The “Stranger Things” wave has been sending ripples all over the world since 2016, when it was first screened, particularly regarding the 90’s nostalgia that has become kind of a trend. Raya Martin presents the Filipino take on the wave.
The story takes place in Manila in the 1990s, and revolves around four junior high school friends. Paolo is living with his mother and a housemaid, in a rather rich house that includes all the latest Nintendo video games, thus providing the “entertainment center” for the gang. Gilligan’s family is relatively well-off, but it is his sister, Mimaw who plays a crucial role for the company, being the constant voice of logic and calm. Mimaw also seems to like Paolo, but he has set his eyes on a rich, popular girl, despite their difference in “school status”. Kachi is quite poor, with his family barely having enough to get by, even with his older brother also helping through his work in a fast-food. The brother however, is quite popular with the girls, and the three boys of the gang, deduct that his success derives from the fact that he is circumsized. Thus, a number of adventures begin, including Paolo’s effort to woe the girl he likes, and for the boys to get circumcisions, unbeknownst to their parents.
The most obvious trait of the film is the presentation of the era, with Raya Martin and his crew taking care of every detail. The 8-bit video games are the starting point, but the story takes care of clothing, food, entertainment, music, and even attitudes, in a rather nostalgic but also delightful presentation to the era. Ante Cheng’s cinematography also mirrors the era, particularly through the colors implemented and Cyril Aris’s editing induces the movie with a very fitting, fast pace.
The issues with the movie, however, are quite a lot. To begin with, writer Valerie Castillo Martinez has included too many concepts in the story, to the point that none of them is particularly analyzed, and subsequently, impactful. The two parallel romances, the circumcision trip, the differences between the rich and the poor, the lack of father-figures and the subsequent bitterness of the mothers, the religious extremism, the school tribes, bullying, local legends etc are just too much for a single movie 99 minutes, and result in a rather messy narrative. The only concept that survives in terms of narrative is male friendship, but even in this part, there is an artificiality, particularly deriving from the dialogues, which does not help the film much. This aspect even faults the acting in a degree, although the kid actors all do quite a fine job in general, a trait that also highlights Raya Martin’s direction.
“Death of Nintendo” seems to have been made with the best of intentions, and the presentation of the era definitely evokes a sense of nostalgia. In the end, however, it remains a rather faulty effort, which fails to retain interest until the end.
