Ordinary People (2016) User Reviews

A Very Depressing Watch

[horitaj · 8/10 · 24 October 2016]

(The first half of this review will not contain spoilers but the second half will)

"Pamilya Ordinaryo" is a 2016 Oriental film about these two teenagers, Jane (16) and Aries (17) who are married or at least say they are, live on the streets, and have a less than thirty day year old baby named Arjan. One day after a transvestite named Erna intentionally pressures Jane into making a loan for a couple of packages of diapers, the transvestite snatches Baby Arjan from her when she's not looking, and so begins the two couples tragic journey to find their baby boy.

I saw this film at the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival this year, and I must say that it was a very powerful and heartbreaking film to watch. The two performances by Ronwaldo Martin and Hasmine Kilip were excellent, these two young actors gave very compelling and emotional performances, and were quite possibly the best part of this film. The film is directed by Eduardo W. Roy Jr., who also wrote the film as well. Roy Jr. has a very compelling way of making two very unlikable characters so pitiful and hopeless to the point that we the audience actual care for these kids.

The film definitely takes you into the street life and makes you aware of your surroundings knowing that you truly can't trust anyone. The cinematography consisted of very long takes, which I love because you get to see not only the talent of the cinematographer, but the talents of the actors whose acting is captured in this one continuous, un-cut scene. The story of the film is just so depressing to watch, I felt like garbage after this film ended. This film is as up to par on the Depression Meter with "Requiem for a Dream" (2000) and "12 Years a Slave" (2013).

A couple of flaws I had with the film was the pacing; this is a very slow paced film. Even though the film was only about an hour and forty minutes long I couldn't help but feel that the film was at least two and a half hours long. The film has a lot of long drawn out scenes that are none the less gorgeous to watch, but I felt they lingered on a little too long. The film also uses video security footage as well which works for some parts and scenes in the film but for others it was just style over substance. And at times I felt the film was a little too depressing, I'll explain in the spoilers below.

Overall "Pamilya Ordinaryo" is a very well crafted and depressing film to watch and all of the performances is what truly carries the film to success. The film makes me grateful for the life I have knowing that others out in the world truly have it harder than me and many of you out there as well.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Now let's get down to the meat of this. Despite me liking this film it was just so depressing to watch. Whenever these kids think they'll get help they either get no help at all or are just used as tools for people. For example the character of Jane goes down to the police station to file a report that her baby was stolen. The police captain notices she's very young to have a child for her age so decides to harass her in a sexual manner. He asks her "when was your first f***?", "Show me how you breastfeed your baby." and just many other disturbing questions and requests. That was by far the most uncomfortable scene in the film. The two go to a radio station to publicly announce their loss to see if anyone can help them but are just cast to the side. A news channel conducts an interview with the two young couple and take their story and made it into entertainment by transforming their story into a corny bio-pic. The list goes on and on.

The other thing is that the film made me feel gross. I mean the thought of two teenagers who have a baby, live on the street, and have their baby kidnapped by a transvestite. It's gross and it's sick.

Now many people in my audience did not like the ending and were disappointed. The ending is the two hopping on a bus after getting chased from the police. The film doesn't resolve whether they find Baby Arjan because we the audience know what's going to happen. The two couple will never find their child, and will either continue to look for him until they get arrested by the authorities, or eventually give up their hopes of finding him. There's no reason for the film to have a conventional ending that's not so open ended because there's no hope for the two characters. Even if they find Baby Arjan they will never be able to support their child or even take care of it due to them being homeless, not having jobs, and having no money. The film will have a sad ending either way.

A great film from the beginning to end.

[akosijesu · 8/10 · 2 September 2016]

Eduardo Roy Jr.'s (Director) opens the film with the CCTV footage of a random high way and sidewalk houses of several destitute families. The CCTV footage scenes ends when a street children hit by a car and formally introducing Jane (Hasmine Kilip) who carries along her baby as she witnessed the accident and she later meets up with Arries (Ronwaldo Martin) her boyfriend and the father of her baby.

I loved how Kilip and Martin portrayed their characters, Jane and Aries. You will feel their emotion on the screen and you will impressed and convinced with their performances. I love the cinematography of this film especially when Jane cries and the camera focus on her, Ow! I love that scene a lot!

The film ends with no explanation what happened to the main story and I think that's the reason some people didn't like it because they didn't understand the ending. The ending can be intentional to show us the message that there is no end for the hardship of a parents!

3.5over5 This film is a great film but I want more to call this film a masterpiece!

