Personally, the film Firefly attracted me not because of its story. First and foremost–it’s about the filmmaker’s brilliance in directing movies (Paglipay, The Baggage, and Black Rainbow) and TV series (Maria Clara at Ibarra and Sahaya). He can magically transform a story, no matter how it may seem insignificant, but make it engaging and compelling. That’s how I was convinced of the film’s great potential.
Zig Dulay‘s Firefly is a minuscule film among all the official film entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). It carries no big names except Dingdong Dantes (in a ‘special participation’ role as the grown-up Tonton) and Alessandra De Rossi as the child’s mother in the story.
Watching the Firefly has [somehow] reminded me of the 2012 adventure-drama film Life of Pi. However, the best or the closest I could relate to its simple story of a boy who ventured into looking for the fireflies his mom told him about–is the 2005 high fantasy film–The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Though not necessarily too close to C.S. Lewis‘s novel, perhaps it’s identifiable because of its Christian-like undertones.
Based on the original story by Anj Atienza of the same title–Firefly could anchor on the Biblical passage on 1 John 4:18 that says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”
Firefly follows 10-year-old Tonton (Euwenn Mikaell) and his mother, who share a love for stories. Using the “clues” he believes she left behind in an old notebook, he journeys to the magical island he hoped to find. On the road, he meets three strangers (Epy Quizon as Mang Louie, Miguel Tanfelix as Billy, and Ysabel Ortega as Erika) who will either help him or hinder his quest.
Atienza’s story in book form translated into a screenplay has created a unique cinematic experience for moviegoers. It allows the book readers to vividly imagine the stories that Elay entrusted to her son, like the Diwata, the Sleepy Giant, and the Stone Giant. Frankly, Tonton’s journey is a way for him not to stop dreaming and believing.
Atienza’s intent to express her thoughts on not losing the courage to dream is reminiscent of the words of The Little Prince author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who says, “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
Tonton possesses such a pure heart with the help of his new-found friends, whom he met on a bus going to Ticao, Bicol, and navigates their way to reach the final destination–to finally see the sea of fireflies.
It is also on that island where Tonton has to face his fear–his childhood trauma. Like the firefly in Elay’s story–Tonton embraces the light he lost. He finally regains his strength and discovers that love is stronger over his fears.
Despite the spotted loophole (how did Tonton became a book-selling author–that wasn’t established clearly, at least to me), the book got translated into a screenplay, beautifully executed by Dulay’s direction in all those breathtaking sceneries, the cinematography, and even Neil Daza’s photography were magnificently presented onscreen. The seamless computer-generated imagery incorporated into the storytelling provides the moviegoers with a visual feast for the young ones and the young-at-hearts to marvel at.
Yes, Firefly is a minuscule production as opposed to its other co-competitors in the MMFF 2023, but one thing’s for sure–it pierces the hearts of those who come and watch the film. It will also allow them to see love as the most powerful weapon to fight darkness as its light permeates and shatters the stronghold of evils in this world.
