Sam Manacsa worked as Art Director on award-winning films such as Carlo Francisco Manatad's “Whether the Weather Is Fine”. Her short film, “If People Such as We Cease to Exist” (2016), was selected at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Competition. “Cross My Heart and Hope To Die”was selected to premiere at the 80th La Biennale Venice International Film Festival in the official Orizzonti Short Films Competition and was later screened in Qcinema. The short has already received a number of awards from all over the world, while it is also worth mentioning that a number of filmmakers (Manatad as editor and producer, Whammy Alcazaren as production designer, Martika Ramirez-Escobar as cinematographer) are also involved in an all-star production that also includes Yov Moor as colorist.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Die screened at Qcinema
The movie begins with a scene that would be laughably absurd if it was not so shockingly dramatic, essentially setting the tone for the film and justifying a number of the things that happen later on. The protagonist of the scene is Mila, a young woman who works at some sort of logistics position, and is evidently overworked and underpaid, not to mention that her boss is usually nowhere to be found, much less pay his employees. As such, it is by no surprise that Mila actually spends a lot of time talking to a stalker of sorts who calls her in the office, constantly asking for her to go out with him. Her final decision, however, proves much more complicated than she could even imagine.
Sam Manasca deals quite smartly with a number of issues taking place in today's society, even though the story seems to be placed in the past, before the advent of smart phones and social media, in an approach that could be perceived as a comment about not much changing in the particular regard. The exploitation of employees by irresponsible bosses, who essentially blackmail them with what they owe them and the fear of unemployment is the most central one, with the director connecting it with issues of mental health and a number of social ones, particularly the need for some sort of way out. As such, Mila's overall actions are all explained through the aforementioned prisms, with the finale, however, moving in an even more intricate direction, as Manasca combines it with the concept of crime and punishment, while playing with the introductory scene.
Apart from context though, the movie also thrives on its cinematic approach. The combination of Ramirez-Escobar's cinematography (particularly the rather smart and meaningful framing), Yov Moor's subtle coloring and Alcazaren's production design manages to turn the office into a truly suffocating place, fully mirroring the mental state of all the people working there, adding to the aforementioned main comment. Manatad's editing adds even more impact to the key scenes, while also being one of the main sources of deadpan humor here, along with the interactions between the protagonist and another female colleague.
Jorrybel Agoto as Mila is great in showing the plethora of thoughts and mental statuses her protagonist undergoes, with her scenes on the phone being the highlight of her performance.
“Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” is an excellent film, a masterclass in (short) filmmaking, and a testament to Manasca's directorial abilities. Now we just have to wait for her feature debut, “The Void Is Immense on Idle Hours” which is currently in development.
