Why I Got Engrossed by 'Pulupot' (Clingy)

'Pulupot's (or Clingy, which I think could have been translated to 'Entanglements' or even something like 'Gordian Knot') story runs very similar to other films that dealt about one familiar film character who actively seeks for passionate, truthful human love but always ends up with someone who’s not exactly who is sought out in the first place. Sounds complicated? Yes, and this is because the situation is inherently complicated. We learn from actually doing what we have in mind, and learn from the mistakes along the way – in the meantime some people we meet get hurt and thrown out in the process. But what makes Pulupot different from similarly-story-lined films has been its application of this familiar storyline in the intriguing world led by transsexuals, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people. I don’t remember seeing lesbians in this movie, which could have made this film unique as far as I can remember.

As its writer Lex Bonife shared us, this indie film’s shot in a total of 2 days (or if it went beyond that number of days, it would have not been made at all). As such, we admire the outcome, which looked clean and neat, well-edited, and just tight for all actors, sceneries, the basic design, tropical colors, and the whole love-seeks-love-story that all fall into just the right place. I just didn’t like seeing some members of the crowd who were looking straight into the camera and not in sync with the rest of the scenes --- they’re onlookers who happened to be around during the film shooting. But these are all forgive-able mishaps because there are more to be credited about the main offering of this film, which has dealt bravely on several characters we’ve met one time or another in our actual lives. In fact, we know better how the respective stories of the similar characters in real life have gone through different, at times surprising, directions. I remember knowing many bar strippers, homophobic gay people plus transgendered people (one of whose kind was deeply involved with my life for many years before) - some of the types have been my good friends being very real people as they are. The characters in this film, needless to say, are just so familiar, and I did have much glee watching how the characters unfolded details of their lives on film before my then-sleepy eyes (without me being actively involved, i.e., getting harassed with what I see in the process). And they’re warm, love-able and funny actually in their respective unique ways, which is a credit to the writer’s ability to develop their mini-lives on screen.

I could not really convince myself if the main character’s a real woman or a transgendered. Lex, the writer, said he didn’t get a definite response when he asked him / her about it. But [s]he has to be given credit for credible acting for someone who is a tyro (if I’m not mistaken). Also, I noticed how a number of faces in this film looked like the daughter of the late Helen Vela (Princess Punzalan). Is that the most stereotypical good-looking face we could bring into our minds when we think of the usual pretty woman from the Philippines? Also, I enjoyed watching more unusual, untypical faces (with great looking bodies) act in this film – they’re all awesome looking to say the least. There are just enough nudity that will tickle (and even help arouse your senses to some degree) that this film shares - it must be the version we saw that night. I don't think it's the same version shown in most public screenings. But other than the nudity, there are stronger reasons why 'Pulupot' is worth watching, which could be due its being light and easy to the eyes - catch any of its screenings to be hosted by other event organizers and film marketers in the international film circuit when you get the chance.