MANILA, Philippines - Could it be that Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon’s exposure to real-life situations in their current film Dukot has rubbed off on them that they talk ‘differently’ nowadays?
Iza and Allen play tortured activists in the movie. Their characters suffer human rights violations.
When the finished movie was reviewed by the MTRCB, it initially got an X-rating for its alleged seditious content, specifically the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s portrait in a scene. Iza and Allen reacted individually to the said reprimand.
“Let’s open our eyes to what’s happening to our people and country. A blatant evidence of human rights violation is the recent Maguindanao massacre. Every film has a so-called time frame, or when the portrayed events take place. If such atrocities happen during the Arroyo regime, then there’s no reason why Dukot should be disallowed.The scenes in it are based on real life incidents, not fabrications,” Iza says.
Allen’s cousin is a victim of abduction, which explains why Dukot is close to his heart.
Dukot tackles extra-judicial killings and human rights violation under the present regime.
When it initially got an X-rating from MTRCB, its director Joel C. Lamangan and the movie’s producers fought for it and agreed on a mutually acceptable compromise. Hence its approval for theatrical exhibition.
Dukot got a grade of “A” from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). It had its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival last September.
Apart from its regular theatrical run today in selected theaters, there will be special screenings at UP Los Baños on Dec. 3; in Gaisano Country Mall, Davao City on Dec. 4; in Baguio City on Dec. 13 and in UP Manila on the third week of December.