FOLLOWING his Best Picture win at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), director Zig Dulay returns with another strong contender this year in the 96-minute drama “Green Bones.”
The film explores the stories of Xavier Gonzaga (played by Ruru Madrid), a prison guard in a quest for justice for his sister’s murder, and Domingo Zamora (played by Dennis Trillo), an inmate nearing the end of a decade-long sentence for allegedly killing his own sister and niece.
Structured in three acts, the film begins with Xavier recounting Domingo’s life based on police records. The second act shifts to Domingo’s perspective, offering his version of events. The final act ties the threads together and delivers a resolution.
While they stand on polar opposites of the narrative, Gonzaga and Zamora’s fates intertwine and establish the premise of the film. The film banks on the tension between the two, as Gonzaga keeps a vigilant eye on Zamora and is skeptical of whether the inmate’s change of heart is genuine.
The film’s title, “Green Bones,” is taken from a belief that a green bone may be found in the cremated remains of a good person, serving as a metaphor for goodness and redemption throughout the film.
Simplicity and focus are what make Dulay’s MMFF entry stand out. It avoids the tempting pitfalls of plot twists and gimmicks and instead, sticks to strong storytelling through the screenplay developed by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Ricky Lee and 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards winner Anj Atienza.
“Green Bones” attempts to probe the nature of morality and whether it is inherent or can evolve depending on time and circumstance. It dares to inject hope into otherwise bleak circumstances for the characters, challenging audiences to reflect on a person’s capacity for change.
Beyond its emotional depth, the film touches upon the issues of systemic corruption in the government, prison violence, and abuse of power.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Madrid expressed hope that the film would inspire viewers to choose kindness.
“Huwag tayo agad manghusga lalo na kung hindi natin alam ang punot-dulo,” he said. “At sa lahat ng pagkakataon, napapaligiran man tayo ng kadiliman at ng kasamaan, patuloy nating piliin ‘yong maging mabuting tao.”
At its core, “Green Bones” is a socially relevant film that tackles pressing issues through a straightforward yet effective narrative. It focuses on seeing the good in people, which makes it easy for audiences to see what’s great with this film. It is accessible yet profound, and recognizes that the story is king.