Love knows no age
or gender.
This is what the Cinema One 2008 entry Dose (Twelve) aims to tell moviegoers. It will rely on the acting skills of Yul Servo and budding actor Fritz Chavez to evoke passion and the imaginations of viewers when they watch this sensitive film. When they meet, the line that separates love and abuse blurs, resulting in a touching and intimate friendship that defies social and moral standards.
Written and directed by Senedy
Que, Dose also stars Emilio Garcia, stage veteran Irma Adlawan, Ray An
Dulay, and Arlene Tolibas. Alessandra de Rossi is cast in a special role as the
teacher of the young boy Edy who feels unloved and neglected.
When a friendly acquaintance develops into an unlikely closeness between a curious 12-year old boy named Edy and a lonely gardener Danny, the line that defines love and friendship, passion and trust inevitably intersects. In the end, theirs becomes an either complex relationship or mutual companionship that defies age...and gender.
Direk Senedy himself gives a warning about his debut film: "It's a very disturbing story...it's about the need of love for every child."
He points out: "Here
is a story where a child and a man bonded because of the void they both want to
fill. Iyong bata unloved, yung hardinero naman malungkot. That's why when they
became close, the line between friendship and affair is blurred, yet the
intrigue is there kaya everybody will feel iyong lalim ng pelikula."
Debunking the story to be autobiographical, the scriptwriter-turned-director
reveals that Dose is filled with snippets or lines from films
he grew up with. "There are associations here from movies like Waikiki, Darna, Dyesebel, The Sisters and Underage, kasi the
gay-like lines add amusement to Dose's story."But it's still the progressing and provocative
too-close-for-comfort relationship between two people that will leave a mark in
moviegoers' hearts.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Yul if he felt awkward while shooting a sensitive scene with a young boy.
He explained, "Hindi naman kasi bago ko naman tinanggap yung trabaho, binasa ko muna yung script. Yun nga sabi ko kay Direk [Maryo J. delos Reyes, his manager], okay ba ‘to? Siyempre, ako naman hindi naman ako basta-basta tumatanggap ng trabaho. Maski maganda, siyempre minsan may maganda pero hindi maganda ang feedback din sa yo di ba? Tinatanong ko si Direk Maryo ano bang gagawin. Ang sabi ni Direk e, tanggapin mo yan."
Since Yul is splitting his time between being an actor and a politician, which profession gives him the most fulfilmment?
"Halos parehas lang po. Pero siyempre mas love ko po yung trabaho ko bilang artista. Kasi yun naman po talaga yung una kong ginusto."
Acting can also be considered to be the first love of Fritz Chavez, Yul's object of affection in the movie. At ten years old, Fritz acts mature for his age and has no fears about being taunted by his classmates for doing a gay movie. When he does get teased, he answers back by asking the bullies they get paid to act or if they have the chance to work with big-name stars just like him. With his self-confidence in place, Fritz hopes to carve a name for himself in the showbiz industry. He has previously appeared in ABS-CBN's teleserye Maligno as a classmate of the demonic child and in GMA-7's Joaquin Bordado as the young Eddie Garcia.
Fritz narrates that he worked for four days on this Cinema One entry. He says with a huge smile, "Challenging sa akin itong movie. Proud na proud nga po ako, e!"
Dose is produced and owned by Cinema One and Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI). The 2008 Cinema One Originals digital film festival runs until November 27. The awarding ceremony is on November 28 at the Dolphy Theater of ABS-CBN. Its theatrical screening will be from December 3 to 10 at IndieSine, Robinsons Galleria.
Dose (2008)
Director: Senedy Que
Executive producer: Ronald Arguelles
Story & screenplay: Senedy Que
Cast:
Yul Servo - Danny, the Gardener
Fritz Chavez - Edy, a 12-year old unloved child
Emilio Garcia - Edy, a 40-year old filmmaker
Irma Adlawan - Helen, 38-year old aunt who takes care of Edy
Ray Ann Dulay - Bobby, Edy's current boyfriend
Arlene Tolibas - Pilay, the loyal maid
Alessandra de Rossi - The teacher