Last Chance To See The Good Films In Sineng Pambansa At The UP Film Center

THE TWO-WEEK run of the Metro-Manila Filmfest will end today. Serious film buffs, who are turned off by most of its senseless entries but missed the Sineng Pambansa Filmfest of the Film Development Council, can now watch the All Master’s Edition entries at the UP Film Cente. Don’t miss your last chance to watch the very good films they offer. We personally recommend “Sonata”, “Badil”, “Ano ang Kulay ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap”, “Lihis”, “Lauriana” and “Bamboo Flowers”, which are surely some of the best local films shown last year, offering some great performances that are sure to get nominated in various award-giving bodies. Each film will have three screenings daily at 2:30, 5 and 7 PM. Here’s the sked:

Jan. 8 Wed - “SONATA” by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. This is the story of a disgraced opera diva finding redemption in her friendship with a little boy in Negros, starring Cherie Gil and Richard Gomez.

Jan. 9 Thurs - “ANO ANG KULAY NG MGA NAKALIMUTANG PANGARAP” by Jose Javier Reyes. This is the story of a house help who gave her life serving a family whose members all go abroad and she has nowhere else to go in her old age, starring Rustica Carpio, Kim Rodriguez, Ryan Agoncillo, Jackielou Blanco and Bobby Andrews.

Jan. 10 Fri - “LIHIS” by Joel Lamangan. The story of a schoolteacher’s search for the truth about her dad and her godfather, and her search for a town whose inhabitants were massacred during martial law, starring Lovi Poe, Jake Cuenca, Joem Bascon, Gloria Diaz and Isabelle Daza.

Jan. 14 Tues - “TINIK” by Romy Suzara. A gay love story starring Ricardo Cepeda and Lemuel Pelayo.

Jan. 15 Wed - “BADIL (Gun)” by Chito Rono. A story of corruption as reflected during election time in a small town, starring Jhong Hilario, Dick Israel and Nikki Gil.

Jan. 16 Thurs - “ANG TAG-ARAW NI TWINKLE” by Gil M. Portes. One summer in the life of a teenage drug addict who finds out she’s just adopted by the general who she thought is her real dad, starring Ellen Adarna, Arnold Reyes, Cris Villanueva and Rina Reyes.

Jan. 17 Fri - “BAMBOO FLOWERS” by Maryo J. delos Reyes. This is a trilogy of stories all set in the beautiful island of Bohol, starring Irma Adlawan, Mylene Dizon, Max Cinco, Orlando Sol and Ruru Madrid.

Jan. 21 Tues - “OTSO” by Elwood Perez, a cryptic film about a filmmaker and the process of creation starring Anita Linda, Vince Tanada and unknown theatre actors.

Jan. 22 Wed - “LAURIANA” by Mel Chionglo. This is a period drama set in Quezon Province in the 50s about a Philippine Constabulary captain and his abusive relationship with a small town baylarina, starring Allen Dizon, Bangs Garcia, Victor Basa and Rich Asuncion.