CINEMALAYA HEARTHROBS BACK TO TEMPT AUDIENCES

July 03, 2007

Guess what? Two of the actors who sent heart rates soaring in the previous Cinemalaya festivals are back, this time in one film.

In the first Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2007, the surprise hit with both audiences and critics was “ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS.” Next to Nathan Lopez who played the title role, it was PING MEDINA who connected to the audiences the most with his touching portrayal of Maxie’s older brother.

The following year, it was SID LUCERO’s turn to charm audiences and critics alike with his seemingly effortless portrayal of a BIO (Butanding Information Officer) in in “DONSOL”, a role that fittingly won him Golden Screen’s Award for breakthrough performance.

For this year’s edition of Cinemalaya, both actors are back to tempt audiences anew as they pit talents against each other in Dennis Marasigan’s “TUKSO”, one of the full-length feature film finalists.

Sid and Ping are only too happy to be part of “TUKSO” playing two men who become romantically involved with a young village lass who mysteriously turns up dead. Sid portrays the role of Carlo, an architect fresh out of school tapped to oversee a subdivision project owned by his girlfriend’s father, but ends up having relationship with Monica, the village lass. Ping is Emer, Monica’s childhood friend and former classmate who secretly pines for her. When Monica (played by Diana Malahay who is introduced in the film) is found dead, Carlo and Emer become the prime suspects.

TUKSO has been described as a “revisionist Rashomon” as the film is presented through the different perspectives of the people who know the deceased woman. Playing equally pivotal parts are theater, film, and television stalwarts RICKY DAVAO, IRMA ADLAWAN, SOLIMAN CRUZ and SHAMAINE BUENCAMINO. Also appearing in cameo roles are NONIE BUENCAMINO, RONNIE LAZARO, MAILES KANAPI, PAOLO O’HARA, and BING PIMENTEL, supported by the TANGHALANG PILIPINO ACTORS’ COMPANY.

Cinemalaya presents the Theater Concepts Inc. production of TUKSO, film by Dennis N. Marasigan. Produced by Dennis N. Marasigan and Soc Jose. Screenplay by Dennis N. Marasigan, Nikki Torres and Mara Paulina Marasigan. Cinematography, Editing and Sound by Mo Zee, Production Design by Bianca Gonzales Dadivas, Music by Vincent de Jesus. Directed by Dennis N. Marasigan.

Cinemalaya 2007 Philippine Independent Film Festival runs on July 20 to 29 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.