What do you think?
Rate this book
Break It to Me Gently: Essays on Filipino Film
As a film critic at large, Richard Bolisay has never been interested in the rigid dichotomy between good and bad, not letting movies off easy with a mere pointing of the thumb in either direction. Rather, as borne out by the reviews and festival dispatches in this collection, he burrows into each movie, teasing its furrows and breaking its codes with a forensic exhilaration in defiance of the limited purview and shallow agency typically accorded to so-called film criticism.
Break It to Me Gently is a collection of essays as much as it is a collection of times, people, experiences, thoughts, sensations, places, and stories, that finds its center on Filipino film but, like most displays of youthful ambition, tries to hem in histories, tall tales, politics, memoirs, foresights, and journalism, to mimic the raptures and tensions of the period.
Break It to Me Gently is a collection of essays as much as it is a collection of times, people, experiences, thoughts, sensations, places, and stories, that finds its center on Filipino film but, like most displays of youthful ambition, tries to hem in histories, tall tales, politics, memoirs, foresights, and journalism, to mimic the raptures and tensions of the period.
- GenresNonfiction
332 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2019
7 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bolisay
3 books10 followersRichard Bolisay is the author of Break It to Me Gently: Essays on Filipino Film (2019) and Nothing Deep (2022), and the editor of Daang Dokyu: A Festival of Philippine Documentaries (2020). As a writer, film critic, and programmer, he has participated in film festivals in Berlin, Locarno, Hong Kong, Jeonju, Berwick, Edinburgh, Brighton, Cebu, and Manila.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews
September 25, 2019
This is my book. My editor gave it 5 stars, so I’m just following his lead. I don’t make the rules.
December 13, 2020
Do you agree that one does not truly understand a subject if one is not able to explain it?
To an extent, I do. But comprehension via thought process needs time and preparation for it to be articulated. I believe that fitting about film criticisms.
With a whole slew of shows and films being released days apart in this screen age, critical thinking is a dependable tool and at the same time, an armor. On local films, Richard Bolisay's Break It To Me Gently lets us borrow that to deconstruct and see through what several Filipino attempt to mirror and deliver.
This essay compilation weighs movies of varied mix: independent, classic, experimental, artistic, documentary, acclaimed, commercial, blockbuster, and contemporary ones. It is divided into two sections: Review and Dispatches. Where the former are extended articles —"on local movies, selected for their insight and character, and for their contributions to the recreation of [the Third Golden Age of Philippine Cinema]," the latter are brief commentaries on screenings in local film festivals. The burgeoning popularity and convenience of online film festivals nationally and across continents, brought forth by the health crisis, encouraged opportunities for viewing as much in our own homes what used to be specialized and rare screenings in theaters in the metro.
Of thirty-two mainly listed films, I have seen nine. That is not tantamount to saying readers would not find value in films they have yet to see. If anything, film reviews work two-pronged: post-viewing, for the audience to examine their interpretation side-by-side a critic's; or pre-viewing, to gauge whether a film is a potential watch based on their inclination or intention. As every experience is personal, what film criticism, I believe, intends to do is illuminate the room and express grounded meaning rather than dictate what one is about to witness or have witnessed.
What I found to be of fascinating quality reading this is what the author refers to as his "writing and thinking voice" that speaks squarely and creatively sans euphemism. The analogies and allusions effectively bridge the meanings. The reader's vocabulary would certainly, to their advantage, find this book an exercise. With the author's extensive purview and experience, at the reader's disposal are professionally written essays.
Whatever intention the audience may have of seeing a film, it is important that they glean the value they come for whether that is in accord with their expectation, or as epiphany. The essays did both for me.
Book copy courtesy of ThizBook.com
To an extent, I do. But comprehension via thought process needs time and preparation for it to be articulated. I believe that fitting about film criticisms.
With a whole slew of shows and films being released days apart in this screen age, critical thinking is a dependable tool and at the same time, an armor. On local films, Richard Bolisay's Break It To Me Gently lets us borrow that to deconstruct and see through what several Filipino attempt to mirror and deliver.
This essay compilation weighs movies of varied mix: independent, classic, experimental, artistic, documentary, acclaimed, commercial, blockbuster, and contemporary ones. It is divided into two sections: Review and Dispatches. Where the former are extended articles —"on local movies, selected for their insight and character, and for their contributions to the recreation of [the Third Golden Age of Philippine Cinema]," the latter are brief commentaries on screenings in local film festivals. The burgeoning popularity and convenience of online film festivals nationally and across continents, brought forth by the health crisis, encouraged opportunities for viewing as much in our own homes what used to be specialized and rare screenings in theaters in the metro.
Of thirty-two mainly listed films, I have seen nine. That is not tantamount to saying readers would not find value in films they have yet to see. If anything, film reviews work two-pronged: post-viewing, for the audience to examine their interpretation side-by-side a critic's; or pre-viewing, to gauge whether a film is a potential watch based on their inclination or intention. As every experience is personal, what film criticism, I believe, intends to do is illuminate the room and express grounded meaning rather than dictate what one is about to witness or have witnessed.
