K'na the Dreamweaver is about the journey of a T'boli princess into womanhood amidst the struggle of their tribe to find peace with a historic enemy.
It is not so much about weaving your dreams in the figurative sense - in fact K'na had to give up her own dreams - but literally about letting your dreams talk to you, showing the dreamweaver patterns and designs, the intricate craftsmanship of which K'na's tribe was known for.
The first thing you notice about the movie is how the pattern and colors of the native apparel are so alive, almost dancing, as they are modeled on the members of the tribe in the film. I wanted to buy a jacket! Move over Christian Lacroix and Chanel - the T'boli's handwoven creations are so much more intricate!
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| A young Oyog Todi, photographed by George Tapan during one of his first visits to South Cotabato./Facebook |
The next thing that takes your breath away is the beauty of the scenery in South Cotabato so wonderfully captured in the film. The water shimmers. As if there were a line of diamonds floating. I had to blink my eyes and do a double take - and I was in the second row - then smiled. It was breathtaking. Our country is so beautiful.
And in the scene where K'na sails off to her destined home, accepting her womanhood and fate, sacrificing her personal happiness for the community's peace, the reflection of the mountains on the water was a perfect message of unity, balance, beauty ... and that everything would be alright.
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| Photo credit: George Tapan/K'na the Dreamweaver's Facebook page |
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| Photo credit: George Tapan/K'na the Dreamweaver's Facebook page |
The tone is tempered, unlike commercial films that have too much shouting, sex and violence, allowing the rhythm of the T'boli dialect reel you in. Especially when "Be" (Grandma/Erlinda Villalobos) would speak in her gentle yet commanding voice. The most shouting you will hear is in the establishing scene where K'na's mother dies while in labor, losing the baby as well - a truthful depiction of how far away our country is in terms of achieving the Millennium Goal of significantly reducing the maternal mortality rate by 2015.
The lead role of K'na is delicately portrayed by Mara Lopez, whose Filipina beauty is excellently captured in the film (is it alright to say film if the movie is digital?). Sometimes I felt that she was conscious of the camera. But she projected innocence so well and I felt her heart break when her father first tried to give it away to a man she did not love. How dare he, how could he?!
What I love most about the film is how it truly it captures the beauty of South Cotabato and the rich culture of the T'boli tribe: the birth, marriage and burial scenes are excellent. It is a poignant depiction of the priceless cultures and traditions of this indigenous tribe, including and especially handweaving patterns from your dreams. "You will see the pattern even if it is not there," Beh explained to the frustrated young K'na. "Have faith."
Congratulations, Ida Anito Del Mundo on your excellent directorial debut!!!
Photo credit: Facebook page of K'na the Dreamweaver
