Crazy in an entertaining way

The one advantage of digital movies over mainstream cinema that uses 35mm is that it is so cheap to produce it allows independent filmmakers to go experimental and be crazy, which is what Nasaan si Francis? is – experimental and crazy. Crazy in an entertaining way.

Based on the Ilonggo play Diin na si Francis?, Nasaan (blown up into 35mm for the theatrical exhibition) is directed by Gabby Fernandez, who also wrote the original Ilonggo material.

Set in Bacolod City, the story revolves around three young men: Jeffrey Quizon, who plays the title role of the hopeless drug user/pusher Francis; Paolo Contis and his sidekick, Rico Blanco of Rivermaya fame.

Desperate for money, Paolo, accompanied by Rico, one day goes to the house of Jeffrey, who – in the middle of their talk – just conks out of them and dies from drug overdose.

But instead of calling 911 – or perhaps the funeral parlor because Jeffrey is obviously dead – the duo stays behind and searches the house looking for a whole stash of drugs that Paolo hopes he could sell in order to free his girlfriend Tanya Garcia from a prostitution joint run by Rio Locsin. Meanwhile, what do they do with the body of Jeffrey? What they do with his corpse and the search for the drug loot is the mystery waiting to be solved in Nasaan si Francis?

Nasaan si Francis? is an out and out comedy – a farce even. This is one movie where you will see how each cast member shows his crazy side – including the venerable Christopher de Leon.

In his 32 years in the movies, De Leon has done all sorts of roles: A young man who awakens to the ills of society right in his own small town (Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang), a G-string-wearing native (Banawe), a kissin’ cousin (Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw), a turn-of-the-century Filipino (Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?), an infidel boyfriend/husband (Magkaribal, My Other Woman, Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig, etc.), a wife beater (Kapag Napagod Ang Puso), a Chinese patriarch and so many other characters.

However, it is here in Nasaan si Francis? where the icon of dramaturgy reveals a crazy and wild side you’d never think he had. It is shocking at first, but in time you’d laugh along with it.

Rio Locsin, another respected performer on screen, also lets her hair down in this movie and even sports a blonde wig to show that she can also be wacky.

Nasaan si Francis? is actually a gathering of some of the most competent performers in the country: Ricky Davao and Rita Avila, playing the siblings of Francis (Ms. Avila is still in shape after all these years), Angel Aquino (a Francis’ girlfriend) and Julia Clarete (as Tanya Garcia’s prostitute friend).

Among the lead players, it is not surprising anymore that Jeffrey Quizon delivers a creditable performance (he is multi-awarded after all). What may come as a surprise to most viewers is the strong screen presence of Rico Blanco. Watching him go through his comic routines, you’d never suspect that Nasaan si Francis? is his first screen outing. In the film, he comes out like he was born to perform on screen.

But the most impressive among them all is Paolo Contis, the young actor who grew up before our very eyes – having started as a child star in the kiddie gag show Ang TV. Surely, his comic talent was honed in this program. But I think he was really born with a funny bone and this we see in all his screen performances today. Given his talent, I won’t be surprised if he’d turn out to be another Dolphy someday.

That the producers of Nasaan si Francis? were able to assemble all these fine talents in one movie project also shows another one of the pluses of doing digital films. I swear this is not something that can be done in mainstream cinema. Okay, I stand corrected. Having all these talented stars in one film is possible, except that the producer would have to be sent to the poorhouse at the end of the project.

Digital films, however, make that possible because of the cheap cost and now we have quality movies coming out every so often in our movie theaters.

Unfortunately, those who keep carping about how inferior local films are never there to support these noble projects. Only a few weeks ago, Mario Cornejo’s Big-Time was shown in local theaters. It is a finely-crafted film that would have entertained local audiences. But nobody came to watch it.

And now we have Nasaan si Francis?, a movie that is notches above the usual Filipino films most of us complain about. Once it hits local theaters on March 1, I hope I don’t end up asking the question: Nasaan ang moviegoers?