Still Life is a 2007 Filipino film written, directed, and produced by Katski Flores and starring Glaiza de Castro with John Lloyd Cruz in a minor cameo role.
Plot James Masino is a gifted painter diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). His doctor tells him he will eventually become completely paralyzed. Facing a future where he can no longer paint, James packs up his life in the city and enters a self-imposed exile at a friend's isolated house on a deserted island. His goal is to paint his final masterpiece and then die.
His plans are thwarted when a girl shows up at the house, named Emma, who claims she has also been given access by the owner to spend a few days there. With no way to contact the outside world, James decides to let Emma stay at the house with him. At first, he is annoyed by disrupting his peace in the house. Slowly, he is drawn to Emma against his will. One night, Emma discovers in his secret room a wall filled with sketches of her. They become friends that evening and confide in each other their stories.
Emma learns of James' plan and tells him he is being a coward. They talk about the philosophy of suicide and why it cannot be a legitimate choice. Emma reminds James life is precious. She tells him her story, that she got pregnant by a lover who abandoned her, and she was forced to give the baby up for adoption to give it a better life.
Somehow, the friendship inspires James, and finally, after spending an afternoon in a nearby town, James finds the inspiration for his final piece. Emma is his mode. But just as he begins to paint, his disease strikes, and he collapses in a painful seizure.
He wakes up in a hospital with his mother crying. She tells him they found him at the house, with his hands bleeding. James remembers he attempted to kill himself on the first night he arrived at the house. But he thought he chickened out. It turns out he didn't, and the entire experience, including meeting Emma, was just a dream. His mother begs him not to do anything like that again. She reminds him that whatever happens, they will make it as a family. They will help him. There is life after art.
Sometime later, James returns to the house and finishes the painting. His parents are seen at the tomb of the woman who gave James to them to adopt. They are holding a small framed print of James' final masterpiece—a painting of her. The last scene shows James being interviewed by an actor, and he tells him he doesn't know what happened, nor can he explain it. He is just happy that he met her in his dream.
Cast Ron Capinding as James Glaiza de Castro as Emma Dimples Romana Irma Adlawan Morny de Guzman Joseph Dela Cruz Alcris Galura
Awards and nominations +YearAward-giving bodyCategoryRecipientResult2007Balanghai Trophy (Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival)Best FilmKatski Flores2008Philippines Golden Screen AwardsBest Visual EffectsAugust Lyle EspinoBest CinematographyDan VillegasBest EditingMaui MauricioBest Motion Picture (Drama)Best Original SongCynthia Alexander ("Comfort In Your Strangeness")Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Drama)Glaiza de CastroBest Production DesignCris SilvaBest SoundJoey Santos, Katski FloresBreakthrough Performance by an ActorRon CapindingFAMAS AwardsBest CinematographyDan VillegasGawad Urian AwardsBest ActressGlaiza de CastroBest CinematographyDan VillegasStar AwardsDigital Movie Cinematographer of the YearDan VillegasYCC Awards (Young Critics Circle, Philippines)Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual DesignDan Villegas, Cris SilvaBest Achievement in Sound and Aural OrchestrationJoey Santos, Wincy Aquino OngBest Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting RoleRon Capinding
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