| Fuccbois | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Eduardo Roy Jr. |
| Starring | |
Release date |
|
Fuccbois, also referred to as F#*@bois, [1] is a 2019 LGBT film directed by Eduardo Roy Jr. It was Roy's last film prior to his death in 2022. [2] Following Ace and Miko, two aspiring actors who also compete in swimsuit competitions, the film stars Kokoy de Santos, Royce Cabrera, and Ricky Davao. The film was played at the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. [3]
Ace Policarpio and Miko Ramos are Instagram celebrities who want to become actors. They both work as models for gay bars, entering the bars' bikini pageants. In the film's second half, an unknown man who goes under the pseudonym "Brithanygaile" invites the two to a private resort in a secluded island, threatening to leak a sex video of them onto the internet if they do not comply. Afraid that their reputation will be permanently tarnished if the video spreads, Ace and Miko come to the resort to meet Brithanygaile—who turns out to be the powerful mayor of a local town—with plans to delete the video from his phone. At the resort, the three partake in recreational drugs and have sex.
Critics found the power dynamics between the mayor and the two boys fascinating, and some of them thought that the film became more interesting upon the introduction of Brithanygaile. Fred Hawson (ABS-CBN) and Fidel Antonio Medel (Philippine Entertainment Portal) appreciated how the second half of the film ventured into suspenseful thriller. [4] [5] According to Oggs Cruz ( Rappler ) and Vianca Catibog ( Philippine Daily Inquirer ), the power struggles were one of the most compelling elements of the film, if not the most. [1] [6] Catibog further praised Fuccbois for its exploration of the male pageantry scene in the Philippines, as well as how youths' pursuit of online fame and societal acceptance can force them into dangerous and life-threatening situations orchestrated by abusive people in positions of authority. [1]
Cruz and Medel said that the power dynamics in question were more nuanced than expected in that both sides of the relationship hold some degree of power over the other. Medel posed the question of who held the greater amount of power: "Is it the mayor who, in his own words, is Ace's lap dog? Or is it Ace and Miko who can seemingly get away with anything just because they are hot? Everyone is culpable to a certain degree. And that's when things get really murky." [5] Meanwhile, Cruz cited how the film takes place during election time, which entails that the mayor's position of authority could be compromised if Ace and Miko speak up about their troubles. [6]
Catibog and Hawson also directed praise towards the performances. Catibog called Davao "the very soul of this film" and said that he portrayed the mayor's "unpredictable mind" well; [1] Hawson thought that Davao was successful in delivering a "crazy, unhinged, scary, over-the-top" personality and said that "that lecherous smile on his face sent all sorts of sick disgusting shivers going up and down my spine." Hawson also wrote that Cabrera and de Santos's performances were good for their first lead roles—in his view, despite the flawed nature of Ace and Miko, the two actors successfully captured the right amount of vulnerability to make audiences empathize with the characters' motivations and hope for them to succeed in preventing the video from ever being posted. [4]
In a review of another 2019 Cinemalaya film, Edward, ANCX critic Andrew Paredes wrote that Fuccbois was a film that "wallowed in the hopelessness of their characters' plights so effectively that they trod that delicate line between portraying reality and reinforcing it". [7] Meanwhile, Cruz thought Fuccbois deviated from Roy's other works in that instead of focusing on marginalized sectors of the population who have everything to lose, the film revolves around well-off people who can afford things like designer clothes. He called Ace and Miko "fame whores", always obsessed with getting attention "even if it is for the most banal of reasons", though he liked Roy's "scathing and empowering" portrayal of them as capable of toppling abusive figures of authority just like any other layperson. [6]
When the film was shown at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in 2019, Fuccbois garnered multiple awards. Eduardo Roy Jr. was given the award for Best Director, [8] his second such win at that film festival; the other was for Pamilya Ordinario. [2] Davao won Best Supporting Actor. It was his first Cinemalaya award, and he described the win as "priceless". [9] He also won another award of the same name at the 2020 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards. [10]
Frederick Charles Caballes Davao, professionally known as Ricky Davao, is a Filipino actor, television director and industrial management engineer. He is the ex-husband of actress Jackie Lou Blanco. He is the younger brother of Bing Davao and the son of Charlie Davao.
