‘Fatherland’ director Joel Lamangan on filmmaking: Entertaining is not enough

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For award-winning director Joel Lamangan, making films isn’t just about making people laugh or cry. It’s about showing the truth.

“I just would like to point out that films should not only entertain. Films should not only make you laugh and cry. Films should also be able to enlighten, to say things properly. To expose the truth,” he said during the recent presscon for his newest film “Fatherland.”

“Kaya tayo nagiging bayan na ganito, puro na lang entertain-entertain. Akala sa ating lahat na nagtatrabaho sa industriya, hindi tayo seryoso. Kaya hindi tayo sineseryoso. Akala tagapagpaiyak lang tayo, tagapagpatawa. Hindi. Ang pelikula ay dapat ding nagsasabi ng katotohanan sa paligid niya.”

That’s the goal of “Fatherland,” direk Joel’s latest film starring Allen Dizon and Inigo Pascual. The story follows a young Filipino-American man in search of his estranged father in the Philippines — a journey that opens his eyes to the country’s deeper problems.

Aside from Allen and Inigo, the film also stars Cherry Pie Picache, Mercedes Cabral, Richard Yap, Angel Aquino, Jeric Gonzales, Jim Pebanco, Ara Davao, Abed Green, Rico Barrera, Max Eigenmann, Kazel Kinouchi and Bo Bautista.

The veteran filmmaker acknowledged the socio-political undertones of the film.

“Yes, especially on the relationship between the father and the son. The very title of the film is ‘Fatherland.’ It connotes something political already,” he said. “But this is not the kind of politics that you will understand as far as the politics going on now is concerned.

“Which is… I will not say anything anymore… This is not endorsing any candidate. Nagsasabi lang ito ng totoo, ng kalagayan ng bayan natin sa pamamagitan ng paghahanap ng isang anak sa kanyang ama. Kasi tatlo ang personalidad ng kanyang ama. In that journey, sa paghahanap, nakita niya ang problema ng bansa — in the process.

“Walang ine-endorso, walang binabanatan. Nothing. It’s just an exposure of what’s going on in the country.”

Incidentally, “Fatherland” will hit cinemas nationwide on April 19, or less than a month from the midterm national elections in May.

When asked by The STAR what he hopes the Filipino electorate will keep in mind when they cast their votes, he said, “To my fellow voters, my only appeal is this — let’s understand the problems of our country. Let’s understand the corruption that’s happening today. Intindihin natin ang mga pagnanakaw na nagaganap.

“Let’s understand that one of the biggest problems now is fake news. At dapat hindi tayo maniwala sa mga balitang hindi naman totoo. Let’s find out whether something is true or not.

“Also, let’s choose leaders who will truly serve the interest of the majority, not just the interest of a few — their own or their families. Let’s stop voting for an entire family. That doesn’t help our country. Let’s give a chance to people whom we know can genuinely do good for our nation.”

Although direk Joel didn’t write the script (it was written by Roy Iglesias), he was fully aligned with the message the film wants to deliver.

“Every time that I do a film, I would like to say something. I am not a director who does a film that does not say anything,” he said. “The son looking for the dad, at the same time looking for the (fatherly) love, at the same time exposing the ailments of the society. That’s what I would like to say. I think I have achieved that.”

When asked by The STAR if it’s hard to find film producers nowadays, he was honest: “Napakahirap. Napakahirap!”

He explained that many producers now expect a quick return on investment, and it’s not easy to promise that with the current state of the film industry.

“Hindi ka nakasalalay lamang sa pagpapalabas. Maraming type of marketing na dapat mong gawin para mai-market ang pelikula,” he said. “At ang panonood ng pelikula ngayon ay mahal. ‘Pag manonood ka at kasama mo ang pamilya mo, hindi kasya ang P1,000 kasi kakain pa. At P350, P450, P500 na ang pelikula.”

Still, he believes in pushing forward with purpose-driven and socially relevant stories — especially when there are producers willing to take a chance.

“Fatherland” is co-produced by BenTria Productions, led by Engr. Benjamin Austria, and Heaven’s Best Entertainment, headed by Harlene Bautista.

Direk Joel shared that Engr. Austria stepped in when one of the film’s original producers backed out. “And wholeheartedly, he assumed the responsibility. At malaki ang utang na loob namin kay Engr. BenTria for producing the movie ‘Fatherland,’” he said.

It wasn’t their first collaboration. BenTria also produced Lamangan’s “‘Wag Mo ‘Kong Iwan.” “In more than three decades of directing films, he is the most generous producer that I have ever met,” he further told The STAR.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the role of government in Philippine cinema, he believes more can be done to support the local film industry — just like what other countries have done.

“I hope the government can subsidize it. If governments of other countries like South Korea, like Thailand, like Vietnam can do something about it, sana we can also,” he said.

“What the government is giving — (these are) palliatives to the industry. Because they do not see the (film) industry as an industry. No, they don’t see it like that. They don’t see it as a dollar-earning venture.

“Mas tinitingnan nilang industry ang sugar, ang suha, ang saging, ang coconut. Yun, tinutulungan nila. But cinema, they don’t see it as a product that can earn dollars for the country. That attitude must change. I’ve been telling that to people. I’m a voice in the wilderness.”