JERRY OLEA
May kumuwestiyon sa paghakot ng pelikulang Her Locket ng eight awards sa 6th Sinag Maynila indie filmfest.
Mas karapat-dapat daw na magwagi ng awards ang The Gospel of the Beast dahil sa technical and artistic merits, pati insightful moral and philosophical reflection nito.
Dalawa lamang ang tropeyo ng The Gospel of the Beast — best actor para kay Ronnie Lazaro, at best supporting actor para kay Jansen Magpusao.
Read: Her Locket sweeps eight awards at 6th Sinag Maynila
Ang Her Locket, na para lang daw Hallmark melodrama, ang pinarangalan bilang best film, best actress (Rebecca Chuaunsu), best director (J.E. Tiglao), best ensemble, best supporting actress (Elora Españo), best cinematography (Jag Concepcion), best screenplay (Maze Miranda and J.E. Tiglao), at best production design (James Rosendal).
Ang mga hurado sa full-length finalists ng Sinag Maynila 2024 ay ang mga pinagpipitaganang sina Lav Diaz, Ramona Diaz, at Bibeth Orteza.
REBECCA CHUAUNSU runaway winner for best actress
“Wow! It’s overwhelming!” bulalas ni Miss Rebecca nang makatsikahan ko sandali bago ang 8:30 P.M. screening ng Her Locket nitong Setyembre 10, 2024, Martes, sa Gateway Cineplex 18, Cubao, Quezon City.
Maliban sa pagiging bida ng Her Locket ay si Miss Rebecca ang producer nito. At ang istorya niyon ay inspired ng kuwento ng kanilang pamilya.
Read: Rebecca Chuaunsu immortalizes her family's story in Her Locket
Pagpapatuloy ni Miss Rebecca, “We do not believe also that we have won so many awards, but it’s the Lord’s blessing.
“It may not be a Hallmark film because it’s also an indie film, and our budget is also indie budget.
“And we try our best to give the best quality.”
Nakausap ko si Bibeth right after the awards ceremony noong Linggo sa Metropolitan Theater ng Maynila.
Ani Bibeth, runaway winner sina Miss Rebecca at Elora bilang best actress at best supporting actress, respectively.
Isa lang ang kalaban ni Miss Rebecca bilang best actress, si Kira Balinger ng Maple Leaf Dreams. Hindi in-announce kung may nakatunggali si Elora.
“We really worked hard for our roles. We researched, and then on set, we had our acting coaches,” sambit ni Miss Rebecca.
“And director requires us to be very focused in our roles, and we try to do our best.”
Pinagkalooban ng jury prize na best ensemble ang Her Locket.
Maliban kina Miss Rebecca at Elora, nasa cast ng movie sina Boo Gabunada (tanging kalaban ni Jansen sa best supporting actor category), Benedict Cua, Sophie Ng, Francis Mata, at Rolando Inocencio.
Naapektuhan ba si Miss Rebecca sa pagmamaasim o pag-aampalaya laban sa Her Locket? Dedma na lang siya? Nanatiling gracious, magnanimous?
“It’s a reality in life, di ba? You win some, you lose some. But as long as you know you gave your best, that’s the most important thing,” mabining pagngiti ni Miss Rebecca.
Read: Her Locket film, a poignant family drama on grief, dementia
GORGY RULA
Matinong pelikula ang Her Locket.
Naalala ko rito ang Mano Po series ng Regal, pero hindi nga lang ganun ka star-studded. Pero magagaling silang lahat.
Huwag nang kontrahin nung taga-Salome ang winners ng Sinag Maynila dahil dasurv naman talaga ito ng Her Locket.
Ano naman kung Hallmark melodrama kung maganda naman at na-appreciate ng manonood?
Ang sa akin lang naman, basta na-achieve ng isang pelikula na maiparating ang mensahe sa mga manonood.
Ginandahan mo nga, di ko naman masalo ang gustong iparating ng Salome! O subukan kong panoorin uli ito five years from now, baka ma-gets ko na!
Kaya galingan na lang niya sa susunod na pelikulang gagawin niya.
Naalala ko tuloy si Direk Chito Roño, nung ginawa niya ang Curacha: Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga (1998) ni Rosanna Roces.
Sinabi ko sa kanya na parang nalaliman ako sa pelikulang ito. Taas noo niya akong sinagot noon, “Panoorin mo uli 10 years from now, baka maintindihan mo na!”
NOEL FERRER
I have yet to watch Her Locket, and I hope it’ll stand the evaluation and appreciation of a bigger public.
May wide theatrical release ba ito apart from the Sinag Maynila festival schedule? Sana!
May other and future international festivals din ba itong paglalabasan? Sana!
Let’s just continue supporting each other para makaalagwa pa ang industriya ng pelikula.
Kaya nakakainggit talaga ang mga taga-teatro. Sabihin nang mas maliit ang audience nila at mas mahal ang ticket, pero sobra ang pagmamahal at suporta nila sa isa’t isa… kaya they are thriving!!!