Cannes winner ‘Iloilo’ premieres in PH

MANILA, Philippines – Cannes 2013 Camera d’Or (Best Debut Feature) winner “IloIlo” opened in select theaters Philippine cinemas on Wednesday, December 4.

The internationally acclaimed film, inspired by the true story of Singaporean director Anthony Chen and the Filipino who raised him, is Singapore’s entry for the 68th Academy Awards to be held in March 2014.

“Iloilo” is one of 3 Filipino-themed films that were submitted in the Cannes Foreign Language Film category.

Filipino actress Angeli Bayani plays Teresita Sajonia or Aunty Terry, a domestic worker who served as Chen’s childhood nanny. The film focuses on Aunty Terry’s relationship with the family, despite cultural differences and the challenges of the period’s financial crisis.

The film also stars Singaporean actors Yeo Yann Yann, Chen Tian Wen, and Koh Jia Ler, who play the film’s family members.

Aunty Terry

The real Aunty Terry was present during the film’s special premiere in Iloilo on December 1. She told Rappler that she had no idea that Chen created the film until he found and contacted her after winning in an international festival.

She described the movie as an entertaining family film, but clarified that it was not an exact depiction of their story.

“Akala ko talaga yung buhay namin noon, hindi naman. Pang pamilya lang, pang entertain, magandang panoorin,” she said. (I really thought it would be about our life before, but it’s not. It’s for the family, entertaining, good to watch)

But she maintains that, as seen in the film, she treated Chen like her own child, and encourages other domestic workers to show kindness to their employers.

“Para siyang anak. Wala akong anak, tinuring ko silang anak ko… Sa mga Overseeas Filipino Workers, gawin lang nila ang tama para sa kabutihan ng kanilang employer at ituring nila na pareho rin sa pamilya nila para sa huli may grasya rin silang matanggap.“

(He’s like my child. I don’t have a child, I treated all of them like my children… To Overseeas Filipino Workers, do what is right for your employers and treat them like family, so that in the end, they may also receive blessings.)

Pure connection

Writer and director Anthony Chen said the film took 2 years to write. He admitted he had to distance himself from the story and “take a few steps back” because it was “too biographical” in the beginning.

What eventually resulted was a film inspired by many of his childhood observations, but it was not a direct retelling of his life. He recalled one scene where Aunty Terry fed them chickens she slaughtered herself.

“I had to dramatize characters, certain events, a lot of emotions really came form the era,” he said.

Chen described the finished product as a “film so pure.”

“It wasn’t trying to show off,” he said. “I hope this purity connects with the audiences here.”

“Iloilo” has been screened in over 30 international film festivals, and Chen described the public’s response as “rapturous,” saying how many viewers have relatives or friends working overseas.

“I think the film has made a connection here and I think it will make more connections with more Filipinos.”

Best foot forward

Angeli Bayani hopes the film will inspire Filipinos to go beyond their boundaries when it comes to filmmaking. As the lone Filipino in the production, she said she was focused on putting her best foot forward, but learned more in the process.

Working with Chen, she said, opened her mind.

“I learned that when you’re on the set, you know acting is universal, but there are certain things na hindi na-co-communicate, mga cultural differences which should not be seen as hadlang.”

(I learned that when you’re on the set, you know acting is universal, but there are certain things that aren’t communicated, cultural differences that shouldn’t be seen as hindrances.

Watch the trailer here:

 – Rappler.com

‘Iloilo opened on December 4 in Trinoma, Glorietta, Robinsons Iloilo, Newport Cinemas, Lucky Chinatown Plaza, and SM Cinemas (Megamall, North Edsa, MOA, Fairview, Manila, Iloilo, Davao).