by Harry Lamer

Created on: September 11, 2009

What's a day like in a seedy family-run cinema in the Philippines?

Serbis offers precisely this, sometimes all too explicit glimpse into the life of such a family theatre.

We know it is a family theatre because of the big capital letters that line vertically outside the cinema - 'FAMILY'. But the only thing that connotes any kind of kinship in this sleazy joint is the family that runs it.

For hidden within the dark confines of the theatre are a host of activities and characters that are definitely not suitable for the eyes of children.

Run by the Pineda family, all in the name of making a living, the cinema features a glitz of romantic or pornographic films that attract not only prostitutes but also gay young men ready to offer a special "service" to older men.

"Serbis" by the way, means "service" in the Filipino language - a byword for the boys hawking their sexual services within the theatre.

Those familiar with Filipino film may not be overawed by the live sex scenes that feature all too readily in Serbis. Others however, may find it a little hard to stomach.

But Serbis is not simply a film about the gay culture in the Philippines. It is also a story of the Pineda family that owns the rundown theatre.

But it is not exactly a story either, but rather "a day in the life of"... a revealing look into the various characters that come and go within the dirty, dank halls of the cinema (including a runaway goat no less).

Such films are not easy to appreciate. One does not expect earth-shattering events to occur in the space of a single day. Nor would one expect any suitable conclusions to issues explored within the film.

Instead, Serbis steams along to a slow boil, exposing the lives in detail of a fairly strong ensemble cast.

A matriarchal grandmother (Gina Pareno) breaks her daily routine for a trip to court after suing her estranged husband for bigamy. She leaves her daughter and mother of the family, Nayda (Jacky Jose) to man the theatre in her absence.

Little son Jonas peeps unabashedly at his sister changing. One assumes he would have seen much more in the theatre halls where he seemingly has free rein.

Another son and cinema janitor, Alan (Coco Martin) goes about his daily chores with quiet stoicism, painting murals of nude ladies and clearing choked (and extremely dirty) toilets. He meets with his girlfriend for sex, then warms to the revelation of her unwanted pregnancy.

Nayda's husband Lando (Julio Diaz), who runs a little eatery downstairs, tries to deal with a customer who has shortchanged him.

Meanwhile, cousin Ronald and cinema projectionist (Kristopher King), receives a very visual blowjob from a resident prostitute, then makes eyes at Nayda in a sudden, perhaps incestuous turn....

As a film that offers an unadulterated view into the several seedy cinemas found in the Philippines, Serbis certainly leaves almost nothing to the imagination.

On the other hand, as a drama depicting the lives of people who frequent sleazy settings such as in this cinema, the film is a very frank and thoughtful portrayal. Akira Kurosawa's The Lower Depths this is not, but Serbis does make a decent shout for its sense of realism.

Rating from Moovy Revue: 4/5

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