PAN DE SALAWAL

Philippines, 2018, 95 minutes, Colour.
Bodjie Pascua, Miel Espinoza, Madeleine Nicolas, Soliman Cruz, Ruby Ruiz, Anna Luna, Felix Roco, JM Salvado.
Directed by Chesica Espiritu.

This film could be seen as something of a pleasing version of stories like Our Town.

While the film begins with realism, details of life in the town, an introduction to a range of characters, especially an ill old man, an older woman, living in her imagined past, the newspaper seller, the man who owns the meat shop, also ill, and his son who is attracted to the young woman selling in the opposite stall, the film is engaging in its presentation of its strange characters – who, it should be said, are, after all, normal enough.

But, at the centre of the action is a mysterious little girl. No one knows where she came from, who her parents are. She seems a pleasant young vagrant. However, she possesses an extraordinary power, a power of healing. The comic touch of the film is that her touch is not gentle – rather, she prods and pokes and punches so that the person suffering gets some relief.

She stays with the old man although she does not quite cure him. The little girl acting the part, Miel Espinoza, is quite credible and has a keynote word, striking for the characters as well as for the audience, ending her activities with a cheerful “Bye�.

So, the film moves from some kind of realism to Magic Realism, many humorous moments, a great number of moments of pathos, a story that, in fact, is full of hope.

1. The Filipino title? English title? Tone, whimsy, expectations?

2. The locations, the edge of the area of Manila? The bakery, the meat seller, the shops and homes, the barber, the backyard? The man delivering the news? The musical score?

3. Sal, his introduction, his age and illness, on the train line, his pain, wanting to die, then the film chronology going back a week?

4. The sense of realism? The sense of fantasy? Delightful impossibility in real life? The material for an animation film?

5. Sal and his encounter with Aguy, her age, little, her manner, clothes, saying she was from here, there and everywhere, the haversack, wandering, sleeping on the floor, no relations, her personality – and are always calling out “Bye!�?

6. Her healing power, touch, but inflicting pain, the power of healing? Soothing the barber with his hands? Bruno and the tumour in his breast? His son with the foot injury? The young girl and her mother after the stroke? Pilar and her sore throat? The driver and the news and his nose? The different kind of inflicting pain for healing?

7. The character of the barber, no clients, the photos, his shaking hands, healing, trying to persuade Sal to have a haircut and cutting him? And is restored and giving him the proper haircut, the photo?

8. Bruno, selling meat, his sons, his wife’s death from cancer, his unwillingness to go to the doctor, diagnosis, the tumour in his breast? His surliness towards the girls flocking to his son’s store? The son, self-conscious of his foot, looking across the way to the young girl, her being attracted, with her mother, her mother former dancer, the younger brother, chubby, eating, delivering the meal? Aguy and her touching each of the characters and healing them?

9. The man delivering news, his nose, and her touching it?

10. Pilar in her backyard, the crown, her slip, the laundry, her cough, Aguy choking her, recovery? Aguy taking her underwear and wearing it as a hat?

11. With Sal, asking him to bake the bread, not having any salt, her going to buy the salt and coming back with it? The outings, the kite and the underwear? Sal in his recovery, happiness, inviting her to stay? Her having to leave, her enjoying the bread? His wanting her to come back and stay? His continued illness? The week passing, going to the train, the train missing him, the apparition of Aguy, her healing, his happiness, her disappearance?

12. The salt-fall and its covering the town?

13. The recoveries, the circle of life and dancing in the street, joy?

14. Sal, his continued pain, the apparition and his recovery? His future?

15. Love, hope, the people prospering, loving – and delightful impossibilities?