A movie date for mothers

MANILA, Philippines - Will Fredo’s In Nomine Matris saw its Philippine debut in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival and won the Best Actress (New Wave category) plum for lead star Liza Diño and the Most Gender Sensitive award. It caught the attention of critics and cineastes. Those who missed the lyrical narrative, In Nomine Matris, can watch it from May 8 to 14 as it goes nationwide. It is a perfect gift for mothers who have made sacrifices in the name of love and family.           

“We want to pay tribute to our mothers,” says Liza of the film’s playdate. “We want to honor them.”

According to the actress, the movie is based on real-life events. Liza’s character Mara works as principal dancer in a production company called In Nomine Matris or Sa Ngalan ng Ina in Filipino. The film gives everyone a sneak peek into flamenco as a dance form where Mara is passionate about. Her “plateau-ed” life, however, will be changed when Mara meets a guy named Enrique (played by Al Gatmaitan). Adding to that is the love triangle in the offing being completed by Biboy Ramirez’s character Daniel. As the cast members dance their way to the cinematic reality, new relationships are made while old ones, either nurtured or challenged.

“It’s about mothers and relationships,” says Liza. “I have a mother in the movie and love interests in the (persons of) Biboy and Al. Their mother is my maestra, my teacher. (The movie explores) the dynamics of (the relationship) between kids and their mothers — like how mothers can push their kids to pursue their dreams and what are their influences on them.” 

All this makes In Nomine Matris accessible to the taste of mainstream moviegoers. The theme is easy to grasp; the narration is easy to follow. Juan dela Cruz will perhaps not grapple with words to appreciate the visual texts unfolding before them and leave the theater with a quizzical look.  

Visually, what everyone should look forward to are the dance sequences in the film that required the 25 stars to train in flamenco. This reminds one of Edgar Degas paintings like The Dancing Class. World-renowned flamenco master Clara Ramona was the brains behind the much-talked-about choreography.

The showing of In Nomine Matris proves that there “are more indie films being made these days than mainstream ones,” says Liza. “(But) the market of indies remains niche.” And what indies such as the Will Fredo film have done thus far is expanding the reach of the independent movement and spreading the word that indie filmmaking is something the public can experience and explore, particularly the enjoyment of watching them and the appreciation of its characteristics that the world cinema recognizes.

But the challenge to indie artists like Liza and Will is “to spark an interest (among Filipinos) in watching this type of movie.” Showbiz watchers think that indies are on their way to the mainstream consciousness because indie filmmakers are persistent and unrelenting in churning out unpredictable and out-of-the-box narratives, despite minimal financial gain. “They want to do it for the art,” says Liza, who also snagged the Best Actress award at the 2011 International Film Festival Manhattan for another Will Fredo-directed indie Compound.

The phrase “for the sake of art” is definitely ingrained in the movie. 

(In Nomine Matris will be screened at SM Megamall, SM North, SM Manila, SM Marikina, SM Fairview, SM South Mall, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Metroeast. For additional theaters, check the local theater listings.)