Ded na si Lolo opens Dec. 2

MANILA, Philippines - An artful reincarnation, Ded na si Lolo reels once more, gathering Filipinos to witness its digitally-remastered version that aims to uplift the nation’s spirits following the tragic typhoons that struck the country.

Now with its English title, Grandpa is Dead, the film starts to run on Dec. 2.

 “Comedy ito pero may iyakan din,” director Soxie Topacio says.

Ded na si Lolo with the catchphrase Bayan ni Lolo, Bayan ng Pilipino depicts Pinoy pride and the bayanihan spirit in the time of grief and death through the different scenarios every Pinoy family had to endure during their father’s six-day wake and burial.

The film, which got an A from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB), was also chosen as the Philippines’ official entry to the 82nd Oscar Awards, competing under the Best Foreign Language Film category and the official selection of the 2010 Palm Springs Festival.

As its way of giving back, the producer, APT Entertainment, in cooperation with the Directors Guild of the Philippines, opted to donate half of its proceeds — needed for its journey to the Oscars — to the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng.

The dramedy is based on direk Soxie’s early experiences with death as he observed the burial of his aunt, which is complicated by several superstitions they were forced to follow.

In Ded na si Lolo, he is represented by the character of BJ Forbes, who plays Bobet, grandson of the deceased, who in the process learns the complexity of burying the beloved dead as superstitions get in the way of their mourning.

Other cast members include Elizabeth Oropesa, Gina Alajar, Roderick Paulate, Manilyn Reynes, Rainier Castillo and Dick Israel.