ProGay Philippines and Remedios AIDS Foundation present "Bath House,"
another pathblazing film by indie director Cris Pablo, one of the country's
first pioneers of commercially successful digital full features. After
having premiered last December 21 2004, the film goes on a regular run at the
Robinson Galleria Manila cinemas on January 19-25 2005 as it goes into
nationwide theater tour. On February 16-22 will be Metro East, Feb 23- March 1 in Novaliches, March 2- 08 Angeles, March 9-15 Imus Cavite and March 16-22 Lipa Batangas.
"Bath House" exposes the heartless scorn that society imposes upon gay
people. and how gay people have somehow absorbed negative images to become
even more cruel to their fellow gay men. In the end, the film comes out with
a moral about love and fidelity hidden in men who grow tired of club sex in
the dark.
Director Pablo chose to shoot his film in the former Sine Musika, an actual
bath house that was closed down after a police raid that traumatized its
member patrons last year. Scenes recreated the human rights violations
committed by the police and television reportage against men who have no
means of self-defense against a world that cannot understand them.
The movie BATH HOUSE hews closely to the signature autership of Pablo's
acclaimed "Duda/Doubt" which earned for him two Best Director nominations
for both the 2004 New York Asian American Film Festival and the Barcelona
International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
The broody tale follows unwanted young campus nerd Rico (Ray An Dulay)
through roller coaster tumbles of a dreary relationship with Cris (Jet
Alcantara). The ageing former heartthrob acts as his mentor in the lessons
of sexual awakening along the dark hallways of the bath house Klub Hombre.
TV soap director Andoy Ranay shines as the irrepressible bath house mother
Genesis.John Lapus and Rey Pumaloy also pitched in with their
characterizations as lost gay souls desperately seeking true love.
Along the way, a smorgasboard of gay male stereotypes who haunt the
cavernous steam rooms and clad only in towels and false illusions about
themselves recreate a bitchy monster in Rico, far removed from his humble
beginnings.
The film was made in true indie fashion by the production group Grupong
Sinehan on a shoestring budget and makeshift video and audio equipment.
Heroic dedication and volunteer spirits from gay and lesbian students came
together for this.
Bath House : Sanctuary of Fears