PISAY (PHILIPPINE SCIENCE)
Philippines, 2007, 118 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Auraeus Soleto.
Pisay (Philippine Science) is an interesting film from the Philippines directed by Aureus Solito who made the award-winning The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (2005).
This film is more social and political, focusing on both the wealthy and the poor, students who go to an elite science school (some of them after winning quizzes on television). The setting is the 1980s in the years before the uprising against Ferdinand Marcos.
Various points of view on education are presented, the strict and demanding kind, the emphasis on a more humane and rounded education. Family backgrounds are included, political and diplomatic families, poor families, ordinary families.
The film highlights different characters, tells their stories, interweaves their stories to make an interesting portrait of young people who, when the film was made, were actually in their twenties to thirties and contributing to the life of post-Marcos Philippines.
1.For a Philippine audience? Worldwide audience? Philippine themes, history, politics, wealth and poverty, education, science, the arts, dreams, leadership?
2.The film as a morale-boosting film for potential students?
3.The tele-novella style: characters, situations, emotions? Expectations of the audience?
4.The Philippines in the 80s: homes, backgrounds, school, classes, learning? The aftermath of martial law? Unrest, student unrest, the education authorities, President Marcos and Imelda Marcos, freedom?
5.The structure of the film: the four years at school, the focus on particular students, their interactions, development, crises, their interactions with the teachers, change?
6.The teachers, the principal, her concern about students, the physics teacher and her dominant personality, her judgments on people, her letting people go? The contrast with the younger teachers? Aspects of authority? The teacher of the arts, his helping? The issue of student unrest, demonstrations, the dramatic performance?
7.The opening, the quiz, Philippine television, the MC, the questions, the top students, answers?
8.The students themselves: the central boy, his father in Saudi Arabia, his mother at home, poverty, the scholarship, his reputation, the questions in class? The friendship with Wena, the bonds, her friends, her aristocratic background, her father with the authorities? Their being together, the dance, the warnings about her studies, her breaking the relationship? The tensions in the after-years?
9.Andy, his work, with the girl from the revolutionary family, their clashes, work in the laboratory, the bonds, his being in the cadets? The role of the cadets and the drill? She and her family, the father overseas, unrest, the decision to leave? Her work on the paper, collaboration with Wena?
10.The young genius and his friend, their work, comic style, the bonds, sharing, the friend’s illness?
11.The boy and his illness, shaved head, in bed, his grandmother and her support?
12.The artist, his group, performance, artwork, the support of the teacher, his own life, teaching biology, opportunities?
13.The performance, everybody participating, the teacher? The revolutionary theme and its effect? The demonstrations by the students and the response of the staff? Mirroring political unrest in the country?
14.The revolution, the change of perspective? The teachers and their continuing their work? The students – and the fight against segregation of the cleverest students from the others?
15.The autobiographical film on the part of the writer-director, his memories, the tribute to his fellow students? The perspective of middle age and life in the Philippines in the 21st century?
