CBCP endorses Bagong Buwan, slams 3 other filmfest entries

A movie depicting the different Muslim views of the war in Mindanao was endorsed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday. But the CBCP rated as "morally disturbing" three other entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Arcbishop of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo, CBCP president, said Bagong Buwan (Star Cinema Productions; directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya; starring Cesar Montano, Amy Austria and Caridad Sanchez) is a movie about Christians and Muslims that challenges the consciousness of the country’s Christian majority.

On the other hand, the Catholic Initiative for Enlightened Movie Appreciation (Cinema), the CBCP movie review and classification board, brushed aside as "morally disturbing" the movies Hubog (Golden Harvest Productions, directed by Joel Lamangan; starring sisters Assunta and Alessandra de Rossi), Tatarin (Viva Productions; directed by Tikoy Aguiluz; starring Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Rica Peralejo and Patricia Javier), and Susmaryosep (Maverick Films; directed by Edgardo Vinarao; starring Bobby Andrews).

Quevedo said a Muslim sees reality from a cultural, economic, political and religious angle which is quite different from that of a Christian.

"Bagong Buwan has chosen to depict these different Muslim views in order to project their common anxieties, joys and hopes," he said.

Quevedo said Bagong Buwan challenges Christian Filipinos to try to understand the Muslim view of life, culture, religion, politics, economics, development, justice and peace.

Cinema said the movie Hubog is an "effective mirror" of the exploitation of the poor as brilliantly portrayed by the De Rossi sisters.

"This is not the a story of an individual, but of a whole community who wants to raise their standard of living," Cinema said.

Cinema said the movie Tatarin needed to show Rica Peralejo’s sensual dance as well as those of the other women but that sexual scenes were extended to capture the attention of movie fans.

"It is obvious that the director and producer have used these dancing scenes and sexual scenes to capture more audience," Cinema said.

Cinema said Aguiluz failed to capture the essence of Nick Joaquin and placed a lot of imaginary scenes, which have not been depicted in the original story.

Cinema said the movie Susmaryosep is a "very shallow" depiction of the life of priests, seminarians, nuns and other people of the cloth.

The Metro Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal or awards night was scheduled to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City last night. –Sandy Araneta