The first thing that catches the viewer's attention is seeing a boy in a school uniform shaving his head with a cut that is too deep, almost releasing blood, while crying inconsolably. This is what Juan Pablo Pineda III, the director and screenwriter of the LGBT+-themed romantic short film 'Coming Out' (Pua Iyam, for its title in Tagalog), wanted to convey, since it is the true essence of the film.
Ken, a Chinese-Filipino teenager, has known his true identity for a long time, but has not dared to reveal it out of fear. However, reading a book titled "Pua Iyam" gives him the courage to confess his love to Miko, his best friend since childhood.
Going back to my opening words and the first scene of the film, Ken cries and shaves his head because he has been rejected. And Miko, although she also loves Ken, knows that her family and society will not understand them and "I am not prepared to admit what I am", referring, of course, to his homosexual condition.
If I say this it is not to issue spoilers, but to express in words what the short film subtly lets us see: the fear that the two boys suffer of discrimination and rejection by society due to their sexual orientation, which is why They feel insecure about their identity and avoid revealing it to others and to themselves. They prefer to suffer and make the person they love suffer before recognizing and loving themselves.
The objective of the short is to make a complaint against homophobia, that is, the aversion towards homosexuality or against homosexual people, and its eternal companion, internalized homophobia.
In the final scene, while Ken and Miko are playing after reconciling as friends, they both stare at the camera. Could this be a sign of hope? Will Philippine society ever come to respect all its members equally, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation?
Starring Rowi Du as Ken (who also produces, edits and sounds) and Raphael Cruz as Miko, the film had its world premiere at the Far Eastern University (FEU) SinePiyu Film Festival - Manila, in which it won the Awards for Best Film, Best Performance for Du, Best Direction and Best Poster in the Black Reel category.
The film follows his journey through different Philippine film events, such as the 7th. CineSB: Indie Un-Film Festival of the University De LaSalle College of Saint Benilde, in Manila, and the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and wins in the categories Best Direction for Pineda and the Gold Award for Best Film for the team of production by IndieGo Pictures, and the Awards for Best Production Design and Technical Excellence in the Sibol Category of CineSB 7: The Main Installation of DLS-CSB.
The film takes home the award for Best Cinematography and another special mention from UP Cinema's Piling Obrang Vidyo jury's decision, and obtained the Cardenal Bronze Film Award, Best Editing and Best Photography in the intercollegiate category of CineMapúa 2018.
The film is also selected as part of the 2017 CineMakulay Film Festival, the 29th Gawad CCP for Alternative Film and Video of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It is also exhibited as part of Eksena 2017 organized by Dalubhasaan ng mga Umuusbong na Mag-aaral ng Araling Pilipino (DANUM) DLSU.
After winning the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 9th Largabista Film Festival in Tacloban City, Leyte, and a special mention for gender sensitivity at the First Palawan International Film Festival, the short film 'Pua Iyam' continues its journey beyond the Philippine borders and reaches the United States and China.
On North American soil, 'Pua Iyam' is screening as part of the "Queer Stories" section of Diwa Filipino Film Showcase, the film festival held in cooperation with the annual Pagdiriwang Filipino Festival, celebrating the Filipino spirit wherever it resides by sharing Filipino and Filipino-American stories with the community of Seattle, United States.
And then it competes for international recognition at the PRIDE Film Festival in Shanghai, China, and the Beijing Queer Filmfest, in the capital of the Asian giant.
If I list so many awards and achievements it is not to waste words, but to highlight how this small work, carried out by a Communication student from the Far Eastern University (FEU), in Manila, has immense power to make audiences reflect on the need to advance against heteropatriarchal discourse.