MAG-IINA

Mag-iina / The Mothering (Cinemalaya 2026)

Directed by: Giancarlo Abrahan

Usually, when a film is overwhelmingly creative and extremely experimental, its artistry tends to overshadow its message. But this time around, the message takes center stage, and the artistry becomes the vehicle that drives it forward.

It’s entertaining at first. You hear the Alta people casually speaking in English. Everyone is visually attractive.

The shots are stylish, with views from higher floors subtly suggesting a sense of hierarchy and power. The circling stairs form a seemingly endless cycle, with no clear beginning or end.

As you listen to their conversations, you realize they’re neither specific nor generic, leaving them open to all kinds of interpretation. As the days pass, these conversations escalate, becoming more intense and revealing.

The topic doesn’t narrow down, though. Instead, it continues to expand, making the picture even bigger and broader.

Character decisions aren’t always reliable. Triggering moments arrive without warning. At times, it feels like an overwhelming trauma dump that throws in just about anything under the sun.

The film can be too mighty and grandiose in terms of approach, reaching so high that it fails to stay grounded. As a result, it lacks heart, becoming more of an intellectual exercise. The line between fiction and reality becomes far too blurry.

Towards the end, the film manages to weave everything together. The final statements are haunting and powerful. We’ve heard them before, and we’re hearing them again now. They may come in different forms, but at their core, they remain the same.

Absurdity and creativity are unapologetically intertwined. There’s no timeline, as the past, present, and future tend to co-exist. The mood is consistently uncomfortable.

The director is a hundred percent committed to exposing the truth in whatever way possible—without losing its poise and creativity.

And in pulling that off,

the film is mothering.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆

Cast: Janine Gutierrez, Lucas Andalio, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro, Ness Roque, Jackie Lou Blanco, Bart Guingona, Alejandra Cortez

Written by: Guelan Varela-Luarca

Release Date: August 6-18, 2026 for Cinemalaya

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews