Much has been said about Kalel, 15 in terms of its masterful direction (by Jun Robles Lana) and beautiful cinematography (by Carlo Mendoza), as well as in terms of the powerful performances of its actors (especially of the lead star Elijah Canlas, whose acting style is delicate, intense, and sublime all at once). I myself have watched it three times in the span of a few days, and I personally think that it is one of the best Filipino films I have ever seen (and I would even daresay, perhaps partly because of the fresh aesthetic hangover, that it is the best). However, beyond it’s well-recognized artistic merits, I also believe that Kalel, 15 is an intelligent film that demands profound philosophical reflection. Based on my interpretation, the film calls on the viewer to ponder on despair as an inevitable response to existential rebellion. The theme of despair is woven into the film all throughout. Jun Robles Lana himself has said in interviews that shoot...