Brillante's 'intentions' in doing Captive

MANILA, Philippines - Captive, a film by internationally acclaimed Filipino director Brilante Mendoza, will be shown commercially in theaters starting Sept. 5 nationwide. Mendoza, the first and the only Filipino who won Best Director in Cannes has collaborated in this film with Isabelle Huppert, a two-time Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner.

Captive is about the hostage taking of the Abu Sayaff, a bandit group from Southern part of the Philippines. The film also tackles the issue with interwoven layers of intricate presentation of facts and fiction.

Sid Lucero as one of the stars of the film

The film is not just about the hostage taking but it also reveals the ability of a person to survive when put in an extreme situation. Consistent with Mendoza’s approach to filmmaking, Captive basically depicts the lives of real and ordinary people in an extraordinary situation.

Captive is also about human survival. It shows how each person reacts to a situation where nature can be harsh and human can become merciless given an extremely complicated situation.

As the film is being shown internationally, this is the first time that the local movie-going public will see the work of Mendoza being shown commercially in regular theaters nationwide through the efforts of Star Cinema.

Captive also stars Ronnie Lazaro, Sid Lucero, Rustica Carpio, Raymond Bagatsing, Angel Aquino, Mon Confiado, Madeleine Nicolas, Maria Isabel Lopez, Neil Ryan Sese, Mercedes Cabral, Christopher King and Allan Paule, with special participation of Coco Martin and Anita Linda.

Mendoza said that he did Captive with the following:

• Present and provide an insight into the kidnapping/hostage taking as perpetrated by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group (ASG). The event which transpired in 2001 to 2002 became both an international and national crisis.

• Recommend an in-depth study and understanding in the hearts and minds of kidnap victims during the hostage taking, as well as of the hostage takers.

French actress Isabelle Huppert (center) with Angel Aquino (left)

• Show one of the socio-political problems that viciously plague Philippine society. The complicated issue is the result of interwoven layers of intricate presentation of facts and fiction. This is my intention to show a tapestry of emotions and behaviors as to why this dastardly act is committed. But in the end, what could prevail are the person’s decision and conviction either to do good or bad.

• Provide a fitting follow-up to the film Kinatay that won the Best Director award at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.

• Fulfill a promise — a collaborative and creative tandem with French film actress Mademoiselle Isabelle Huppert.