Being literate is perhaps the most important factor to participate within our society. Considering the amount of texts produced daily, being able to read and write enable to take part in a vast growing global community. Apart from these factors, there is also the idea of understanding the world around you, to be treated appropriately and, last but not least, to be independent of others. While a reality check may hurt, the number of people being exploited on a daily basis in many countries of the world is closely linked to the number of illiterates in a culture. During her exploration and study of indigenous people, filmmaker Grace Simbulan realized how knowledge can transform people, give them a more profound sense of purpose and make them understand the kind of injustice which defines their surroundings at times. In her documentary “A is for Agustin” she accompanies 40-year-old Agustin on his journey to be able to read and write, but also the kind of hardships he has to overcome to make his dream come true.
A is for Agustin is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
“It's hard to be uneducated”, is one of the statements by Simbulan's protagonist, which sums up his realization. Agustin and his family are part of the poorest in the Philippines, doing the only work available to them, collecting and creating coal. At the beginning of the documentary, Agustin is told by another man how he and his family are cheated from their real pay, as the price for a bag of coal is much higher than what Agustin's boss has told them. While angry at the discovery he just made, there is a long discussion with his wife about whether he should tell their superior, because of their debt to him and for the reason he lets them stay on his property. These sequences, along with many others, constitute the first axis of “A is for Agustin”, which is about the often quite dire living conditions of Agustin and his family becoming victims due to their illiteracy.
At the same time, discovering the world of reading, and also math and singing in school, we witness a transformation in the soft-spoken, shy man. While others might feel embarrassed learning side by side with children, Agustin seems quite content and sees the opportunity for him, and his family. It is during these second axis of her feature, we realize the true emotional and human depth of Simbulan's approach, observing closely the circumstances and motivations of people like Agustin. His motives, for example, providing a better future for his family, and his struggles, most importantly, the pressing economic needs of his loved ones, become quite relatable, making what Agustin does quite courageous.
“A is for Agustin” is a documentary about the transformation of a man due to becoming literate. Grace Simbulan manages to make us understand her protagonist, what he is going through, his hardships but also the joy of his accomplishments. It is a truly touching feature, which underlines the need for education within our global community.
