The Reef Hunters

Muro Ami

(Review and Synopsis)

Synopsis

The movie is all about an autocratic captain, Fredo, who employs 150-200 child labourers to fish 300 baskets before Christmas comes. He tells the children to use the “muro ami” method which is done by scaring the fish into a net by producing a very loud noise through pounding some corals on the bottom of the sea. As the movie played, it is made known that Fredo has lost his wife and child in a boat accident, thus making him loathe the ocean. He thinks he could exact revenge by annihilating the corals and through his abusive way of fishing. From 300 baskets, he even raises his quota into 500 baskets. It is on that instance that things started turning against him. Even Dado, his father, and Botong, his close friend, grow exhausted of his harangue. Also, even his own body betrays him. Later in the story, Fredo had a change of heart. Despite this, the children still die because their young bodies had given up to their gruelling work.

Analysis

The movie is psychological because it has revealed the reason behind the lead actor’s acts. It was portrayed in the instance that it was made known to the audience that he was acting that way because it is his way of exacting revenge to the ocean for he blamed it for his lost of his wife and child. It also showed why some children, despite of being abused, are still willing to serve as laborers. It is the reality that because of poverty, they have no choice but follow what they had been ordered.

It could also be considered sociopolitical for it aroused social conscience and portrayed the reality that leaders, though not all, tend to be abusive of their power. Instead of being a servant leader, they become leaders to be served. They are executing commands which only them will benefit from the act. Moreover, they don’t consider their workers’ welfare. This was shown when child laborers were forced to sleep in rat-infested bunks and are fed only twice a day. They were also required to dive at least eight times a day to meet their quota of 500 baskets of fish, all of these, for Fredo’s own use and for his revenge which has nothing to do with the children.

Best Friend

 

Sam and Jenny were friends since they were kids. Now that they are in their last year in high school, they are still the best of friends. Jenny lives in Sam’s house because when they were in elementary, Jenny’s parents met an accident. Sam then pleaded to her dad so Jenny could stay in their house and be like a real sister to her. Because of Sam’s perseverance, her dad finally let Jenny live with them.

The two girls so loved each other that they always look on almost all things with the same perspective as real sisters do. They agree on almost everything except for one. Sam had a boyfriend, Josh. She loved him so much but she didn’t know how to make Jenny like him for her. She couldn’t understand why Jenny acted too cruel whenever Josh was around. She hated him and never liked him for Sam.

Sam’s dad did not know anything about Josh.

One afternoon in March, when the two girls reached home from a day in school, Sam’s dad told them to immediately keep their things in their bedrooms and after that, they will have a talk. The girls had no idea of what was going on. Once they were downstairs, his dad let it out. He knew about Josh and he was too angry about it. And the angrier he got when he knew it was the reason why the two girls are not in talking terms for some weeks. He let Sam choose: she will study college abroad so Jenny can stay in their home or she stay in the Philippines and let Jenny find another home.

Because of Sam’s great love for Jenny, he chose to stay abroad for Jenny’s sake not to be evicted in their house. Sam and Josh continued their relationship secretly. Jenny knew about that and still, she was in disagreement.

After two years, Sam received a letter from Jenny telling she is getting married. Sam immediately arranged her papers for her flight back home. In the wedding, she saw Josh. She knew nothing about Josh now. During her first few months abroad, they were in constant communication but after that, their contact was lost. Josh came near her and kissed her in the cheek. She blushed, but after that, she saw Josh kiss Jenny in the lips. Sam was shocked but she kept silent. Jenny looked at her happily and said, “Sam, he is the one I’ll be marrying and in seven months, he will already become a father.

The Turtle, the Snail and the Frog

Once there was a sad turtle who lives in a faraway land. He was so sad because he thought of himself as worthless as was the name called to him by the other animals because of his sluggishness. Many animals who happened to walk by him while he is walking laugh at him and then someone would mock him and say, “When do you think you will reach your destination? Next year?” Then all the other animals will make fun out of him.

One day he asked his best friend. “Frog, why is life so cruel to me? Do I not deserve happiness?”

The frog answered with another question, “Why did you say so?”

The turtle replied, “Because ever since I was born no one except you loves me. No one appreciated me for being who I am. Instead they keep scoffing at me for being so slow.”

The frog thought for a while. At that instance, there was a snail who passed by, running as fast as he could. The snail saw the two, so it went towards them. Once the snail was near, he begged them for help.

“Please give me a back ride. Another snail is coming to kill me.”

The turtle told his best friend frog to give the snail a back ride because he said he can’t help the snail. He said that he himself is too slow. But the frog replied, “If I will give this snail a back ride, it might fall when I jump. You should do it.”

“But how can I save this creature when I am very slow?” said the turtle.

“Just believe in yourself and do it!” exclaimed the frog.

So, the turtle did. The snail had a back ride until they reach a hideout far from where the killer snail could reach.

The snail thanked the turtle.

“Hey brother turtle, thank you very much. You were so fast enough that we were able to escape from the killer snail. You saved my life!”

The turtle cried in happiness.

“Really, you think I’m fast?”

“Yes you are very fast. And you are very kind for helping a stranger like me.”

The turtle then realized that he is not worthless. He may be slow in the eyes of the other animals but he is fast enough in the eyes of the snail that he saved.

Since then, the turtle became friends with many other snails and he, together with his best friend frog, lived a happy life.