The Kiyeme twins of Eugene

MANILA, Philippines - Monday afternoon at the Glorietta Theater early this week, lusty cheers and earthshaking applause greeted Eugene Domingo’s latest festival entry, Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel.

She plays the haughty, if, overconfident, Kimmy and the sweet, overbearing, if, naïve Dora and their lives are contrasted quite sharply in a world dominated by high finance and shrewd business people.

Kimmy is always aiming for the top slot in the corporate world; Dora is content with what looks like signs of acting talent. But her illusion goes far after playing the lead role in the stage version of Lino Brocka’s Bona. In a statement that alarms Kimmy, Dora says she would like to go abroad to audition for the role of Eponine in Les Miz.

But in one big surprise of the film, Eugene plays composite parts of many talented people from martial arts master to opera singer shattering wine glasses in one trial cloning scene.

In the backdrop of the story are silent but sleazy schemers in the corporate world.

There is an awards night sequence in the finale of the film. If the cheers and applause for the latest edition of Kimmy Dora are any indication, that scene augurs well for the destiny of the wacky festival entry. You see a far more fresh Dora just out of school and a determined Kimmy who will not stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Their apprenticeship in the family company provides Eugene a good vehicle in which to show her mettle as comedian and to highlight a cold, dramatic profile worthy of The Devil Wears Prada.

With the help of the latest technology called Modula Motion Control, the twins are seen reacting to each other with their faces in full view. This technology has obviously ruled out the use of doubles.

Gauging by the finished product, Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel has a very big fighting chance of making a big surprise in the box-office race and in the awards night. Truth is the film entertains on many levels without sacrificing wit and intelligence. To top it all, Eugene is supported by a first-rate ensemble of corporate villains and demigods.

The dramatis personae involved in the corporate scheme shows the best of Angel Aquino, Joel Torre and Sam Milby, among others.  The creative team farther reveals a commendable directorial touch of Chris Martinez, the superb film editing of Bb. Joyce Bernal to the unobtrusive film scoring of Vincent de Jesus.

Cool, glossy with good sound production, the film gets to spoof James Bond with Eugene showing her latent potential as action star. It is a must-see in the festival which in the past has nothing but helpless echoes of slapsticks.

Sadly, this is the last of the Kimmy Dora franchise as the heroine plans to observe a less hectic schedule in 2014. She believes her latest film is her most refined output in the comedy genre.

Opines Eugene: “I think we have mastered and improved on the film’s original story in terms of characterization of the twin sisters. I think the biggest challenge for me is to play the twins 20 years younger than who I am in real life. Portraying them, I felt they were my real sisters that I think I am going to miss them.”

With the box-office success of the first two Kimmy Doras and the initial good feedback on the latest one, Eugene outlines what she expects from directors, especially for projects like her latest ones. “I don’t like playing soloist or diva in my films. I really expect more collaborations and a lot of creativity. I think I have outlived the director described as strict, stern and traditional. I want my directors as crazy and unpredictable but totally involved in the creative process.”

Joyce thinks Eugene belongs to the intelligent breed of comedians who doesn’t stop until she gets the best results.

For Eugene, nothing is easy in her profession. Drama and comedy both require hard work. “I can’t speak for the veterans but from what I went through, you work doubly hard whether doing comedy or drama. For both, you need heart and soul and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”

What it takes to be a comedian she unravels from experience. “I think the most essential is good timing. This is not something you learn from others or from the classroom. I think it is a gift and it is God-given. If you have it, then use it wisely and well.”

She adds her transition from theater to film and television was quite smooth, thanks to people who showed her the way. When fame and fortune beckoned, Eugene never thought of them as big deal. “ I don’t think I have changed after graduating from bit player to box-office attraction. The only change is that I now earn better, eat better but I have never been obsessed with stardom. It’s not what I enjoy in the film world right now. What I enjoy is seeing the finished product and discovering what artists can do and I am not limited to people my age. I am in awe of young talents and I love working with them as we discover and re-discover our craft. I think this is what acting is all about. This is what I actually learned from my first love which is theater. I consider acceptance in the film and TV world as extra blessing.”

Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel is now showing naitonwide.