RANCHEZ, Jan Karlo Thomas V.

May 25, 2019

MA LL 1 MLL 298 - SAT 2 (1:00-4:00/SAT)

A critical analysis of the movie “The Trial”

“The Trial” is a 2014 Philippine drama film directed by Chito S. Roño. It starred John
Lloyd Cruz, Gretchen Barretto, Richard Gomez, Enrique Gil and Jessie Mendiola. The film
revolves around the central character, Ronald Jimenez, played by John Lloyd Cruz who was
accused of raping his teacher/tutor, Bessy Buenaventura played by Jessie Mendiola. However,
Ronald’s situation was considered as a “special case” since he has a special condition. He is a 29
year old man with a 13 year old mind. This kind of film produced by Star Cinema is a “new” and
“refreshing” story for its audience since Star Cinema has been known for producing generic
films such as romance, romantic-comedy and comedy films that captivate audiences through
love teams. Meanwhile for this film, since it tackles topics such as ‘rape,’ ‘mental condition’ and
even ‘court cases’ which were considered “taboos” in our society and not a usual material for
films produced by Star Cinema is a leap for Star Cinema, a deviation to their usual films and a
risk that they had took. Thus, even though it was produced by Star Cinema, audiences considered
it as far from those generic films that Star Cinema had produced since this film does not promote
love teams or does not talk about ‘romantic’ story.

The three main factors that I would like to highlight on this film that made the audiences
claim that it is not a ‘generic’ film was the concept of rape, mental condition and court cases.
First is the concept of ‘rape’ which was not really a main subject for films most especially for
Star Cinema. Rape is a concept that is usually featured on news, documentaries or even in reality
shows. Thus, the inclusion of this concept made the film as controversial as it may seem most
especially for Star Cinema audiences. Second is the ‘mental condition’ which was evidently
portrayed by the character of John Lloyd Cruz. A woman who was allegedly rape by a man is
already a controversial concept for moviegoers and it was more controversial because of the fact
that the man who was accused of rape has a mental condition. Lastly is ‘court cases’ which was
not really a usual material for Star Cinema films. This film (The Trial) wanted to highlight the
case that Ronald had to face. However, even though these concepts could be the reason why The
Trial was considered not a typical film for Star Cinema, the filmmakers also seem to use these
cases to make the film ‘marketable.’

On Rape
Rape is considered to be a sensitive topic to be talk about in a society and to be portrayed
on big screens. However, in this film, it may seem that the concept of ‘rape’ was just used to
make the film be ‘controversial’ for the audience. They used the concept of ‘rape’ not because
they really wanted to tackle about rape itself but rather it was used to shock the audiences
because in the film, Ronald was accused of raping his tutor/teacher because of a video that went
viral online. However, towards the end of the film, it turned out that it was not really “rape” that
happened but “making love” because the victim, Ma’am Bessy, actually liked what they did.
They made love together but Teacher Bessy made it seem to look rape because by the time they
were doing it, she was the one who saw the phone on the window of the room taking video of
what they were doing. She immediately made an action struggling and shouting for rescue so that
it would seem that it was really a ‘rape.’ It was a covert style of storytelling. The filmmakers
viewed ‘rape’ as a controversial and sensitive concept that if ever this will be featured on a film,
it will stir up the audience’s curiosity. Since it was not really rape that happened, it was just used
to justify the film as controversial and new for the audience. This kind of story could be
something new for Star Cinema audiences but if failed to recognize the essence of tackling what
really ‘rape’ is.

On mental condition
Just like rape, tackling mental condition is a sensitive topic that requires much attention
and careful details of portrayal most especially in films. The central character of the film has this
mental condition of adult by age and looks has a child mentality. It was portrayed effectively by
John Lloyd Cruz however; it also seems that this concept was used to make the twist of the story
controversial. Yes, this is again something new for the audience but there were no highlights in
the film that featured the mental condition of Ronald. It was used as a supporting claim to the
alleged “rape” case that since Ronald did raped his tutor/teacher because he has a mental
condition. Contrary to the rape situation, this concept was “overt” in style in the sense that
because of the mental condition of the character, it may seem to be more possible for him to do
such action (rape) towards his teacher. Moreover, the film became marketable as well not
because it actually tackled about the specific mental condition that the main character has.
Beyond that, it was still because it is John Lloyd Cruz who portrayed the role. The story may be
new for the audience and the concept of the film may be controversial for the audience that made
the film “not a typical” film but still made it to the masses because it was John Lloyd Cruz as the
lead character. A factor that for me is considered as a ‘generic’ one since the chosen actor was
someone familiar and indeed marketable for the audience.

