'Through the Lens of Cinema' Opens Eyes to Consequences of War

- DAY 1: Science and intergenerational trauma -

- 

The opening salvo began with a forum on the maritime dispute between China and Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, over the South China Sea.

Led by UP Cebu College of Social Sciences Dean Francis Michael Abad, he discussed possible solutions to resolve the conflict while maintaining the Philippines' sovereignty in the sea.

The screenings kicked off with the 2020 film “Gift of Fire”, directed by Hiroshi Kurosaki, about a young scientist attempting to develop an atomic bomb to give Japan an upper hand during World War II, while navigating his personal relationships with family and friends.

“He simply wanted to be a good scientist. He wasn’t some kind of mad scientist; he was just an ordinary person. He just wanted to be good to his family and friends and appreciate the beautiful nature of Japan,” Kurosaki said in a virtual post-screening Q&A.

Producer Ko Mori added, “Science is his passion. At the end of the day, these scientists want to pursue their dreams, as opposed to the political ramifications of WWII and how these two different things come together, and how they deal with that.”

The second film shown was “War Is a Tender Thing,” a 2013 autobiographical documentary by Adjani Arumpac that explored the long-lasting effects of the many wars that took place in Mindanao, how they affected her family and relatives, and how the lingering effects of these conflicts led to her parents' separation.

Looking back on the film 12 years later, in light of the shifting political climate, Arumpac said during the virtual Q&A, “With all of the things we are seeing from the government, it’s always the people who have to pay the price.”