Sana Dati is a 2013 Philippine romantic drama film written, directed, edited, and scored by Jerrold Tarog. The film stars Lovi Poe and Paulo Avelino. It is the final installment to Tarog's Camera trilogy which include Confessional (2007) and The Blood Trail (2009).
The 12th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was held from August 5–14, 2016 in Metro Manila, Philippines. This marks the return of full-length films after their absence in last year's edition. A total of nine full-length features and ten short films competed. The festival was opened by Carlo Obispo's 1-2-3 and was closed by Gil Portes' Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli. At the awards night, both Pamilya Ordinaryo and Tuos dominated, with each receiving five awards. Pamilya Ordinaryo won Best Film.
Respeto (Respect) is a 2017 Philippine drama independent film starring Filipino hip hop artist Abra, and directed by Alberto "Treb" Monteras II. It was co-written by Monteras and screenwriter Njel de Mesa, who drew inspiration from the works of veteran poets such as Vim Nadera and National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Virgilio Almario.
Kiko Boksingero is a 2017 Philippine independent film starring Noel Comia Jr., and directed by Thop Nazareno. It won the awards for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress ,and Best Original Music Score at the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival.
All of You is a 2017 Philippine romantic comedy film directed by Dan Villegas and starring Jennylyn Mercado and Derek Ramsay. It is produced and released by Quantum Films, MJM Productions and serves as an official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Ang Larawan, internationally released as The Portrait, is a 2017 Philippine musical film directed by Loy Arcenas.
Liway is a 2018 Filipino independent film about the experiences of Dakip, a young boy growing up in a prison as the son of anti-Marcos dissident Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, better known as Commander Liway and referred to in the film by the vernacular endearment "Day", during the waning days of the Marcos dictatorship. The film was written and directed by Kip Oebanda based on true events, with Glaiza de Castro playing the film's major lead.
Unless the Water is Safer than the Land, whose Filipino language title, Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma actually literally means "A Child Who Sprung out of Forest of War", is a 2018 Philippine independent film directed by Iar Lionel Arondaing.
John Denver Trending is a 2019 Filipino independent drama film directed and written by Arden Rod Condez, and starring Jansen Magpusao and Meryll Soriano. This budget-limited film was entirely shot in the Municipality of Pandan, in Antique, Philippines. John Denver Trending won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Screenplay in Filipino. The movie also competed at the 24th Busan International Film Festival alongside other films from Kyrgyzstan, China, Iran, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan, and is part of the BIFF's New Currents section held from October 3 to 12 October 2019 at the Busan Cinema Center.
The 15thCinemalaya Independent Film Festival was held from August 2–13, 2019 in Metro Manila, Philippines. A total of ten full-length features and ten short films competed. The festival was opened by the film Ang Hupa by Lav Diaz and its closing film was Mina-Anud by Kerwin Go.
Lola Igna is a 2019 Philippine Dramedy film directed and written by Eduardo Roy Jr., and starring veteran actress Angie Ferro, and Yves Flores. It had a theatrical release in the Philippines on September 12, 2019, as one of the entries of the 2019 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Francis Joseph "Oggs" Cruz is a Filipino lawyer and film critic best known for his reviews of Philippine New Wave films in prominent publications including the Philippine Star, the Philippines Free Press and Rappler.
Elijah Luiz Madiclum Canlas is a Filipino actor and commercial model. He began his professional acting career in the 2014 independent film Sundalong Kanin, an official entry to Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. He then rose to prominence for his award-winning performance in Kalel, 15 where he received Best Actor awards at 43rd Gawad Urian Awards, 68th FAMAS Awards, 17th Asian Film Festival in Rome, Italy, and 16th Harlem International Film Festival in Harlem, New York.
Suarez: The Healing Priest is a 2020 Philippine biographical film directed by Joven Tan. The film depicts the life of Filipino priest and faith healer Fernando Suarez. It is one of the official entries for the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Maxine Eve Pimentel Eigenmann, also known as Max Eigenmann, is a Filipino actress and singer.
Darryl Yap is a Filipino film director, screenwriter and producer.
Pamilya Ordinaryo is a 2016 Philippine drama directed and written by Eduardo W. Roy Jr., and starring Ronwaldo Martin, Hasmine Kilip and Maria Isabel Lopez.