The year 1984 was one of the golden years of Philippine cinema, when the local movie industry produced a good number of outstanding films. It was a banner year for Superstar Nora Aunor as well.
In 1984, the Superstar reasserted her supremacy as the country's premier actress by starring in three films that were all critically and commercially successful: Gil Portes's 'Merika and Mario O'Hara's Condemned and Bulaklak sa City Jail.
The films were major triumphs for La Aunor especially as a performer. She earned Best Actress nominations for the three films in the first Star Awards for Movies organized by the Philippine Movie Press Club. This feat has yet to be duplicated by any actor to this day. In the Urian for the same year, she earned two Best Actress nominations—another first.
'Merikais hailed by critics as one of the important Filipino films depicting the Filipino migrant experience. It is the story of Milagros Cruz, a Filipino nurse working in New York. Longing for a different life despite material comforts abroad, she chooses to go back to her own country.
Rated "A" by the Film Ratings Board, Condemned is described by critic Noel Vera as "one of the most perfect Filipino noir thrillers ever made." The film tells of sibling love between Yolly, a rose peddler in the streets of Ermita, and her brother Efren (Dan Alvaro) who is entrapped in the operations of a syndicate queen (Gloria Romero).
The second O'Hara-Aunor collaboration of the year, Bulaklak sa City Jail, was the Metro Manila Film Festival's major winner. Penned by noted novelist Lualhati Bautista, the film depicts the ordeals of Angela, a pregnant woman falsely accused of a crime, as she is detained in a vicious correctional institution.
The International Circle of Online Noranians (ICON), in cooperation with the UP Film Institute, deems it fitting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 'Merika, Condemned,and Bulaklak sa City Jail with a free screening of the films at the Videotheque of the UP Film Institute, UP Diliman, this Saturday, December 19, from 1:00 pm.
The schedule is as follows:
1:00 pm - 'Merika
2:45 pm - Bulaklak sa City Jail
7:00 pm - Condemned
A program will be held—featuring a panel discussion with guests and the soft launch of the DVD of Bona and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos from NV Productions and Ivory Music & Video—between 4:30 and 7:00 pm at the UPFI Bernal Gallery.
This event is open to the public.