive. Character of Mila moved me a lot. Tatang's intentions scared me. The grimace expression of Adelina is simple but always tackled my attention and wondered why is she like that. Noel was just so gay.

Noel is forming fear towards Tatang. He slowly turns down his head.

The phenomenal grimace face of Adelina

Story. Monotonous and Slow-paced. It all revolves on how miserable they are in their everyday life. Although it might seem to be necessary, it made the film slow and predictable. And I just spent the last 40 minutes in waiting for their bad ending.

The image of violence

Personal Interest. Not my type of film. I'm not really into dark films but I appreciate the artistic presentation.

Overall. I like it. Watch it and you'll know why it is a classic. Recommended for others to watch who likes more serious films with dark approaches.