Loving beyond gender

We’ve seen bromance films, both foreign and local, and the “shock“ element has been eliminated by the frequency of the production. Until Ang Lee came up with Brokeback Mountain and cast Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as lovers, and then bagged an Oscar, actors generally frowned on playing “m-to-m” (man-to-man) roles lest their image was tarnished with unsavory rumors about their sexual preference. Now, almost every actor is ready, willing and able to do it.

But wait a minute, how would the public take a love story between two women? Sure, there have been scenes about actresses in love scenes but, if memory serves, no local movie has ever fully tackled the subject…until director Roman Santillan Perez Jr. dared to do it in Adan (opening on Wednesday, Nov. 20), an erotic thriller from Viva Films (with co-producers Aliud Entertainment and Imagine Per Second) starring Cindy Miranda and Rhen Escaño.

Written by Yam Laranas (Aurora, Sigaw, etc.), Adan is the story of a naïve provincial lass (Rhen) who plans to murder her father to achieve independence, accidentally making her best girl friend (Cindy) assist her. But their actions lead to nerve-shattering consequences.

Cindy used to be a co-host on Willie Revillame’s Wowowin before she finished a runner-up in the 2013 Bb. Pilipinas pageant while Rhen has to her credit indies Si Magdalola at ang Mga Gago (2016) and Kabisera (2016).

Describe your roles.

Cindy: My character Marian is a very loyal friend who will do anything to help her friend. She loves so deeply. 

Rhen: My character, Ellen, is a simple girl who lives in a world made smaller by her father. Because of that, she becomes daring and finds the answers to questions bothering her. She’s ready to do everything for love, quiet but with an overactive mind. She’s unschooled but wise in many ways.

What did you find interesting about them?

Cindy: I found myself in Marian’s journey. This is myself that people don’t see or don’t know about me, far from my beauty queen image. I decided to do this role so people can see that I’m not just mahinhin, pa-cute at pa-ganda, that I can be someone they never expect me to be.

Rhen: Through Ellen and Marian, we will know why many people go crazy about and over love. They will show the other meaning of love, kapusukan at kasinungalingan.

How did you prepare for them?

Cindy: I read the whole script for at least three times, slowly as possible, and I’ve watched at least five lesbian movies about lesbians. But most of all, I looked for the “Adan” inside me. Some of the staff on the set even thought that I was really a lesbian on our first shooting day and maybe that was really a good start.

Rhen: I prepared mentally, physically and emotionally. I also read the script three times. Playing Ellen is challenging kahit pa may mga pagkakatulad kami. I also lost weight. In the story, Ellen is only 16 years old so I tried to look her age pero at the same time kailangan makita din ng audience na hindi na siya bata kung mag-isip.

What is sexy to you? 

Cindy: Being clever.

Rhen: Sexy comes with an attitude of confidence and being comfortable with your self. It’s showing people that you know your worth as a woman. 

When do you feel sexy?

Cindy: Whenever I feel a connection with someone’s soul.

Rhen: When I feel loved and special. Which is most of the time.

What part of your body do you find sexiest?

Cindy: My eyes. 

Rhen: My eyes din. Also my lips. Many people say that I have a nice butt, hahahaha! 

What part of a man’s body do you find sexiest?

Cindy: Eyes as well.

Rhen: The eyes…the way his eyes talk to you without him even saying a word. That’s sexy.

Sexiest time of day?

Cindy: Upon waking up because that’s when I can see my abs clearer.  

Rhen: Night time, hahaha!

Sexiest part of the house?

Cindy: Kitchen. I can’t stop looking at the food. I’m hungry all the time. 

Rhen: Uhm? Kitchen? Just wanna be different, hahaha!

Sexiest book? 

Cindy: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne    

Rhen: Message In A Bottle by Nicholas Sparks.

Sexiest movie?

Cindy: Adan. Not because I’m in the movie, it’s just that the story is “Oh, wow!” 

Rhen: Swan Lake. I just love how Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis gave justice to their characters.

Sexiest musical instrument?

Cindy: Guitar.

Rhen: Guitar? Actually, it’s not the instrument but the person playing it. I’m a huge fan of those who can play it well. 

Sexiest song?

Cindy: Liar by Camila Cabello.

Rhen: Gravity by John Mayer.

Sexiest TV show?

Cindy: Sadly, I don’t watch TV.

Rhen: Peaky Blinders. 

Sexiest food?

Cindy: Coffee. 

Rhen: Weird but okay banana na lang, hahaha!

Sexiest perfume? 

Cindy: Fucking Fabulous by Tom Ford.

Rhen: Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift. 

Sexiest animal?

Cindy: Mini schnauzer, just like my dogs. Their built is sexy.

Rhen: I can’t think of any. Me nalang, hahaha! But seriously, I don’t know, hahaha, will figure it out! 

Sexiest billboard?

Cindy: Calvin Klein.

Rhen: When I have one on EDSA, it would be the sexiest…promise! 

Sexiest clothes?

Cindy: White sleeveless and jeans. 

Rhen: Anything sleeveless.

Sexiest fantasy? 

Cindy: To walk in the middle of millions of people, all eyes not just looking but staring at me.   

Rhen: (No answer)

Sexiest face of a man?

Cindy: When he’s being honest. 

Rhen: The face of a guy who is not trying to look hot. 

Three men that you find sexy?

Cindy: Chris Hemsworth, Jamie Dornan and Kit Harington.

Rhen: Cillian Murphy and Noah Centineo. Just two; can’t think of a third one.  

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)