One of the fondest memories I have of Alexis "Eggy" Tioseco was when we both attended the wedding of common friends in Cebu a year ago. Eggy was already by then a distinguished film critic and a passionate supporter of the nascent independent film industry in the Philippines. I kidded him that his taste in cinema was too elitist: if it was visually striking, narratively dense and required a panel of independent film critics simply to understand what it was all about, then it was Eggy's kind of film.
"Case in point, Eggy. You watch movies that practically require you to bring pillows, army rations and urine bags to the theater."
"That was for class. And it was a great film."
"All the films you like need a class to understand them. And it was a great film: for people who have cast-iron bladders."
"That's also why I don't watch Hollywood movies. I lack a cast-iron esophagus."
"You're a movie snob!"
"Steven Seagal. I've seen all his movies."
I stopped dead in my tracks. I motioned for Eggy to go on and explain, without having to go into too many actions that could disrupt the delicate fabric of cinematic space and time, how an otherwise reasonably intelligent and passionate cineaste could so thoroughly eschew the fine artistic and commercial films that Hollywood studios churn out on a semi-regular basis but have all the time in the world to go through the the filmography of the man who now does this:
And then Eggy started telling me of how his dad used to watch Steven Seagal's movies when he was younger, and, as he tried to find a more comfortable spot to watch the movie with his dad, how Eggy marveled at how such broadly sketched violence could bring his dad so much joy.
For Eggy, despite the fact that I think most of the movies he watched were primarily exercises in cinematic obfuscation, and how some people shouldn't be given a digital movie camera, ever, films were always an opportunity for him to recapture joy, however fleeting, however he can.
Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Photo Credits:
Picture of Alexis comes courtesy of his Facebook profile pictures.
6 comments:
I can't believe he's dead, man. It's just too far out.
Me too, Bogey. He was one of the fierce dreamers the world gifts us with every once in a while, and even more regularly takes from us.
We will miss him!
First shock, then sadness. Eggy was a class act. That's how I remember him.
Thanks Brian. We're all still in shock. I pray justice will be served.
Shit John-d, your post made me tear.
Cebu was super fun, even if Eggy did come late and stayed up all night to get wasted with Lovine on the eve of Mikkel's wedding! It's so hard to swallow how someone like him can meet such a violent end. It's so surreal.
Eggy - I wish I got to spend more time with you man, rest in peace!
I remember Cebu like it was yesterday. Funny how I almost didn't go, but ended up having a blast with you guys.
God bless you, bud. Those were some great times.
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