East Meets West and Other Such Long Distance Lov'n Things

Jazz in Love
Long distance, cross cultural love affairs aren't 100% new as documentary subjects but when it is a homosexual relationship and we're talking marriage between a German and a Filipino man then we are in new and interesting territory. The real trump for this observational, linear journey is Jazz, the young, handsome and charismatic Filipino man. He is very watchable and fun to be with. He is in Love!

This is a very earnest and honest documentary directed by Baby Ruth Villarama and it opened the 2013 Cinemalaya Festival earlier this year, quite an honour. Her initial idea was to document Pinoy brides marrying German men, which is an interesting phenomena but really has been done to death (Asian bride weds Western man) and the idea spawned whilst she was taking German language lessons (preparing for her time at the 3rd Documentary Workshop conducted by the Goeth Institut).

But something else kept happening, Jazz, Ernesto Tigaldao Jr, kept popping up in the background for he too was studying German as a visa prerequisite to moving to Germany and marrying his beau, Theo (something not allowed in the Phillippines). Slowly it dawned that this was the subject for the documentary, the stakes were higher and he was more compelling. Plus gay marriage rights is a very now issue.
I love this about doco making, you are pursuing one thread but there is another that constantly shows up and is infinitely more interesting. It takes a brave and insightful filmmaker to throw away the original idea in order to take up the alternative, even with a lot of film already in the can.


Baby Ruth did exactly this, which says a lot about her as filmmaker, documentarian and person.
No doubt her years of experience, in drama and documentary had a lot to do with it as did her being surrounded by good people at Voyage Studios, like Nani Naguit, who did sound/composing and her husband Chuck Gutierrez, who was producer and editor.

Baby Ruth, Ms Cho (translator), Nani & Chuck doing the Q&A thing at BIFF 2013

We pick up the story with Theo arriving from Germany and it is a story of two men very much in love. They hang out together and go to their favourite places, reminiscing about their last time together here. The guys met online and that is where they have spent the majority of time, this being Theo's 2nd visit to the Philippines. Jazz's family have organised a large family celebration in the form of a luncheon BBQ and it looks like everyone has turned out to feast and fiesta.
But this is where we start to see that things aren't all rosy in paradise. Theo seems slightly overwhelmed and somewhat withdrawn at the party, maybe one too many aunts have implored him to look after Jazz when he's in Germany, "he has no one over there"

During a lengthy, though poignant karaoke session Theo sits watching quietly as we the audience start to read doubt on his face, Jazz seems oblivious, totally comfortable amongst his family.
There is one thing that Jazz has requested of Theo, he must ask his parents for permission to wed his son. It is part of the romance that makes up Jazz and seems to be a perfectly reasonable request but for Theo it becomes a sticking point. He seems sure that Jazz's father will say no and doesn't see the point. The party goes on and we wait for the moment and the tension builds.
What people will do for love is a central theme of this documentary with the added twist of two cultures and the tyranny of distance.

Although shot in a very respectful, non interventional, fly on the wall way, one does wonder if the camera plays a role in the outcome of this film, would the end result be different in its' absence? Are the characters playing up to the camera or is three becoming a crowd? This is a further tension that plays out in the film in the later half.

Though Baby Ruth just followed these two lovers wherever they chose to go and recorded whatever they chose to do she has still put her mark on this film in the form of subtle metaphor. My favourite being the sunrise Theo has to see, because everyone has been raving to him about it. It's a special location and he makes a special trip and when he gets there what he sees is fully a reflection of where he is at as a person. It's a great moment and quite inspired filmmaking.
Another is the use of timelapse panoramas in the beginnings of the film, it's a metaphor for things really moving but toward the end of the film such shots are now in real time. These devices are subtle but they are there and they help drive the story of these two men in love.
 

Jazz & Theo, getting amongst the lillys

Jazz in Love is gentle yet poignant, subtle but profound and a great insight into cross cultural, long distance love affairs and the nuances that come into play. 
A very beautiful portrait of two trying to be one