Could Kaleldo have been ‘it’?

Like what happened to Violett Films’ Magnifico a few years ago, Brillante "Dante" Mendoza’s Kaleldo suffered the same sad fate in the hands of the Metro Manila Filmfest executive (screening) committee. Even if highly qualified, both films were not accepted as entries. As the whole world knows, Magnifico, directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes from the award-winning screenplay by Michiko Yamamoto (who also wrote the screenplay of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, last year’s surprise digital-film hit), went on to prove the Metro Filmfest wrong, winning an award at the Berlin Filmfest and earning praises from wherever it was shown abroad.

A Funfare DPA said that when Dante submitted Kaleldo "for consideration," a Metro Filmfest executive committee member (was that you, "W"?) told him bluntly, "Huwag ka nang sumali; mabibigat ang kalaban mo!" (meaning, I presume, including Terrorist Hunter?).

Asked about it during an interview with Funfare a few days ago, Dante only smiled, refusing to make any further comment.

Like Magnifico, I’m sure Kaleldo will deliver a slap on that Metro Filmfest execom member’s (thick?) face by again, like Dante’s first (digital) film, Masahista, earning nods not only from local film buffs (once it is shown starting first week of March) but also from those in other countries. I saw a rough copy of Kaleldo and I daresay that had it been accepted as entry in the just-concluded Metro Filmfest, it could have given the few deserving entries a run for the top awards, including (and especially) the controversial Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award (for the film depicting Filipino values, etc.) won by Kutob (about a psycho killer played by Marvin Agustin who was named Best Actor).

Running for more than 90 minutes, Kaleldo (Kapampangan for summer) is the story of a controlling padre de familia (played with gripping intensity by Johnny Delgado) whose quick temper puts his three daughters in their uneasy place – Juliana Palermo as the rebellious one who tries to escape her father’s grip by marrying a Mama’s Boy (played with quiet sensitivity by Lauren Novero), Cherry Pie Picache as the lesbian having an affair with a pretty lass (played with finesse by Criselda Volks) and Angel Aquino as the two-timing wife (of Alan Paule).

Like Masahista (which won the Golden Leopard award at last year’s Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and is set to compete in five more international filmfests this year), Kaleldo is done in a lyrical style, very "Frenchy," with the characters hardly shouting at each other even during confrontation scenes (unlike in most Filipino films) but instead fleshing out their feelings and emotions through body language. It’s a very quiet film, pregnant with dramatic silences and rich in imagery (take note of how Dante focuses on the beautiful Pampanga landscape, especially the kilometric dike, in outdoor scenes).

The movie, written by Boots Pastor, was shot on a "shoestring" budget of P8-M (compared to Masahista’s P2.5-M) in 25 days in and around Pampanga where Dante hails from.

How was he able to convince big stars to do the movie?

"I showed them the script," said Dante who was a production designer for movies (such as Chito Roño’s Private Show, etc.) and then for TV commercials before he had his film directorial "debut" in Masahista. "I didn’t personally talk to them before I started shooting Kaleldo. But they were all easy to talk to."

Johnny Delgado, for instance, who’s Dante’s first choice.

"When I offered him the role," recalled Dante, "he asked only for the script. When I called him after a few days, he told me, ‘Pare, ang ganda ng script mo!’ And when we met, the first thing he said was, ‘Ang babata n’yo pa,’ adding in jest, ‘marunong ba kayong gumawa ng pelikula?’ We hardly discussed about money matters at all."

Johnny and his co-stars (also including Liza Lorena who plays Lauren Novero’s overdoting mother) were convinced that Dante and company were "doing something good" which is what all of them wanted to do, anyway.

"Most of the incidents and situations in the movie are inspired by and derived from real life," said Dante whose relative is the prototype of the lesbian character played with brilliance by Cherry Pie, now one of our finest actresses today.

Kaleldo is such a good movie that it is bound to win praises anywhere it is shown. That’s why it’s such a waste and a pity that the some myopic members of the Metro Filmfest execom turned it down.

Well, I guess Dante Mendoza and his stars will eventually have the last big laugh. Just wait and see.

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