Ang Misis ni Meyor tackles very serious topics. It is about political dynasties, extra-judicial killings, and trenchant corruption at the local level. Sadly, it isn't really equipped to handle these ideas. The film seems to take these issues as vague signifiers of the ills of this country, never getting specific enough to really address any of it intelligently. In the end, the film falls back in histrionics and contrived drama to sell us on the importance of what it's saying. But what it's saying is obvious and simplistic.
Melba (Marife Necesito) is a widow. Her husband Renato was the leader of a movement of farmers pushing for agrarian reform. He was murdered for his efforts, leaving Melba to fight for justice. She finds little luck along the way, until she gets a job in the office of Councilor Martin Morales (Marco Morales). The councilor is the son of the mayor, and is expected to carry on the family legacy in the next election. Melba grows close to the councilor, and once in a position of power, she exerts her influence to exact her revenge.
The alternate title for the film is "The Corruption of Melba." Strangely, though, the film isn't really about that. We do not really see the main character's journey into dubious choices and compromised morality. We don't ever see her struggle with anything she does. The film basically turns her into a villain as soon as she finds herself at the side of Councilor Morales, as if his mere proximity was enough to change her entire person.
The conclusion to draw from this is that Melba was never a good person to begin with, and she's been planning to do terrible things as soon as she got herself the influence and the resources to pull it off. But the movie doesn't tell that story either. It doesn't tell much of a story at all, providing only a semblance of narrative seemingly built around a bunch of scenes where people are either crying or getting naked. The film is also drably shot and poorly lit, the color noticeably changing between master shots and closeups.
The film doesn't even do a good job of depicting the corruption that takes place inside government. For all of the film's histrionics, the anger and the emotion is vague and directionless. It seems to be content with being indignant about various things that might be wrong about the way things are run in the country. It doesn't really propose anything, or offer any true insight into why any of this happens. It just stands in judgment, and while the fury is righteous, it's ultimately impotent.
Ang Misis ni Meyor turns out to be little more than a black and white morality tale. Its main thesis can be boiled down to "don't do bad things or you'll pay for it." And while this is undeniably a lesson that ought to be taught, it is one best suited for children. But the world of politics is far too complicated for the simple laws of the playground. Its morality is far more insidious, forcing the sort of compromise that gradually grinds down a person’s ideals. It's easy to be on the side of this film, but it's really difficult to take any of it seriously.
My Rating:
