Filipino director Erik Matti has long been a favorite of this site, his films consistently charming with their unique sense of style and energy. But as much as we may argue that films like superhero riff Gagamboy or atmospheric chiller Pa-Siyam are fun films - which they very definitely are - the realities of the system that Matti has been forced to work within have largely meant that while his films are consistently fun they are very seldom what would be called good, at least not good in the big, serious arthouse definition of the word. Only once that I'm aware of in his career - with the gritty drama Prosti - has Matti really been able to showcase the serious craftsman in him and that film has been seen by so tragically few people that it hardly counts.
This is about to change.
When posting the trailer for Matti's indie-comedy The Arrival last week we commented on how major changes were imminent for the writer-producer-director, with The Arrival being the first product of Matti's departure from the mainstream industry and creation of his own production space. What I wasn't able to say then but can say now is that with The Arrival all wrapped up Matti has begun work on his next feature, a crime drama titled OJT. And when this film arrives it will almost certainly vault Matti into the top tier of the international film world.
How can I possibly justify saying such a thing? Simple. Though the film is not yet in active production, Matti and his crew spent a day shooting an 8+ minute promo for the piece to sell the mood and tone. The result? Imagine, if you will, the best parts of Johnnie To's Exiled fused with Fabian Bielinsky's El Aura. The look and tone are absolutely perfect, the performances rich and nuanced and probably the best I have ever seen from the region. If the rest of the film manages to live up to this reel - again, the product of just a single day's work armed with a pair of very good actors, a fantastic DP and two RED cameras - then Matti has an art-crime picture of the absolute highest order on his hands.
But don't take my word for it. We've just been cleared to share the reel with you, the ScreenAnarchy faithful. Check it below.
This is about to change.
When posting the trailer for Matti's indie-comedy The Arrival last week we commented on how major changes were imminent for the writer-producer-director, with The Arrival being the first product of Matti's departure from the mainstream industry and creation of his own production space. What I wasn't able to say then but can say now is that with The Arrival all wrapped up Matti has begun work on his next feature, a crime drama titled OJT. And when this film arrives it will almost certainly vault Matti into the top tier of the international film world.
How can I possibly justify saying such a thing? Simple. Though the film is not yet in active production, Matti and his crew spent a day shooting an 8+ minute promo for the piece to sell the mood and tone. The result? Imagine, if you will, the best parts of Johnnie To's Exiled fused with Fabian Bielinsky's El Aura. The look and tone are absolutely perfect, the performances rich and nuanced and probably the best I have ever seen from the region. If the rest of the film manages to live up to this reel - again, the product of just a single day's work armed with a pair of very good actors, a fantastic DP and two RED cameras - then Matti has an art-crime picture of the absolute highest order on his hands.
But don't take my word for it. We've just been cleared to share the reel with you, the ScreenAnarchy faithful. Check it below.