Lust, caution
MANILA, Philippines - Palanca-award winner Jun Lana took up the challenge of directing Regal Films’ My Neighbor’s Wife starring Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana, Dennis Trillo and Jake Cuenca. The film explores the themes of marital infidelity and the challenges of monogamy. (Incidentally, Star Cinema and VIVA Films’ similar offering, No Other Woman, follows a week after My Neighbor’s Wife alongside. A threesome followed by a ménage à trois. Intriguing.)
It’s pretty interesting to note that stuff like this would’ve never happened in the previous decade. During those days, Regal and VIVA Films were already major players in the industry (it was a long time after the demise of Sampaguita Pictures) and apart from perfecting formulaic romantic dramedies, they also dabbled in producing what were known as “bold flicks.” In those days, there was a clear delineation between bold films and regular films, as clear as the distinction between the boldstar queen herself, Rosanna Roces, and wholesome equestrienne-turned-artista, Mikee Cojuanco. Heck, the demarcation lines were so severely drawn, that artistas never even touched lips during kissing scenes.
Still, no matter how many puppy love films (with Angelica Panganiban and Camille Pratts during more innocent days), studios churned out, bold flicks raked in most of the box office numbers. Eventually, though, they died out right around the time that Osang retired and SM Cinemas pledged to never show another seedy soft-core flick in their theaters, though Quark Henares did make a sincere effort to revive the genre. After that, seedy indie movies were born. Bummer.
In the past, films with themes of infidelity had more straightforward, at times more risqué, titles like Ang Kabit Ni Mrs. Montero (1999, directed by Peque Gallaga), and contained little substance, if any. Going over the plotline and reviews of My Neighbor’s Wife; however, shows promise that while the bold flicks may not be back in full force, there could at least be a happy marriage between them and mainstream cinema. Then again, some promises are just meant to be broken. In that case, at least the backside exposure of Jake Cuenca might make them worth your while.
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My Neighbor’s Wife opens on Sept. 14. Check your local cinemas for schedules.