What I found to be of fascinating quality reading this is what the author refers to as his "writing and thinking voice" that speaks squarely and creatively sans euphemism. The analogies and allusions effectively bridge the meanings. The reader's vocabulary would certainly, to their advantage, find this book an exercise. With the author's extensive purview and experience, at the reader's disposal are professionally written essays.
Whatever intention the audience may have of seeing a film, it is important that they glean the value they come for whether that is in accord with their expectation, or as epiphany. The essays did both for me.
"[C]riticism, to be considered indispensable, must first be accountable."
Book copy courtesy of ThizBook.com
August 15, 2021
Favorite line ko:
“These characters are flat on purpose, designed to be pumped with air, but even with shape, they have no silhouette.”
Edit: Five stars kasi binaggit yung Pelikula Tumblr sa intro.
“These characters are flat on purpose, designed to be pumped with air, but even with shape, they have no silhouette.”
Edit: Five stars kasi binaggit yung Pelikula Tumblr sa intro.
August 31, 2021
There will be no other Filipino film critic like Richard Bolisay.
July 9, 2022
4.5/5
I like watching movies—probably not as much as I love reading books, but it's a hobby I still enjoy as much. Starting with the Van Damme action films I silently watch with my dad and uncles to whichever was shown in the television. But the one movie that really made me appreciate the art of the film was, unashamedly, (500) Days of Summer, the 2009 romantic-comedy directed by Marc Webb. Its nonlinearity charmed me, as much as its more unconventional form of storytelling—that Expectations vs. Reality scene comes to mind as often as I'd like. And between movies and books, the common ground is words. I love words and how these can be used and rephrased and rewritten to tell stories and create essays that are simply memorable.
Lucky for me, all these three things found themselves together in this book by Richard Bolisay. Break It To Me Gently contains several essays and reviews about Filipino films and in this, Bolisay's special command of words is front and center, alongside his knowledge and love of films. In the Introduction, he mentioned that the writing skill he uses is finding the mot juste and this is clear in his works. Bolisay always had the precise word and phrasing and in spite of the title, he would say it as it is.
While I like some essays more than the others, all of these—especially the ones from the first part of the books—are remarkably and thoughtfully written. Bolisay became this prism that takes all these films and reintroduces it and critiques it as a sum of its parts. But most impressive of all is Bolisay viewing these movies from a political lens. He understands and insists that more than anything, films are reflections of the politics at the time it was made and/or shown and also are ways for filmmakers to politicize and radicalize their audiences. For a movie showcasing the poverty of the Philippines shouldn't be left as only that, but at least also be a commentary and an act of exposing the social inequalities that caused this to prevail for so long that multiple films were written about it.
Across this array of films reviewed by Bolisay, I have only seen less than ten, sadly. But the essays are still enjoyable as it is. In reviewing films, Bolisay adapts a form of storytelling that entices the readers, but also enlightens. And this book in fact separates the wheat from the chaff, receiving valuable recommendations from Bolisay himself.
In the end, this is still such an entertaining read I devoured in two days. Someday I'll watch most of the films included in this book and reread. Or simply reread for the sake of its brilliance, the way Bolisay's words jump off of the pages with such grace and intelligence.
I like watching movies—probably not as much as I love reading books, but it's a hobby I still enjoy as much. Starting with the Van Damme action films I silently watch with my dad and uncles to whichever was shown in the television. But the one movie that really made me appreciate the art of the film was, unashamedly, (500) Days of Summer, the 2009 romantic-comedy directed by Marc Webb. Its nonlinearity charmed me, as much as its more unconventional form of storytelling—that Expectations vs. Reality scene comes to mind as often as I'd like. And between movies and books, the common ground is words. I love words and how these can be used and rephrased and rewritten to tell stories and create essays that are simply memorable.
Lucky for me, all these three things found themselves together in this book by Richard Bolisay. Break It To Me Gently contains several essays and reviews about Filipino films and in this, Bolisay's special command of words is front and center, alongside his knowledge and love of films. In the Introduction, he mentioned that the writing skill he uses is finding the mot juste and this is clear in his works. Bolisay always had the precise word and phrasing and in spite of the title, he would say it as it is.
While I like some essays more than the others, all of these—especially the ones from the first part of the books—are remarkably and thoughtfully written. Bolisay became this prism that takes all these films and reintroduces it and critiques it as a sum of its parts. But most impressive of all is Bolisay viewing these movies from a political lens. He understands and insists that more than anything, films are reflections of the politics at the time it was made and/or shown and also are ways for filmmakers to politicize and radicalize their audiences. For a movie showcasing the poverty of the Philippines shouldn't be left as only that, but at least also be a commentary and an act of exposing the social inequalities that caused this to prevail for so long that multiple films were written about it.
Across this array of films reviewed by Bolisay, I have only seen less than ten, sadly. But the essays are still enjoyable as it is. In reviewing films, Bolisay adapts a form of storytelling that entices the readers, but also enlightens. And this book in fact separates the wheat from the chaff, receiving valuable recommendations from Bolisay himself.
