My notes on Ma' Rosa: 1. The film opened with Rosa (Jaclyn Jose) hoarding what seemed to be packs of Ri-Chee and other chichirya for her small sari-sari store. Similar to that weird sweet milk snack, Brillante Mendoza's oeuvre would definitely be an acquired taste. As always, expect your senses to be assaulted by the headache-inducing shaky cam and the palpable stench of Manila's esteros emanating from the screen. As a sucker for poverty porn (that had been getting a bad rap in the local indie scene) and Mendoza's cinema verite style of filmmaking, I absolutely loved the entire experience. Ri-Chee, not so much.
Talks about what's new, what's hot and what's in! In the world of real fun!