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NAFF 2010 | Tawilis
By Justin Ko
Tawilis: Palaot sa Mailap na Huli
Philippines, 2009, 28 min
DIR: Reymer Salvador
Environmentally-themed films have become staples in the documentary world, riding on the wave of "green" issue and conservation consciousness worldwide. Rarely, however, are the perspectives of Asian countries portrayed to a significant extent in such films.
With Tawilis: Palaot sa Mailap na Huli, (Sailing Towards an Elusive Harvest), students from the College of Mass Communication in Manila manage to convey a uniquely Asian - and specifically Filipino - experience regarding the close interrelation between the health of the environment and the livelihood of local residents. The film, which was the video production thesis for students Melanie Fernandez, Hershel Matibag, Romina Rodriguez, and director Reymer Salvador, has an air of authenticity and practicality. The dialogue, entirely spoken in Tagalog with English subtitles, attests to the local-made nature of its production.
In the case of Tawilis, which is also the name of an abundantly found fish in the famous Taal Lake, the fishers and residents of the lake rely on the fish for both sustenance and income. The subtitle of the film is fitting; whereas in years past the fishers were able to catch nearly 300 tawilis a day, they are now only able to catch a few dozen in their nets. The documentary alternates between footage of the picturesque Taal Lake and fisherman struggling to continue their "elusive harvest" set to pensive violin melodies, and candid interviews with local environmental and Batangas (government officials), along with the fisherman themselves, voicing their own opinions regarding the sudden decrease in tawilis and the undeniable breakdown in the lake's ecosystem.
It is clear that the issues that plague the lake are not the global-spanning and scientifically-debated concepts of pollution and greenhouse gas, but rather, the usage of fish cages and improper dumping of waste into the lake. And, since the problems are local in scope, the overall tone of the film is optimistic and hopeful, and there is little petty infighting or needless arguing between special interest groups and corporations willing to sacrifice the environment for their bottom line. Everyone in Tawilis understands the need for change in order to survive, and the audience is encouraged to participate in a change of their own after the film is done.
Followed by Iron Crows.
Screening: Friday, May 28th, at 4:30 pm
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