After this, she’ll do a movie, “Unfinished Business”, starring brother Mark Gil and nephew Sid Lucero, directed by Erik Matti. Then she’ll also produce the one-woman play, “Full Gallop”, about Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, at the RCBC Theatre in March 2014, directed by Bart Guingona.
“Sonata” is an entry in the All Masters Edition of Sineng Pambansa, shot on location in Silay, Manapla and Victoria, Negros Occidental. It’s Peque and Lore’s homage to their home province. Cherie plays Regina Cadena, an international opera diva who lost her voice, had a brea
kdown and is contemplating suicide. She has travelled all over the world but now becomes a recluse in her sprawling old house. A 10-year old boy, Jonjon (played by new child actor Chino Jalandoni, a grand nephew of Joel Torre), renews her faith in humanity and makes her realize that there’s still reason for her to live and find her art again.
“At the age of 50,” says Cherie, “I’ve realized that acting is what I really want to do for the rest of my life. And I’m proud of what my brothers and nephews and nieces, who’re now all active in the industry, are doing now.”
Her role as Regina is a career-defining one. “Along with my savings and some financing from my generous ex-husband (violinist Roni Rogoff), I invested my heart and soul into this project. I can relate with Regina because I’ve really lost my voice in real life. It’s good it’s been restored now after surgery. Also, I’ve played the opera singer Maria Callas in the play, ‘Master Class’. We shot ‘Sonata’ in the same old house where we shot ‘Oro Plata Mata’ ni Peque in 1982. Now, 30 years later, I return to it and it brought back so many wonderful memories. But the house now looks smaller to me, I think lumaki na kasi ako.”
The film is actually a love story between her and the boy, Chino. How’s it acting with him? “Actually, somebody else was cast here in Manila, but maraming demands so sina Peque held a new audition in Bacolod and this boy Chino was chosen. We didn’t even know he’s related to Joel Torre, who did his first movie in ‘Oro’. The moment I saw Chino, there’s a connection, rapport between us. He reminds me of my youngest son. Ang nakakatawa, pareho kaming hyper, may ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).”
Those who’ve seen “Sonata” say Cherie has a good chance to be a best actress contender in next year’s award derbies, which means it’ll be a formidable lineup as she’ll be up against Vilma Santos in “Ekstra”, Nora Aunor in “Kuwento ni Mabuti” and Lorna Tolentino in “Burgos”. So if you want an inspirational and uplifting movie about second chances, filled with the undying music of Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini and other masters, don’t miss “Sonata” when it is shown at SM Cinemas from September 11 to 17. Movie tickets for the festival will be at a special discounted price of only P100.