ONE OF THE BEST INDIE FILMS

[jeromesgabilo · 8/10 · 30 October 2021]

Not only is the acting masterclass and realistic, the direction and editing is also superb and really reflects the painful truth behind what's happening in contemporary Filipino society. Definitely, a must watch for all Filipinos like me.

Movie starts off well but the ending leaves the viewer feeling cheated

[r-abendan · 6/10 · 1 September 2016]

The movie opens with CCTV footage of underprivileged families living on the side of the street. Suddenly a car runs over one of the small children and the scene smoothly transitions from CCTV to camera close up view. This transition is used multiple times throughout the movie but it starts to lose its purpose as the movie approaches its VERY disappointing ending.

The main characters, Jane and Aries, feel very well written and portrayed amazingly by Martin and Kilip. Despite some scenes showing the delivery of their lines becoming improvised, the two are honestly the most redeeming part of the film. If there is any reason to watch the movie it would be the chemistry between the young couple. The rest of the characters, on the other hand, are sadly completely forgettable. While they do play minor roles, it feels like the characters are merely placeholders lacking any real depth written to them serving solely as turning points for the story.

Despite the strong opening scenes, the movie starts to drone on, eventually losing focus. The social commentary that the movie starts strong with becomes lost in itself and even becomes overbearing at a certain point in the movie. The satirical scene in question is when the young couple's lives are portrayed in a poorly produced TV show. And they find themselves actually watching themselves. This scene was so disjointing and the comedy in the scene was completely disassociating from the theme the movie tries to portray.

Ultimately the movie feels like it's was made to be just another movie about the poverty stricken.

The plot is underdeveloped, and instead of diving deeper into its subject matter and providing decent social commentary to expound upon once the viewer exits the cinema, the movie starts to shape into this terrible "What goes around comes around" story. Completely disregarding any emotional connection the viewer forms with the main characters and having them leave the cinema asking themselves if the movie ticket they paid for was worth such a cheap ending.

This taught me about Humanity

[oyiebhoynnn · 9/10 · 6 July 2020]

I don't usually write reviews. However, when I saw how good this movie, and found out that there is not even 1 review, I felt obliged to write.

As the title suggests this is a movie about the Ordinaryo family: 2 teen-age parents and their baby who live in the streets of Manila.

This may seem mundane to Filipinos because we see these scenarios in our everyday lives, but when we focus the lens and narrative to those suffering poverty, we start to see gravity of their problems that we realize we don't have any right to judge them for their status.

Before viewing Ang Pamilya Ordinaryo, I have this belief that poor Filipinos deserve to be poor because they are lazy, dumb, and morally low. However after viewing this, it showed me that poor people are poor in various circumstances that they can't control. This movie paints how multi-faceted and complex people are regardless of their class.

It showed me how irresponsible and hypocrite of me to point fingers when I myself contribute to systematic labeling of the poor as lowly. It showed me how lucky I am that I can easily cry while watching this in Netflix, while the poor doesn't even have the time to feel sorry for themselves lest they lose time to struggle for food. It showed me how morally degenerate I am for thinking less of our kababayans and for just being a bystander and spectator while others are suffering when I have every means to help them.

I can talk many thing about this movie, but I'm afraid to spoil anything. Hence, I inpart to you the best thing this movie made me realize: Humans are humans regardless of any reason you can think of and by that reasoning we, especially the marginalized, should be treated as such

The ending upsets me.

[ineedagooduser · 6/10 · 2 November 2020]

I know it's supposed to be about how harsh reality is for teenage parents in poverty, the fact that the whole film is spent with them looking for their baby, only to realize they've been duped...well, I feel as if I've been duped too. I've been duped too much.

Aside from the disappointment at the end, the whole film is just them going in circles - theft, sex, getting in arguments with friends and family and cussing them out; nothing ever happens. In the end, it felt akin to one of those films you'd put on in the background while you run errands.

I've enjoyed 90% of the Filipino films I've seen on Netflix so far and have a great love for Philippine cinema as a whole, but this...this was one hard balut egg to crack.

Heartrending Teagedy

[jolyon-10 · 9/10 · 21 May 2023]

My Filipina partner tells me that Ordinary People in the Philippines are just nobodies for whom there is little love or care. This incredibly harrowing film illustrates that well. The leading couple were beautifully and very sympathetically played. The film took me to Manila and powerfully reminded me of what I'd felt when I was there. The story is hard and showed the cruel indifference which faces young people here and it was made more difficult to watch because the leading couple found moments of joy and love and fun despite being used.