In the end, this is still such an entertaining read I devoured in two days. Someday I'll watch most of the films included in this book and reread. Or simply reread for the sake of its brilliance, the way Bolisay's words jump off of the pages with such grace and intelligence.
September 27, 2022
Watching films is one of my favorite pastimes. Another of my pastimes is to read a review of the film I just watched and measure my opinions with what the film critics wrote. I used to read full-length reviews by Roger Ebert or Anthony Lane, but recently, capsule reviews from Letterboxd were enough for me. Sometimes I agree with what the critics wrote, but there are also times that I disagree, but I understand and respect their perspectives. It is always interesting to read about different perspectives, which deepens my love for cinema and its endless possibilities.
That is why it was easy for me to devour this book of film essays by Richard Bolisay. I admit that I have not seen most of the films he reviewed (I only managed to watch 11 out of the 32 films in his Reviews section) because most film festival entries do not reach Davao City, but he made me want to see the rest of them and understand the contexts of his reviews fully. He is incisive but generous in his reviews, and as I am ignorant of film theory and criticism, I was able to gather some input on how to view films through a different lens next time.
Lagi't lagi, mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino.
That is why it was easy for me to devour this book of film essays by Richard Bolisay. I admit that I have not seen most of the films he reviewed (I only managed to watch 11 out of the 32 films in his Reviews section) because most film festival entries do not reach Davao City, but he made me want to see the rest of them and understand the contexts of his reviews fully. He is incisive but generous in his reviews, and as I am ignorant of film theory and criticism, I was able to gather some input on how to view films through a different lens next time.
Lagi't lagi, mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino.
December 3, 2020
A little hesitant on picking up this book but I got swayed by the reviews it got and also to actually learn about the local film industry in the eyes of a film critic. I’m no cinephile but I’ve had my fair share of watching films—mainstream and arthouse.
As I browse through contents of this book, I only know and watched movies less than the number of my fingers from the list but surprisingly, I enjoyed reading it in general. It gave me a wider perspective on the local movie scene in the country—which you will not know if you’re not an avid cinephile. It’s refreshing to read the insights of an actual film critic because it gave me somewhat an objective outlook on the movies and the technicalities inside it.
Bolisay wrote everything succinctly and it lived up to the title of the book. And it’s great to read something that is new to me. It also shone the light on the social impact of the films made in our time and how it can be a reflection of the present. I don’t think I’ll ever watch a movie the same way as before and I’m excited for the local films the will be made in the future.
I just hope that once the pandemic ends, the Filipino film industry will get back up and more people pay attention to them especially those independent movies and film festivals, so that it will get the long overdue recognition it deserves.
As I browse through contents of this book, I only know and watched movies less than the number of my fingers from the list but surprisingly, I enjoyed reading it in general. It gave me a wider perspective on the local movie scene in the country—which you will not know if you’re not an avid cinephile. It’s refreshing to read the insights of an actual film critic because it gave me somewhat an objective outlook on the movies and the technicalities inside it.
Bolisay wrote everything succinctly and it lived up to the title of the book. And it’s great to read something that is new to me. It also shone the light on the social impact of the films made in our time and how it can be a reflection of the present. I don’t think I’ll ever watch a movie the same way as before and I’m excited for the local films the will be made in the future.
I just hope that once the pandemic ends, the Filipino film industry will get back up and more people pay attention to them especially those independent movies and film festivals, so that it will get the long overdue recognition it deserves.
December 7, 2019
My first ever book to finish!
December 13, 2023
Beautifully written. I admire the in-depth analyses and the graceful dancing of the words that bring the films to life.
May 23, 2021
It's easy to separate film critics who are doing it for validation and those who are doing it for the sheer love of cinema.
The former makes you allergic to reading reviews at all as they only fuel airheaded discourses among the viewing public. They write reviews for their friends, they do it for free movie passes and exclusive screenings, and are afraid to pass judgment for fear that these perks will be revoked.
But there are also writers like Richard Bolisay who criticizes as well as educates. I haven't watched most of the films included in this book but he makes me want to watch them, and those films I've already seen, he makes me want to watch again just to find the nuances he noticed but I didn't. Bolisay gives fresh eyes to his readers without being pompous, and he uses his words carefully. Some writers think that a well-written critique is one that's peppered with metaphors when all it does is induce a headache. As I said, his prose is immaculate.
My only problem with this book is that I don't know more than half of the movies reviewed but that's on me hahahahahaha
The former makes you allergic to reading reviews at all as they only fuel airheaded discourses among the viewing public. They write reviews for their friends, they do it for free movie passes and exclusive screenings, and are afraid to pass judgment for fear that these perks will be revoked.
But there are also writers like Richard Bolisay who criticizes as well as educates. I haven't watched most of the films included in this book but he makes me want to watch them, and those films I've already seen, he makes me want to watch again just to find the nuances he noticed but I didn't. Bolisay gives fresh eyes to his readers without being pompous, and he uses his words carefully. Some writers think that a well-written critique is one that's peppered with metaphors when all it does is induce a headache. As I said, his prose is immaculate.
My only problem with this book is that I don't know more than half of the movies reviewed but that's on me hahahahahaha
November 14, 2020
Book review coming soon!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews