Cinemalaya movie ‘Iska’ based on house cleaner’s story
FIRESTARTERS BELIEVES in the power of the ordinary people’s story, hence, their Cinemalaya 2019 entry, “Iska.”
“Our purpose is to help change lives by inspiring people with the stories that we tell,” said co-producer Real Florido, who also helmed the internationally awarded film “1st Ko Si 3rd,”still with the outfit.
“Iska” is in collaboration with co-producer RJ Agustin and filmmaker Theodore Boborol’s voice. Florido and Boborol met during the Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 where they both directed competing films. It was Boborol who pitched the “Iska” story to Firestarters.
The movie is based on the life experiences of Boborol’s house cleaner. It is about a loving but impoverished grandmother of a child on the autism spectrum, who tragicomically loses everything and becomes the person society reckons her to be. She lives in a shanty within the premises of a state university where she works as a photocopy operator Mondays through Saturdays, and as a laundry and cleaning lady the rest of the week.
She has been married for 30 years to her alcoholic husband whom she calls “Asungot.” Her only daughter left to her care Dodong, her 10year-old grandson with an autism spectrum disorder. Despite being told to house him in an orphanage, she chooses to take care of him because she believes that he should be under the care of his own blood and flesh.
“Iska” reflects dismal mental health state and how poor people who have it get marginalized. It also represents those who mother children beyond their duty and capacity, armed with nothing but love.
The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival runs at the Cultural Center of the Philippines until today, then in select theaters nationwide after that date.