Myra Aquino’s Beauty Queen reimagines the true story of a former beauty queen turned guerilla commander during the 1940s Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The short film, which premiered at the 38th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, depicts her courage and her fight against gender stereotypes to lead the armed struggle against the invaders. Beauty Queen shows how Remedios Gomez (Carina Febie Agustin) had the qualities of a true leader from the very beginning, and how she overcame obstacles after her father’s death.
The film begins with Remedios being crowned Miss Anao at the local beauty pageant. It quickly transitions to a montage of the Japanese invasion of the island and two years later, Remedios and her brother Oscar (Lau Apostol) join the Hukbalahap guerilla movement. Remedios and Oscar left their home and ran away after their father was tortured and executed for resisting the Japanese troops. After they arrive, Oscar is immediately stationed in a squadron while Remedios is directed towards the medical station to help the wounded. She protests against the leader of the movement, Bio (Bajun Lacap) and requests to try out every station before she picks one that she prefers, take up arms and fight alongside the men. Remedios struggles to find a common ground with these men until she proves to them that she has the power to lead.
Beauty Queen dives into the root of the Remedios’ desires and trauma. In one scene, Remedios and Oscar discuss the death of their father and the suppression of their grief and trauma. It’s a moving moment where the siblings talk about how differently they were treated and this parallels Remedios’ treatment at the camp. Even during the reality of war, women aren’t allowed to fight with men, as they are revered for their beauty pageants and never taken seriously. Agustin portrays the softness and hardness of womanhood with strength and determination. Her performance is a sight to behold, and when she finally transitions from a beauty queen to a red-lipstick wearing warrior, it proves to be a commendable stand.
While the film focuses on complex themes, Beauty Queen’s cinematography is also magnificent. Tey Clamor creates stunning moments of camaraderie and battle between Remedios and the other squadrons. In one scene, when the Remedios and the all-male squadrons are attacked by their enemy, Clamor shoots the scene during the day and doesn’t rely on gritty shots such as shaky camera techniques to reflect the chaos of the scene. The moments are focused on Remedios and the squadrons’ determination to keep the group alive. It’s the moment where Remedios’ character journey changes and brings new hope for everyone in the movement. On the other hand, while the majority of the movie is shot during the day, the scenes at night are visually stunning. Under the moonlight, Clamor creates a calm atmosphere, and even during the devastating scenes that capture the war’s deepest reality, which creates a massive emotional impact on the audience.
Beauty Queen shows one woman trying to prove to herself that she has the power to deserve praise, despite her gender and beauty. She ignites their convictions and saves the squadron from an ambush and continues to fight for her rights. With a runtime of 17 minutes, the short would have worked better if it was a feature-length movie, by diving into Remedios’ family, her father’s death, and her journey from a former beauty pageant to the new commander of the squadron. The real Remedios Gomez is famously known as Kumander Liwayway, who wore dresses and put on red lipstick before any battle. A commander for the Huk Rebellion, she fought for the right to be her true self. Beauty Queen is a moving and courageous story about a young woman that never abandoned her self-hood.