On court cases
Court cases were never new for the audiences but for Star Cinema audience, it practically
does. The Trial is a film that concerned about the trial that the central character (Ronald) had to
face despite his special condition. Court cases are also considered serious topics that were not
usually shown in the films of Star Cinema. However, the concept of “trial” seen in the movie
does not just talk about the trail itself Ronald is facing. It is indeed the bulk of the movie but it is
also, in one way or another, a symbolic title. Just like in the previous discussion on rape and
mental condition, the concept of ‘court cases’ was used to make the film more interesting and to
make it seem something new. They used the concept of court cases to tell a ‘dramatic’ story,
hence; making the title a symbolic one. It does not just talk about the Trial of Ronald anymore
but it does also talked about the trial being faced by the lawyer of Ronald, Atty. Julien Bien
(played by Richard Gomez) and his wife named Amanda Bien (played by Gretchen Barreto), a
psychologist. The couple had a conflict on their marriage because of an “affair” involving
Amanda Bien from her past that led to numerous fights/misunderstandings until one night; the
couple’s fight eventually led their son Martin Bien (Enrique Gil) to his death. Amanda could not
move on and still grieve for his son while Atty. Julien just wanted to move on from the tragedy
and wanted an annulment from his wife. This situation led to the agreement that Amanda will
give the annulment that her husband wanted only if he will be the lawyer of Ronald. Amanda had
so much empathy to Ronald when she found out what happened because it seems that Ronald
filled in Amanda’s longingness for his son that she always feel. Another symbolic representation
is the trial that Ronald’s parents were facing. Since Ronald has a special condition, he was
innocent and clueless of all the tension and conflict that is happening around him. Thus, his
parents were the one who feels the suffering. The portrayal of Ronald’s parents in the film as
well is something new for the audience’s eyes because his parents were lesbian and gay and this
was portrayed not just by character but also on the way how they looked (cross-dressers). This
was a controversial one because when Ronald was questioned in the court on why he did not stop
when Ma’am Bessy was already shouting to him to stop what they were doing, he did not stop
because Ronald reason out that when he watches rated X movies/DVDs on their home owned by
his parents and there are ‘love making scenes,’ when the girl shouted for stop but the man above
him continues what he is doing. This situation was used as evidence that somehow it influenced
Ronald to do such act towards his teacher without knowing that it was actually wrong. This
instance was also a manifestation of a pre-conceived idea that there was a stereotype among
parents whose gender preferences are gay and lesbian. All of these instances were manifestations
to represent the ‘title’ The Trial. It is just that the movie and perhaps the title was a covert way of
telling the audience that this movie tackles about a court case but would also like to tell life
dramas of the characters involved.

The Trial is indeed something original for the audience but the concepts (such as rape,
mental condition and court cases) that were used in the film was not really the main focused of
the film and they were not even tackled in their true essence. It was original because it was not
propelled by love teams or comedic acts and it speaks of sensitive and serious themes. It
presented a different subject matter far different from the generic and predictable “kilig” and
funny scenes being recycled in Star Cinema films. However, even though the film has a
reputation of being original and new for the audience, it will still fall under the generic flow of
stories among Filipino audiences. There were concepts in the film that were already familiar to
audiences. Hence, it is classified under ‘melodrama’ because the film contains melodramatic
conventions such as deteriorating marriage, a longing mother over a dead son, and maternal
instincts towards a person due to longingness. Much as the film wanted to be termed as original,
it still contains generic concepts but these concepts were covert in nature because the film used
concepts that are controversial and sensitive. The film may also be considered as a step higher
from the generic films produced by Star Cinema but it is still indeed considered as a ‘generic’
one because nevertheless, still produced by Star Cinema and the film included actors that were
already ‘marketable’ for the audience. Yes, the film may be marketable because of its original
story but it is also marketable because of the actors involved. It is not a hundred percent
marketable because of its originality or to the sensitive and controversial themes involved but
also because of the starred actors.

The Trial, even though considered as original, may still be flawed because of its
technicalities or conventions but it is also a stepping stone towards producing new and original
materials for Filipino films, most especially for Star Cinema films, that would still captivate the
audience.