Transit (Hannah Espia, 2013): Philippines

Reviewed by Simon Rosen. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2014

My father is from the Philippines and through him I have seen Filipino drama films and this is by far one of the best Filipino made film I have ever seen. When I heard that they were speaking in Tagalog (Filipino) my mind was blown because I couldn’t believe that I was looking at a Filipino made drama film.  For those that don’t know Filipino drama films are over dramatic and terrible.

But Transit is one of a kind.

Transit is writen and directed by Hannah Espia, this is also her first feature film and Transit is about five Filipino living and working in Israel, Moises (Ping Medina) and his son Joshua (Marc Justine Alvarez), Janet (Irma Adlawan) and her daughter Yeal (Jasmine Curtis). Moises son Joshua is threatened to be deported due to new Israeli laws that forced immigrant workers with children under 5 will get deported. You get to follow this family’s struggle to keep Joshua from being deported by hiding him while dealing with their own everyday problems.

Really amazed by the performance of the actors in this movie, really making the audience understand the feeling even though it’s is said in a different langues, I barley tear up when watching movies but this is actually the only one in the festival that actually left me sad after watching. The performance the actors are giving us is superb, it feels so heartbreaking to see a little boy loose his mother figure and sister but at the same time Hannah Espia creates this feeling of everything is going to be alright.

The thing that I found to be the most fascinating was the story, to be revealing the story through the means of following each character for one day and having the story unfold bits by bits. I love those kinds of stories and editing, because I as a viewer always want to be surprised on what I see, and that is what I am getting from watching this film.

I really do recommend watching a typical Filipino drama then watch Transit and you’ll really understand what kind of masterpiece it is compared to today’s movie-making in the Philippines. But overall I did really enjoy watching this movie, such a capturing story and beautiful editing and I will keep a keen eye on watch Hannah Espia has to offer in the future.