Cleaners

Uusbong ang reyalidad, sa pagdungaw ng legalidad. Never has a film screamed, "kabataan!" as well as Cleaners has. It embodies the youthful experience so well, from the struggles of societal conformity to the fleetingness of everyday life and the desire for release and defiance. Small, and even insignificant, but meaningful stories are made all the more powerful by an incredibly creative approach to every single aspect of this film. The filmmaking approach induces the feeling of emotional nostalgia so well that this entire film feels like memories being recalled rather than stories being told—not to mention the soundtrack that helps enforce that feeling even more. Even more so do the color and highlighter aspect that, in my opinion, captures the limited self-centered (for lack of a better word) perspective of youthfulness. All of that while maintaining a consistent tone of comedy, exuberance, and even reflection. Just the perfect Filipino coming-of-age film. P.S. This reminds me so much of "All About Lily Chou-Chou" (except toned down and less fucked up) and "Didi" (but incredibly more personal, creative, and immersive).