KUBRADOR (THE BET COLLECTOR) at the MOMA Global Lens 2008

The Global Film Inititative presented the Filipino movie called KUBRADOR (THE BET COLLECTOR) at the Museum of Modern Art last Thursday night as part of the GLOBAL LENS film series. In attendance during the screening were the director JEFF JETURIAN and cast and crew led by actress GINA PARENO.

The story revolves around Amy, the family matriarch who makes ends meet by running a small convenience store out of her house in the slums of Manila. She is forced to supplement the family income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game called "jueteng." The film is starkly realistic narrative that portrays a once-proud woman, haunted by memories of a dead son and hounded by the police, and her fragile and lonely life as a bet collector on the streets. Gina Pareno's portrayal is very effective.

I hope the next Filipino movie featured in a New York film festival is not set in the slums of Manila for a change.