REVIEW: Rigodon

Title: Rigodon

Director: Erik Matti

Producer: Viva Films and Reality Entertainment

Distribution: Viva Films and Reality Entertainment

Date of premiere: November 21, 2012

[Note: This is a review of the R-18 version. There are spoilers.]

Erik Matti's Rigodon is nearly flawless. In a landscape of stale mainstream movies relying on tried-and-tested box office cliches, Rigodon's approach to storytelling is as fresh as it is shocking. A breath of fresh air, so to speak.

The Viva-Reality* picture promises to show the raw truth about affairs, when the same is the current trend in Philippine entertainment.

While movies and TV shows like A Secret Affair and A Beautiful Affair treat affairs like carnival--that is, something to be viewed and enjoyed--Rigodon is messy and controversial, like how affairs could be in real life.

Rigodon's story reads like a cross between juicy gossip and a police brief: Riki Torres (John James Uy), an aging actor wannabe, dreams of making it big. Yet the only work he can find is to be a live model for a TV shopping network, where he shows off his buff physique to sell comical products like personal saunas and barely-working exercise machines.

One night, Riki meets a young woman named Sarah, who recognizes his celebrity status. The two spark a connection, and they start a fiery and passionate relationship.

The problem is that Riki is married to Regine, a housewife who dreams of putting up her own cupcake business. They have a kid, who is in elementary school.

What's refreshing about Rigodon is how it lays out the motivations of the characters. There's an honesty to it that lends credibility to the shocking turn of events that follows them.

Riki is already married at 31 years old, but he still dreams of being a young man who can achieve all his dreams of fame, wealth, and social status. Buhay binata, as old folks say.

It is solely due to this why he starts an affair with Sarah. The woman is young, and was the only person in the movie who treated him like he's famous, or once was.

Besides, Sarah is a welcome change to his wife, who's always occupied with household chores and taking care of their daughter. Regine also has insecurities that clash with Riki's self-worth. When Riki makes love to her, she keeps her clothes on. Perhaps her body issues make Riki feel trapped in an imperfect relationship.

With Sarah, however, Riki can feel young and carefree. Their trysts are adventurous and wild. Sarah is willing to do anything for him.

Yet Riki cannot commit to a relationship, for obvious reasons. Sarah is needy, though, and she only gives in once convinced the guy is the marrying type.

The movie would have been simpler if only the affair is focused. There are many more layers to the story though, and they tend to get confusing.

There's a mob loan shark out to get Riki. Regine delivers cupcakes and stumbles into a secret hitman-for-hire service in the slums. Sarah has a domineering father and a conceited ex-boyfriend.

What makes Rigodon relevant is that it may bring about the resurgence of bold movies in Philippine cinemas. The genre was last prevalent in the 90s to the early 00s, but was singlehandedly killed when SM stopped carrying them.

[Another bold movie will follow Rigodon soon: Ato Bautista's Palitan, an entry in this years CinemaOne Originals filmfest.]

Director Erik Matti is not a stranger to the genre. His directorial debut, in fact, was the critically-lauded Scorpio Nights 2 in 1999. But unlike Scorpio Nights 2, Rigodon feels like it will not resonate.

The ending of the movie tells us this. Riki and Regine move on to a new life to presumably forget the tragedy that befell them. The viewers move on with them.

RATING: 4.5 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: Mostly flawless, but the ending could have been better.

*Earlier press releases indicated that Rigodon will be produced by Viva and Regal.