Aurora, the controversial independent film of Rosanna
Roces, will have a special one-time screening at the U.P. Cine Adarna next
Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m.
The film, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr., was slapped with two "X" ratings from the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) declaring it "unfit for public viewing."
Aurora is Rosanna's return to the big screen after appearing in La Vida Rosa (2001), which gave her the URIAN Best Actress award. In this indie film, she co-stars with Sid Lucero and Kristofer King. Sid previously won Best Actor for Selda in the URIAN and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival while Kristofer King made waves with his acclaimed performances in Babae Sa Breakwater, Tirador, and Serbis. Another character in the movie, Angeli Bayani, was adjudged Best Actress in the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival for Melancholia.
In a previous interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Sid
described his role in the movie, which was shot in a forest located in
Montalban, Rizal. "Sa Aurora, the entire plot happens overnight. It's
basically about a woman who experiences hell with members of the Lost Command.
Current events stories revolve around stuff like that, di ba? I play one of
Aurora's captors."
Is he afraid of being criticized for portraying these men in a negative light? "Yes, I'm always afraid I might offend other
cultures and those with different beliefs. But we have Muslim people in the
crew and they provided information and tell us what to do. We're always very
careful and I make sure not to offend any one. But I'm also very happy to be
able to do something like this," explains Sid.
The actor then pointed out the difference in the way independent filmmakers and
mainstream media work. "In mainstream media, whenever they create characters,
it's always black-and-white and not gray. But in reality, there is gray and
that's what I like about independent cinema. When they create characters, it's
not 100 percent good. They may be evil in a sense but still be a protagonist in
the movie."
SYNOPSIS. Aurora is an intimate portrait of a captor and a captive as they both struggle to survive in the depths of a jungle.
A social worker named Aurora (Rosanna Roces) is
kidnapped by members of the Lost Command. After a military raid in the middle
of the night, she gets lost in the forest. She walks aimlessly in the
thick forest, hoping to find her way out to freedom. She is found by Fadi
(Sid Lucero), one of her captors. Aurora tries every way in order to run
away. Will she see the break of dawn alive?
Screening: January 19 (Monday) 7:30 pm
Venue: University of the Philippines Cine Adarna, Diliman, Quezon City