THE MAGUINDANAO massacre, which left several civilians and journalists dead, should be retold continuously to younger generations to prevent similar events from happening again, a film producer said.
During a film talkback on Thursday, Sept. 16, GMA Public Affairs producer Nessa Valdellon said the team created an animated film to reach younger audiences who were not yet born when the incident happened.
“As one of the producers… We really wanted to share this because the Gen Z, the Gen Alpha, they didn’t know what happened. They were too young,” Valdellon said.
“We have to start to remember, because if we don’t, then we’re going to keep making the same mistakes over and over again,” she added.
The animated film titled “58th” narrated the quest for justice in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009.
Directed by Carl Joseph Papa, the film centered on Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, a photojournalist whose body was never recovered from the mass grave. He was the 58th victim.
The narrative was told from the perspective of Momay’s daughter, Reynafe Castillo, portrayed by Glaiza de Castro. Veteran actor Ricky Davao played Momay in his final role before his death in May last year.
The film blended rotoscope animation and archival footage. Actual court transcripts were compiled by the team. It secured a limited commercial release after receiving an R-16 rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) due to material depicting the massacre.
“It’s a topic that could get very bloody and gory if you don’t find creative ways to tell it. But this animation, this is all based on transcripts,” Valdellon said.
The film viewing was held at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas in Mandaluyong. F— M.G.
