Pinoy film-maker takes credit for blatantly copying an award-winning Iranian Film

The film "Hating Kapatid" was a part of the commercially sponsored GMA Christmas Short Films 2011. 


Directed by Louie Ignacio
Starring Perla Bautista
Produced by GMA Marketing & Productions Inc. for So Lucky





It's a great short film indeed. In fact here are some comments I found on youtube regarding the movie.


"eto ang pinakamaganda at pinakanakakaiyak sa laht ng short films"
-jammpong10


"superb concept,brilliant actors,awesome director!!!!! this is absolutely AMAZING.has the very essence of CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.hats off to all those who made this short film...clap clap clap!!!!!"
-maristmervyn


"I was about to cry, and then it ended. It was very short, but very touching. This is true spirit of Christmas."
-encantadiafanatic1


"For me this is absolutely the Best commercial that depicted Christmas Spirit. So touching.. Thanks to the people behind this making and Kudos to them. Bravo!!!"
-Ashley931344




Now watch this trailer from the the 1997 Oscar nominated Iranian film Children of Heaven.





Yeah! I notice the similarities too. In fact you will notice more similarities once you watch the entire movie. The "sharing of shoes" scene was a dead give away. The overall theme strengthens the point. 


Actually this wasn't the first time "Children of Heaven" was seemingly copied by a Filipino film maker. Gil Portes' "Mga Munting Tinig"  tried it in 2002. Instead of shoes though, the film characters, two impoverish school boys shared school uniforms. I'll be publishing a separate article regarding commercial films with obviously similar concept/s in the future. For now all I can say is "Sayang!"


There are so many creative, yet original film concepts. Go to Palanca Awards library and you can find hundreds of those. We don't need to copy! Ooopppss wait! I am guilty of copying too. Obviously, I'm not the first and more popular Julio Valiente in the Philippines. But at least I recognize that fact while some film-makers take credit for concepts they copied elsewhere hoping that noone would ever notice. Unfortunately for makers of "Hating Kapatid;" "Children of Heaven" is one of the required movies in film appreciation classes.