‘Boses’ finds mainstream venue to be heard

CEBU, Philippines - The movie is titled “Boses,” but the young lead star ironically utters not a single word all throughout.

Child prodigy Julian Duque was only seven years old when he shot this film about a boy made mute by domestic abuse and who later on strikes up a bond with a reclusive musician dealing with his own demons. The musician is played by Julliard-trained violinist and first-time actor Coke Bolipata.

Directed by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil and produced by Erasto Films, in cooperation with Cinemalaya Foundation, it premiered in the Cinemalaya Film Festival back in 2008. In the same year, awards for best film, direction, screenplay, music score for the film and Best Child Actor for the unassuming Duque poured in.

Since its independent film fest debut, “Boses” has competed and been exhibited in various festivals, schools, parishes and communities locally and abroad. Marfil says screenings often had movie-goers shouting and crying when end credits rolled.

Five years later, the inspiring motion picture written by Froilan Medina and Rody Vera finds its way into mainstream theaters nationwide.

Marfil, during a Cebu promotional tour of the film last July 25 with Duque, shares how she found the courage to pitch “Boses” to officials of the SM Cinemas. “We held a screening at an exclusive school for boys, and as usual, the audience reaction was really overwhelming. But one particular teenager approached me after and said, ‘Thank you. Now, I know what I should do.’”

That remark convinced her “to go mainstream,”  realizing that her film’s message had to reach more people and inspire a wider audience.

Timing also played a great part, as this was about the same time that SM Cinemas went completely digital.

Last Thursday, Marfil graced a special screening of “Boses” at the Benedicto College in Mandaue City where Duque, now 13, enthralled students with a solo violin performance.

The film, which also stars award-winning thespians Cherry Pie Picache, Ricky Davao and Meryll Soriano, has received endorsements from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), to name a few.

“How do I tackle child abuse and be entertaining at the same time? That was my challenge at first, and I could say I was able to do it. This is a love story between father and son, between a teacher and his student. This is a film for young people looking for their voice,” says Marfil with unmistakable passion.

“Boses” will have its commercial run at the SM City Cebu Cinema (and other SM Cinemas nationwide) beginning Wednesday, July 31.

The film’s distributor is persuading Cebuanos to watch on the opening day, if not, during the second or third days of screening, because if first few day receipts are slow, “Boses” will be pulled out to give way to more popular releases.

And that would be a sad plight for a heartwarming tale that needs to be heard, until there remains to be abused children all over the world. (FREEMAN)