Confessional (2007)

Run Time - 90 min.  |   Countries - Philippines  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

A novice moviemaker lucks into a once in a lifetime story, though luck may not be the right word, in this mockmentary drama from the Philippines. Ryan Pastor (David Barril) is an aspiring documentary filmmaker from Manila who supports himself shooting wedding videos. Hoping to create something he can enter in an upcoming film festival, Ryan and his girlfriend travel to Cebu in order to shoot footage of a Sinulog festival. Ryan and his girlfriend have an argument en route and shooting doesn't go well at first, but he stumbles upon something more impressive when he's approached by Lito (Publio Briones III), the former mayor of Mindanao. Lito regards the video camera as a sort of confessional, a place where he can bare his soul, and the politician begins to tell Ryan and his camera a number of remarkable stories about his personal and political corruption -- ranging from affairs with small-time stars to the murder of a drug lord -- as well as his disparaging views about the Philippines and its national character. But for every moment where Lito is clearly telling the ugly truth, there's another where he appears to be hiding something, and Ryan isn't certain just what he's been made a party to. Confessional was the first feature film from directors Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto; Tarog also co-stars under the name David Barril.