Shaping future generations through film
In the face of all those questioning film’s relevance to Filipinos, documentary film director Baby Ruth Villarama believes that creating impactful movies is more important than ever before.
“In a time when life feels heavy and uncertain, going to the movies is not just an escape. It is a way of remembering that we are not alone. That our stories matter. That even in difficulty, there is still space for meaning, beauty, and connection.”
Villarama began with a career in the newsroom but has since moved to creating documentaries that tackle the experiences of Filipinos. Among those she’s known for are “Sunday Beauty Queen” and “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea.”
These experiences have exposed Villarama to the untold stories of Filipino women.
One thing she noticed, however, while this quiet strength is often lauded, it continues to “live behind doors, in the background, far from the glamorous image of what strength is supposed to look like.”
When issues like this continue to plague both our culture and everyday experiences, film, for Villarama, plays the role of bringing these realities to the forefront.
In the end, as much as we’d all like to witness change within our generation, the most we can do is plant seeds that the next one can reap.
“One day, they will inherit the world we are shaping now, and maybe that is what makes this work, and being a woman in film, worth it to me.”
Read the full story on lifestyle.inquirer.net
