Film Review: Barbers Tales (Mga Kuwentong Barbero) by Director Jun Robles Lana

Men are deemed competent by default in a lot of disciplines like car repairs or computers.
Women are deemed incompetent by default in these areas. (reddit) Generalizations like this are
examples of double standards that shape how people view the relationship of gender to various
fields of interest. Generalizations like Women can't be logical; men can't be emotional. (reddit)
pretty much sums up sexism for the past millennia. Director Jun Robles Lana was able to address
this using the medium of film with the work of art that is Mga Kuwentong Barbero or Barbers
Tales.
Director Jun Robles Lanas Barbers Tales created a place where a lot of nothing is
happening. However, this doesnt mean nothing is developing in the story. This film is a character
study of the female protagonist named Marilou, played by Eugene Domingo, who became a widow
after her husband, who owns a barbershop, died. For this reason, she is now forced to either work
in the urban areas of Manila or to manage her husbands barbershop which was passed down only
onto men until Marilou. Being passive-aggressively oppressed as a woman, she eventually
discovers freedom and liberation.
Marilous transformation is one of the biggest feats this movie has to offer. As you go along
the film, you will notice subtle changes in her tone and facial expressions that indicates change in
character. These changes in character are the result of new found interactions that were introduced
by the death of her husband, you could almost say that her husband was dragging her down. As a
matter of fact, by the end of the movie you will be able to distinguish the newly developed
character that is the independent and firm Marilou. By way of example, in the climax of the film
you will observe a feat from Marilou few would be able to expect. Indeed, her husbands death
was truly the turning point of this film.
As previously stated, this film was a character study of Marilous character. Furthermore,
the film was also describing Marcos martial law era. The writer and director of this film, Jun Lana,
was able to draw parallels between those two well defined themes of the film. What I liked about
it is how Jun Lana was able to make those two themes work together. In particular, I liked how he
cut from one scene to another with strong contrast, you then are able to make a clear distinction
on what theme is developing for that certain scene. For example, there is a specific scene where a
military soldier was searching the house of a character in hopes of finding a rebel. The way the
camera moved was totally different from the other parts of the film, it was dynamic and erratic.
On the subject of camera work, I appreciate directors who save up on a specific kind of shot when
it is truly needed. As a reference, the soldier in the house scene was made impactful and effective
because Jun Lana rarely makes the camera move. Incidentally, I liked how the overall tone of the
film matches the feel and look of the film. The visuals were similar to sepia which amplifies the
feeling of idleness of the town. Additionally, the way Jun Lana presented the war between the
rebels and the soldiers was perfect. It was ominous, only in the background and never in the frame.
The film achieves being funny, depressing, and intense at different times and I think this is the
main reason why the film is so good.

Conversely, I had a few problems with this film. First of all, I didnt like how Jun Lana
made one particular event in the film into a montage. I hated it in that particular moment because
the event works in such a way that the main protagonist is caught in a constant tension between
her and some group of people. Considering this, making a montage out of that event will entirely
remove the tension and make the film less immersive than it should have been. Secondly, the
ending of the movie was far too dragged out and it was cheesy as hell. Thirdly, the context of the
film was sometimes forced onto the audience. For example, there were multiple scenes where
characters just blurted out his/her opinion regarding a specific topic. Before I start with my last
complaint, I would like to indicate that Im the type of person that enjoys watching a movie more
than once so that I may enjoy the subtle details I didnt notice during my first watch. With this in
mind, I noticed that the death of Marilous husband wasnt convincing at all. There was no point
in the film where this was foreshadowed at all, it just happened. But trust me when I say that this
film more than makes up for its presentation errors.
As I end this review I would like you to read the quote below. I am giving this one a 7/10.
Marilous journey from someone who does not believe in the revolution and fighting for
social upheaval is one of the staunchest elements of the films screenplay. It is a slow, gradual
awakening and deaths are the source of life in this womans rebirth into a new ideology.
(businessmirror)

Works Cited

reddit. "Reddit, what gender-based double standards are there? (Serious)" reddit: the front
page of the internet. 2014.
<https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/287ds3/reddit_what_genderbased_double_s
tandards_are/>
reddit. "What gender-based double standard infuriates you the most?" reddit: the front page of the
internet. 2013. <What gender-based double standard infuriates you the most?>
bussinessmirror. "Incredible, but these Barbers Tales are true." BusinessMirror | A broader look at
today's business. 3 June 2015.
<http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/incredible-but-these-barbers-tales-are-true/>