Film Review: Tulad ng Dati

Tulad ng Dati: Inspired by music and memories
By: Rianne Hill Soriano

Cinemalaya’s ‘Tulad ng Dati’ by Michael Sandejas revolves around a fictional character inspired by the iconic life of The Dawn frontman Jett Pangan, who, after an assault, wakes up without a memory of his life after 1988. He merely remembers that he is a 20-year old rock idol who is enjoying the peak of his band’s career as it has been way back 1988. Wishing to change things back the way they were before, he embarks on an emotional yet hilarious quest against time.

Sandejas takes advantage of various cinematic possibilities in favor of a fictional narrative based on the band’s life and music. Crafted with the influential rock group’s fan base on the side, the story creation becomes a promising offer for the Pinoy audience looking for something beyond the formulaic mainstream offer and more especially to The Dawn fans who can relate to the film the most.

The film is a fictionalized bio-drama that pays tribute to The Dawn in an unusual and yet appealing way. The passion from the people behind the film is very much apparent with its outcome. The tribute promotes sincerity as its core can really be felt without unpretentious elements. It tries to validate how The Dawn has risen to become the pioneer rock group during the second half of the ‘80s and the details that followed after that.

Amidst the surging New Wave music during that time, Teddy Diaz, JB Leonor, Caloy Balcells and Jett Pangan cracked out from the fad by introducing their music and hitting it big with their impressive talents and rock tunes. At the height of their popularity, their leader, Teddy Diaz was murdered. The remaining members decided to continue with the music but eventually disband in 1996. In 2003, The Dawn reunited. And now, with their contribution to Filipino music, indeed, these legendary rock pioneers radiate a beguiling account worthy to be archived in film as well.

The film revolves around 2006 when Jett loses his passion for music and entertains thoughts of retiring from the band. And the film takes its title from a hit song by the band. The lead actors for the film are no less than The Dawn themselves: Jett Pangan, JB Leonor, Francis Reyes, Carlos Balcells and Buddy Zabala (formerly from the Eraserheads). Compelled to undergo acting workshops, the rockers render effective performances playing themselves. Ping Medina plays the role of the late Teddy Diaz. Agot Isidro plays the character of Beth, Jett’s wife. Also joining the roster are Karl Roy of POT, Mylene Dizon and a few more commendable talents from the film and theater circuits.

The film tends to lose touch on some of the eras it’s supposed to project as Agot Isidro’s make-up and hairdo not really changing in a span of around 5-10 years. Overall, the film's comedy works but the one who acted for the VJ role tends to push the film into something less than mediocrity. The acting and execution of the scenes on TV especially with the fictional music channel featuring the ineffectively slow-speaking VJ looks too fake and annoying. If ever the said kind of performance is really intended for reasons like to exude a certain type of satirical act or anything similar to that, it doesn’t really work at all.

The execution and overall treatment of the film promote the celebrated music of the band. The music video approach tends to uplift The Dawn’s morale, thus gaining for them another form of cult following through this moving picture’s refreshing move to highlight their iconic life. The video footages of the band, particularly the last part of the film paying tribute to the exceptional talent of Diaz playing the guitar similar to a violin further boosts the drive for the band’s music especially to those who don’t belong to the peak era when the band has performed. However, there are certain missing points that can make the film better in order to capture the hearts of those who don't know anything about the band. Somehow, for the film to be completely effective, the audience is required to have at least a little background about The Dawn. And this becomes a weakness for the film especially if it goes abroad for exhibitions and festivals. Good thing that this weakness is a little bit supported by the establishment of the band's performances, particularly the implementation of the music video scenes, to somehow justify their fame and greatness.

The internal struggle of Jett Pangan’s character becomes effective as how the script could have probably deemed it to be. The path he takes while finding his place in his strange new world proves itself to be a tough, emotional and sometimes hilarious journey accompanied by the vast expanse of the band’s music experience. The fiction works to promote the universal theme concerning denial and forgetting instead of acceptance. A story about acceptance and moving on, this film becomes a story imparting a good message and aesthetics.

If you love bands and you're a follower/fan of the Dawn, you'll get a sort of bonus in watching this film.

Aiming to be more than just a vehicle for The Dawn’s music, Sandejas crafts a truly compelling fictional story that becomes a breath of fresh air from the crop of recycled dramas, comedies, horror, fantasy and action flicks that have been flooding the local film market.