La Aunor’s Cinemalaya entry gets early buzz

The 10th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival opens in August but creating a buzz this early in the festival is “Hustisya,” an entry in the Directors’ Showcase Category. And rightly so because this is the first Cinemalaya entry of the one and only Superstar and soon to be proclaimed National Artist Ms. Nora Aunor.

Directed by the multi-awarded Joel Lamangan and written by the premiere scriptwriter Ricky Lee, “Hustisya” is the much-awaited reunion film of three top calibre artists. Who can forget the movie “The Flor Contemplacion Story” in 1995 which won the Best Picture and the first International Best Actress Award for La Aunor in the A-list film Cairo International Film Festival? Aside from winning in Cairo, said film also gave Nora best actress awards from Urian, YCC, Luna Awards and Star Awards. Nora also won the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress award for the movie “Muling Umawit ang Puso” in 1995.

Lamangan and Aunor’s next film project “Bakit May Kahapon Pa?” gave Nora the Best Actress award at Penang (Malaysia) International Film Festival and at Gawad Urian.

Lamangan and Aunor last worked together in “Sidhi” where Nora played a deaf-mute character. Said film, also written by Lee, garnered critical acclaim for Nora’s performance.

In “Hustisya,” Nora’s role should be interesting as she plays a “dark character” for the first time. She is a member of a human trafficking syndicate, both a victim and one who victimizes. Serving as backdrop is the hard life in Manila. Also to be tackled is the slow movement of the judicial system in the Philippines.

Ate Guy said it feels good to be reunited with Direk Joel and Ricky. She arrived early at the story conference, and immediately, her co-stars requested to have their pictures taken with her, to which Ate Guy obliged. We too had our picture taken with Ate Guy, as we never want to miss that chance.

In “Hustisya,” Nora plays Biring, a woman who cares for no one but herself and her family composed of a daughter and a teenage grandson. She sees no evil, hears no evil although she has benefitted a lot from being under the employ of a distant relative, Vivian (played by Rossana Roces) who is involved in human trafficking.

But when Biring is framed up for a murder committed by Vivian, she is forced to confront realities. She experiences the slow grind of justice in the Philippines. She learns the corrupt practices of the powerful syndicate behind Vivian. And she realizes the utter helplessness of it all. Gerald, her young enterprising lawyer (to be played by Rocco Nacino), is correct. In a society like ours, you only have two choices—to be the victim or a victimizer.

She lets Gerald transform her. She goes through a slow but steady descent into corruption and evil. Until in the end, she is finally like Vivian herself.

Lee says Nora’s role: “There is a blur, a thin line between being a bida and a kontrabida, because Biring’s character is complex. And we believe only an actress of Nora’s calibre can do justice to that role.”

Hustisya’s stellar cast is composed of Rosanna Roces, Romnick Sarmenta, Rocco Nacino, Gardo Versosa, Sunshine Dizon, Jaime Pebanco, Sue Prado, Jeric Gonzales, Miles Kanapi, John Rendez, Afi Africa and a lot more. This is the initial production of Likhang Silangan Productions in cooperation with the Cinemalaya Foundation.

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“So It’s You” is Jun Lana’s first foray into the romantic-comedy genre. His past movies were the drama “Bwakaw,” which won a number of acting awards for veteran actor Eddie Garcia and the soon-to-be shown “The Barber’s Tales” which stars Eugene Domingo. In terms of kilig moments, how does “So It’s You” which stars Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez compare?

“It is different kasi iba naman ang pulso ko as a director and as a story teller. As a genre film, in terms of expectations, when you enter the movie house and you are looking for a feel-good, romantic-comedy na mag-e-enjoy ka, ito talaga iyon. Nakakatawa siya. Nakakakilig. It is very light. Mahilig ako sa romantic comedies,” said Direk Jun who considers himself a very romantic person who is capable of jealousy.

Direk Jun said he was first offered by Regal Films the material of “So It’s You.” “I wanted to cast somebody who hasn’t done a rom-com movie. Si Carla kasi laging drama, laging serious ang mga TV characters pero I had worked with her several times and I know she has it.  She did a really good job here. She embraced her character so well kahit na alam kong hirap na hirap. Hindi siya baduy, walang taste, hindi jologs. Ang laki ng adjustment. I toned her down so much para malabas yung tamang timpla,” he said.

“Tom is very charming. He has everything you want in a leading man. You’ll be surprised that he has perfect comic timing.  Alam ko kaya niya. Ang galing-galing niya, hinimay namin ang character niya, tapos inaral niya.”

When we watch the movie, will we forget that Tom played a gay character in the TV series “My Husband’s Lover”?

“Sobrang makakalimutan lalo na pag nakita niyong naka-trunks siya. We shot the scene at 3 a.m., gising ang lahat ng mga beki. Talagang walang tulog sa set. Nabuhay ang dugo nilang lahat,” he answered.

“I hope their TV fans support them as well. Yung chemistry nila talaga is there. And they are very good friends. During the shoot, they were revealing things about each other. Like Carla said, magaling po iyan si Tom mag-drawing, kaya nagamit yung mga sketches niya sa pelikula. Magkakilala talaga sila.”

“So it’s You” opens today in theaters nationwide.