8 Essential
Jerrold Tarog Works
You Should
Familiarize Yourself With
By Tynne De Leon
If you’ve just seen Bliss and marveled at its mind-blowing storyline, you definitely need to see the other works of its award-winning director, Jerrold Tarog.
Most famously known for his film, Heneral Luna, Tarog is not only limited to directing. In fact, he can do a little bit of everything—scriptwriting, producing, editing—even composing his own musical score. His continuous exploration with different genres is truly admirable, and his films are truly a must-watch.
Here are 8 of his best works that you’ve probably seen before Bliss:
Heneral Luna
Perhaps his most well-known work, Heneral Luna is a piece of art: from the creative cinematography to the well-written script, its honest depiction of a Filipino historical figure is compelling yet digestible enough for everyone to appreciate. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on a true cinematic masterpiece.
Sana Dati
Sana Dati is Tarog’s film for the failed romantics, and its narrative weaves through different emotions: love, hurt, and everything in between. He directed, wrote, scored and edited the whole film, and you can feel he has invested a lot of emotions on this one as it will also affect you and how you view love from different perspectives.
Senior Year
Tarog definitely made us remember the joys of high school life in Senior Year, a nostalgic coming-of-age film which featured real-life students. Its casting story is remarkable—he surveyed from 300 high school students, and chose ten students to star in the film. He wrote the script based on the life of these students, which made Senior Year a very realistic portrayal of high school life.
I’m Drunk, I Love You
This film by J.P. Habac is a total hit among the millennial audience due to its relatable portrayal of unrequited love. If the songs in the film hit you hard in the face, know that Jerrold Tarog is responsible for its musical score.
Confessional
This award-winning political mockumentary is fun and intellectual, with a narrative that hooks you until the end. Hollywood Reporter calls it “The Blair Witch Project” of political thrillers, and its symbolisms and interpretations are disturbing, but honest and real.
Shake, Rattle and Roll 12 (Punerarya)
Tarog is not only limited to indie films, he also worked for mainstream ones — he directed the last episode of Shake, Rattle and Roll 12. His episode, “Punerarya” gained positive reviews from critics, saying its indie take was fresh and effective, and the horror story was well-played out.
Mangatyanan
Mangatyanan is a deep, touching film about forgiveness and courage. The film’s charm lies in its mysteriousness and character development, and it captured the heart of the audience, especially the ones struggling with family affairs. Written, directed and scored by Jerrold Tarog, this film is a testament to his great storytelling and directing skills.
Mariquina
A personal favorite, Mariquina broke the heart of its audience with its strong and intense narrative that centers on family affairs. Directed by Milo Sogueco, this gem of a film was written and scored by Jerrold Tarog, and it stirred all kinds of emotions in us with the great acting, screenplay, directing, and of course, the music.
Which of these is your favorite? Tell us in the comments section below!
