When an OFW (Irma Adlawan in the
titular role) goes back home, her husband (Nonie Buencamino as Dante) appears
hostile of her return. Dante often picks fights over the littlest things and Fe
always finds herself on the losing end. To make matters worse, he resorts to
physical violence leaving Fe bruised and wounded each time. Before Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe turns into a
full-blown drama about a battered wife, the real plot unfurls itself in a
mystifying yet subtle fashion.
A basket filled with black fruits
mysteriously appears on Fe's doorsteps every day. When her husband accuses her
of having a lover, she asks a former suitor (TJ Trinidad as Arturo) to stop
sending her gifts. But apparently, Arturo has nothing to do with the basket of
fruits. As Fe grows more agitated and as Dante becomes more abusive of her, she
finds herself in a three-way crossroad: will she stay with her brutal husband,
elope with Arturo, or entertain her secret admirer who may just be a product of
her imagination?
The film's strongest tool in its
arsenal is the screenplay. The well-researched story is rich in cultural
authenticity and social relevance. With the writing dexterity of Alvin Yapan
(director, writer, and co-producer), the character of Fe transcends the digital
medium and becomes a real person: she is strong but frail, determined but
afraid. The nuances of her character are made apparent with the impeccable
script. Aside from Fe, the development of the roles of Dante, Arturo, and even
Arturo's ill father are supported by underlying stories and consistent
characterization.
As a director, Yapan mans the
camera with an artistic vision manifested in every frame and every angle. His
shots linger, but not to the point of static cinematography. His close-ups
suggest subdued intimacy to his subjects whether living or inanimate. His
camera glides through the scenes revealing just enough without giving away too
much. The use of repeated scenes and overlapping sequences coupled with the
trance-like quality of the shots are effective in confusing viewers as to which
scenes are imagined and which are real. Thus staying true to the film's motive
of challenging our judgment on whether Fe's mysterious suitor is just a figment
of her imagination or not.
Alvin Yapan's debut is a tale that tackles domestic abuse
and romanticizes Pinoy folklore. It is an odd combination, but gripping
nevertheless.
Stars: Irma Adlawan, TJ Trinidad and Noni Buencamino
