Mario J. de los Reyes’ Film “Bamboo Flowers” at the 4th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague from 8 to 12 September 2015
Prague— The Philippine Embassy in Prague presents Maryo J. de los Reyes’ “Bamboo Flowers” at the 4th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague (AFFP) on September 11, 2015 with the support the Film Development Council of the Philippines according to Philippine Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros.
The event is organized by the ASEAN Committee in Prague, which consists of the Embassies of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The AFFP, which is on its 4th run, promotes cultural understanding between the Czech Republic and ASEAN member countries through films that showcase the ASEAN region’s values, identity, and culture. Admission to the screenings is free.
“Bamboo Flowers” is a film by Maryo J. de los Reyes which revolves around the lives of people in the province of Bohol in the Central Philippines. The movie depicts stories of young people struggling to hurdle their family’s financial difficulties, of young love, their hopes and ambitions.
The film also showcases the lives of people in Bohol having to grapple with the influx of tourists and the demands of modernity that challenge their traditional thinking and way of life.
The symbolism of bamboo flowers is that they grow on trees that are in their final stages of life towards their eventual demise. Director de los Reyes, a native of Bohol, points out how old traditions are eroded by new ones introduced by lifestyle shifts, urbanization, and technology.
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