Some Nights I Feel Like Walking

The Filipino hustler story is a sub-genre all on its own. Countless variations of the same theme have been produced over the years...with quantity superseding quality. Basically, it's a case of...if you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Not the case here...halle-bloody-luj-ah! This is a complete reversal of that over-trodden, threadbare stereotype. Here, they are leaving the city...with some heavy baggage indeed! Honestly, it's best to go onto this film without knowing anything at all about it...then, the surprises come aplenty. The biggest surprise being the parallels that can be drawn with 'The Wizard of Oz' - yes, you read that correctly, this motley crew are the contemporary friends of Dorothy! Certainly, more cocksure and streetwise than Dottie's all-singing, all-dancing gang...but, for one of them, there's no place like home! Come hell or high water, his friends are going to make sure they get him there. And, perhaps, for the first time in their young lives, they share a purpose - other than just to survive. This is a journey that will change their hearts and minds...forever.

Petersen Vargas has armed these warriors with bravado and intention...so needed in a world crammed full of toxicity and absurdity. When you sell your body [and soul] just to survive, insurmountable barriers simply become surmountable obstacles...with an ever-changing landscape and a pulsating soundscape, Mr Vargas deals his brethren their greatest escape. He deals himself a Royal - heart-filled - Flush. Five cards. Five boys. Bravo.

Only 3 Filipino films have made it into our pantheon of greatness: Antonio's Secret [2008], The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros [2005], Markova: Comfort Gay [2000]...Some Nights I Feel Like Walking is a most welcome and much-deserved 4th.

Trailer...