From the team that brought you Ang Lalake Sa Parola and
Ang Lihim Ni Antonio (considered to be among the top-grossing digital
gay-themed movies) comes yet another powerfully woven tale of discovery and
awakening. Kambyo is a story of four men who embark on a road trip not
knowing that it will change them forever.
This latest collaboration between Digital Viva and the production house BeyondtheBox traces the lives of four boys: cousins Macky (Rayan Dulay, who made a splash in Bathhouse) and Manuel (played by Kenjie Garcia, who played the titular character in Ang Lihim Ni Antonio), their fun-loving friend Xavier (Harold Macasero) and his friend Aldo (Gabz del Rosario).
One day, Macky decides to hit the open road to look for his old friend Philip (Johnron Tanada) and takes his cousin with him. He and Manuel invite their friend Xavier to join them, who agrees, on the condition that his hunky friend Aldo—whom he met just before they set off in search of Philip—be allowed to come along as well.
As the engine of Macky's old van begins to accelerate, so do their relationships with each other. To make a long story short, things between the four traveling companions heat up, allowing hidden desires and pent-up emotions to find release.
The film will be screened on July 5 at the University of the Philippines Film Center in UP Diliman, with a regular screening on July 9 at Robinsons Galleria, Ermita and Metro East.
While Kambyo touches on some of the issues raised in Ang Lalake Sa Parola and Ang Lihim Ni Antonio, Jay Altarejos, the man who directed all three movies, says that Kambyo is done in a different tone compared to its predecessors.
"Actually light drama lang ito," he says. "Happy pa nga ang ending." But when pressed to elaborate on this so-called happy ending, he refused to do so. Instead, he rhapsodized about the film's love scenes.
"This much I will say—among the three movies I did, ito ang may pinakamagandang love scene. Not because marami siyang nudity, but because it's different compared to the ones in Ang Lalaki Sa Parola and Ang Lihim ni Antonio. Sa Parola kasi, isa lang ang willing participant. Yung isa was just beginning to explore his sexuality. So hindi pa talaga all-out. Sa Antonio naman, the theme was abuse. Kaya iba din ang feel ng love scenes doon. But in Kambyo, you have two willing participants who are in love and who go all-out in their love scenes. Kaya iba talaga ito dun sa dalawang nauna kong pelikula."
That's partly why he titled the film Kambyo—because aside from the fact that it is about four guys on a road trip, the movie represents a thematic shifting of gears for him, from the theme of exploration in Parola to the darker tones of abuse in Antonio.
Kambyo is lighter and happier overall. Helping to give it that feel were the actors. "They're newcomers, but they're really good and willing to do kung ano yung kailangan sa eksena basta mapaliwanagan sila," says Direk Jay.
The team behind Kambyo—which includes writer Lex Bonife—are hopeful that it will equal the success of its predecessors. Case in point: Ang Lihim Ni Antonio will be shown in Rochester, New York in October as part of the Image Out Film Festival. However, they aren't resting on their laurels. In fact, Lex is already hard at work mapping out plots and thinking up concepts for his next screenplay.
Shift gears with Kambyo when it opens in Robinsons Galleria, Ermita, and Metro East. starting July 9, 2008.