‘Higop’ which is also known as ‘Sip’ is a Filipino drama that made its rotation internationally in 2023. This film was directed by Topel Lee, and the plot follows Noah, a character played by the accomplished Josef Elizalde. He is quite intrusive and borderline obsessive about his ex girlfriend, Ysa who is now, who now works for a rather usual milk tea shop, Angelica Hart is the actress who portrayed Ysa. When Ysa tries to initiate contact with Noah, he discovers a well guarded secret: that milk shop was just a cover for a sex trafficking den. As Noah looks at the grand scheme of things, He begins to comprehend that women were being sold on milk tea with different flavors embodying those women.
Noah is not like other men, for the men, saving Ysa wouldn’t be worth it as she was a part of a sex trafficking ring but to Noah she was worth saving. With this determination, he goes deeper, and solves the greatest mystery he ever faced, the one where Ysa was in danger. To his surprise, the enigmatic owner and killer Mon-Fabio Ide was also say Ysa’s lover. The film walks the fine lines of romanticism, love, lust, desire and redemption beautifully.
Cast & Crew:
In a parallel universe where Ysa who is also called Okinawa exists, Angelica Hart the movie’s protagonist is an ordinary girl who strives to break the shackles of rage and hatred. What a marvelous transformation Angelica has been able to capture in the amazing world of filming.
Josef Elizalde as Noah: Elizalde takes on the role of Noah, who loves Ysa dearly yet sees her in the most perilous situation. He captures the intricacies of love as well as the various sacrifices made in order to save someone.
Fabio Ide as Mon: Ide’s character Mon is also the owner of the illegal business and Ysa’s partner which further intensifies the competition within the story line.
Director: Topel Lee who has also pursued filmmaking in the Philippines manages to portray the nightmarish reality that exists in urban societies without any moral boundaries.
Writer: Cyril Ramos has written a screenplay that depicts the less desirable sides of love and the exploitation of society.
Themes and Analysis:
Higop examines love from a more insightful angle where human relationships and love are grasped from the past and more closely taken apart from a humanitarian perspective of rescuing someone from being mistreated. The film explores these clandestine businesses and their causes such as poverty, hopelessness and human trafficking.
The underground sex industry erodes a woman’s humanity, and such sentiments can be seen in the metaphor used in Noah’s journey of Ysa, where she refers to women in a milk tea shop by their respective flavors. For Noah, this journey is intertwined with his path to salvation where he tries to make amends as he finds himself embroiled with the mistakes of the past.
Critical Reception:
The movie currently has an IMDb rating of 5.9/10 based on 109 user reviews, according to information available till now
Critics have praised the film for its unfiltered depiction of the criminal world in Manila and the performances of its lead cast. Nevertheless, some reviews have argued that the story is too one-dimensional and fails to integrate sufficient character development alongside the economic motives driving the narrative.
Availability:
The movie Higop was first streamed on Vivamax on December 15 2023, a platform famous amongst the Filipino audience.
The movie can also be rented or bought on Amazon Prime Video, thus being increasingly available to international audiences.
Conclusion:
Higop crafts a beautiful yet devastating story of love, exploitation, and redemption anchored in the backdrop of Manila’s underground world. The film imbues its viewers with thoughts about sensitive social subjects that are usually left untouched due to intricately designed characters and moral struggles.
Higop is a legitimate addition for those exploring the more realistic side of the contemporary Filipino cinema.
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