I cried pretty much throughout. But I'm glad to have seen it.

THE ENDING SUCKED

[irmaapplewood · 7/10 · 21 September 2021]

I am tired of the what comes around... endings. It's a film for a reason..you may play around with ideas. You don't need to 100 percent mirror real life. That being said, the film was very engaging. BUT THE ENDING SUCKED.

Excellent in all Aspects

[engrgiancarlobenitez · 10/10 · 15 May 2023]

The ambience, the setting, the acting, and the actors are all excellent. It is worth watching. This is the exact definition of "No acting - acting". Everything is just natural. The story is very natural. This is just a maaterpiece. While watching the film, i felt i was with them the whole time. I was really drawn by the excellent portayal Of the two main characters. So, i invite everyone to find some Time to watch this award winning film from my home country, Philippines. Depicts the life of the people living in the streets and the struggle they are faced jn every day life. Perfect. This is mu second time watching this film.

A masterclass in hopelessness

[pauliewalnuts-49356 · 10/10 · 19 August 2021]

Just finished watching this film,and I have to say it took my breath away.

This is quite possibly one of the most brutal heart wrenching films I've ever seen.

There is far too much to write about without giving away spoilers so I just implore people to watch it.

The acting by the main two characters is amazing,where it's shot is sickening,just a mad metropolis full of poverty and crime everywhere,the way this is shot adds to the claustrophobia and nausea of where it's set.

This film is superb I am really struggling to find fault with it and can say it's been the first film in a long time that had an impact on me.

Like I said earlier,I don't like to give away spoilers so I've kept this short,but this is a must see film...

Just watch it!!!!

Pamilya Ordinaryo

[salaysaydianarose · 10/10 · 23 October 2019]

Family People - this movie is very vicious that if you don't have a lot of understanding about this kind of life you will have negative thoughts about it, but if you look closely it is not the typical ordinary family we think. here we can see how the two young characters (Ronwaldo Martin) as aries met (Hasmin Killip) as Jane.

They were the homeless and beggars, often seen in the streets, soon had children and named arjan, they were so dirty that I wondered how they would take care of their children's health and yet, they were also not the typical boyfriend and girlfriend whose exchanging sweet words.

until the time when baby arjan was kidnapped, and aries blame Jane because she's the one whose with the baby that time, which is true sometimes, people will blame you without knowing your side in real life.

in that part of the movie they try their best to be a good parents to baby arjay they seek him out until they find that they have found someone who is too careless and has taken advantage of them. they are judge by people because maybe they are too filthy and they are too young to have children but I can't judge them, why? because I don't think they will ever marry that way and if they have a choice i'm sure they will not choose to be poor and live on the street as a quiapo.

this movie deserves an award it became interesting because of the theme. Common but have a uniqueness, the film contains of social issues such as street childrens, teenage pregnancy, baby snatching, harrasment, injustice. etc.

As for Kidnapper, Moira Lang who plays Ertha she's very real and so natural, she is the one who play a big role in the movie.

It also shows the different types of people we meet everyday, one of the scene that caught my attention is that they acting as if its really happen and of course the place where they shoot the film.

Engrossing, Engaging and then.......

[akh8 · 8/10 · 22 July 2020]

I was totally interested in this film. It pulled me in and was engaging and engrossing. The ending was a huge disappointment for me.

The ending

[vnarain_hk · 10/10 · 27 January 2024]

Quite an engrossing movie and I could relate to it as an Indian from India in many ways including the police and the media.

Both the actors justified their roles very well.

The ending left me thinking. Was it that the child they found was really not Aryan, or was it that Jane remembered the dialog that Ariel said in the bus about the child now being in excellent care and that she decided to leave the child in foster care even though she knew that the baby was Aryan.

The movie did highlight the issues relating to the underprivileged people. And yes, the paradoxical truth also emerged. They wanted to fend for the baby, even though through unethical means and they did not succumb to the offers of buying the child or taking a loan.

It surely was a excellent portrayal of the conflicted ideals of an underprivileged society TRUE in any country of the Third World.

Stressful. Very well acted.

[danielbenes-42546 · 8/10 · 17 July 2022]

Tough to watch yet no hyperbole. Living conditions framing the background to this film allow a fleeting glimpse at poverty in South East Asia's most densely populated metropolitan area where poverty is steadily increasing.

Both lead actors were so convincing I could not believe they were no exceptionally talented street children.