Evaluation of The Main Features of The Movie Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang

The movie “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang” is a story of human life’s chances and choices, and, of the pursuit to understanding what matters in the eyes of man, in a worldly concept, in contrast to what God wants for humanity to treasure and uphold.

Style & artistry

There are many contrasts shown in the film that presented crossroads in the life of Junior, and paved way for the development of his character. It presented humanity’s needs and motivations in a socio-cultural perspective, where one man’s values in life is greatly affected and influenced by his/her surroundings. The character’s concept of family, success, love, and life is generally a result from his/her experience. I found the movie contrasts creatively shown through characters’ social status (poor Berto vs. rich Cesar), physical appearances (leper/ mentally insaned vs. trophy girlfriend/ handsome playboys), as well as their residential architecture (bahay kubo vs. mansions). The panoramic shots of the field where Kuala and Berto usually spend time together gave of a free and warm feeling. The mansions, school and town proper scenes highlighted conflicts and hypocritical behaviors of characters.

There is paradox in how life and death is shown: how the movie started in a secret death of a child, that further lead to the start of one’s life as Kuala; and how the movie ended with deaths of parents after the birth of one that was revealed and witnessed by all. I was amazed how the psychological perspective of the movie was given depth through pain of abortion and childbirth: how the trauma from child loss and betrayal made Kuala insane, thus keeping the secret of fornication and murder, among other sins, in connection to how her childbirth renewed her mind, bringing back her sanity and therefore exposing the scandal and sins at the end of the film.

Though the character’s struggles were socio-cultural in perspective, there is a latent spiritual perspective to the film, which is introduced, not just by means of the movie title, but also through the inner struggle in the life of Junior, as he progressively witnessed the contrasts in the values and moral standards of two contrasting groups in the story: the hypocritical oppressors (those with both high social status, and the ones aiming to be in their place), and the oppressed ones (low/ no status in the eyes of men). His choice to value the undervalued, to trust and follow what he saw as morally upright, and to uphold truth and fight for the welfare of the oppressed gave insight to the standard of judgment of God as presented in the title itself, and which was highlighted in the mass scene explaining that it came from the Scriptures (Book of Daniel). This spiritual standard then expressed, up until the end of the movie, man’s limited knowledge and incapability to meet it because they take judgement in their hands.

Permanence & universality

Though Filipinos today are no longer as conservative as the time-frame of the movie, the movie still speaks volumes even to this generation. Despite laws about cyberbullying, or proactive calls for equality, gender sensitivity, many are still oppressed, mainly because of human’s nature to seek pleasure, fame and approval – much more today with the social media platforms, and change in normative trends – thus tendencies to sin become more tempting because many things are becoming legal nowadays. This even transcends culture and nationality, since it tackles moral and spiritual truths that is common to many. Issues of abortion, adultery, prostitution, social and racial oppression, PWD and mentally distressed discrimination is still an issue today.