Inside the psyche of gamblers and cockfighters

Film Review: Sabungero: Dangal at Tibay

MANILA, Philippines - There are many things going for the new landmark film, Sabungero: Dangal at Tibay (translated as Cockfighter: Grit & Steel) directed by film newcomers Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Laurel Delgado.

The casting is superb — led by Joel Torre in the title role and supported by Nonie Buencamino, Leo Martinez, and a new face, Edwin Nombre, who debuts with a realistic portrayal of a bet-handler known in the cockfighting lingo as the kristo.

It is technically commendable although as the film unfolds, one wonders if this is one hell of a feature-length commercial, high on polish but sadly wanting in nuances.

But you can actually overlook all that because the story by Troy Bernardo and further developed by Luz Inocian, has all the natural virtues of good storytelling.

On the whole, Sabungero introduces the viewers into the world of the reluctant cockfighter-turned-aficionado played with stunning realism by Torre. The film brings non-cockfighting aficionados to various cockpits in the Big City and as one watches one cockfighting bouts after another, the characters inhabiting this milieu also come into sharp focus with jarring familiarity. Indeed, they have their own lingo, they have their own sign language and all at once, you see a peculiar world of cockfighters for what they are — driven and passionate on one hand and itinerant gamblers on the other.

Buencamino delivers a virtual acting coup as the gambler. Noteworthy was his transformation from a neophyte schemer to a seasoned politician’s sidekick. Robert Arevalo represents the cockfighters of the old school, they who remain the epitome of real gentlemen who don’t metamorphose into gamblers but steadfast businessmen with virtues intact. Martinez as Congressman Alcala is the exact opposite and played the part with disarming gusto. Equally commendable is the part of the new actor Nombre as the bet-handler. All throughout the film you wonder if Nombre was an honest-goodness cockfighter (he isn’t, we found out) of which the lead actor (Torre) also isn’t.

Indeed, not to be outdone is Torre who played the title role with consistent focus and intensity. A taut script allowed him to delineate the various layers of his character with more than convincing results. He gets good ensemble support from Ricky Davao as his friend and Maritoni Fernandez as his wife and with an equally fresh and natural acting delivered by Sid Lucero as his son.

By and large, this is an auspicious film debut by Kaimo and Delgado who succeed in giving non-aficionados a real, if, human pulsating look into the world of cocks and men.