MANILA, Philippines — Just in time for the presidency of Joe Biden, who is reversing the anti-immigrant policies of his predecessor Donald Trump, an award-winning film that features the plight of Filipino immigrants living in the United States is about to premiere in the Philippines.
The musical film titled “Yellow Rose” stars Grammy-winning and Tony Award-nominated actress Eva Noblezada, alongside Lea Salonga and Princess Punzalan.
“'Yellow Rose' is the timely story of a Filipina teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known,” reads the film’s official synopsis.
Filipino-American director and writer Diane Paragas conducted extensive research for the film, interviewing many Filipinos to accurately portray their collective experience onscreen.
“I think I want just people to acknowledge the humanity of what happens when families are separated... And to tell a story of a girl who doesn't look like your other heroines, who has a nose that looks like mine and skin that looks like mine, and who is confronted with a really horrible situation and rises to the occasion,” Diane said during a virtual press conference on Thursday.
"It's not a true story but it's based on very real things that are happening to real people all over America."
"Yellow Rose" emerged successful in its festival runs, collecting a total of 13 jury and audience awards.
It will premiere locally on January 29 through KTX.ph, iWant TF, SkyCable pay-per-view and Cignal pay-per-view for P150 per ticket.