What a treat for adobo friends and film buffs. Last Tuesday, February 2, at the Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1, the adobo main course had a special screening of Cannes Filmfest winner, Brillante Mendoza’s latest movie “Lola”. Mendoza’s latest offering comes barely a year after the Best Director’s coup at the Cannes Filmfest.
More than 200 movie fans attended the adobo main course event. Already known internationally, having won the Dubai International Film Festival Best Picture award late last year, the adobo main course screening of “Lola” (grandmother) is the first in the Philippines.
Director Brillante Mendoza attended the event, along with Kats Serraon, the film’s editor. “Lola” is nominated for three awards at the 4th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, for Best Film, Best Director and Best Editing.
Also present during the adobo main course event was Rustica Carpio, one of the lead actresses in the movie. Known for her vast filmography, Carpio is also credited as a founder of the Mass Communications department of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She is also a mentor of Theater Arts, and a lecturer in Mass Communications at the Far Eastern University.
The three special guests shared their insights during an enthusiastic round of questions meant to pick their brains. More than questions, the viewers took to the mike to simply share their thoughts. A large number of foreigners were in the audience, as well, who expressed their admiration on how the film’s poignancy bridged the language barrier. (With the international release version still in France, the movie was shown without subtitles.)
“Lola” weaves the tale of two grandmothers at odds with each other as a consequence of their grandsons’ actions. Philippine veteran actors Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio play the withered and wrinkled, gray and grieving grandmothers. Against type, the movie highlights a generation almost alienated by youth and recklessness. Anything but plodding, useless and senile—Brillante’s characters are sturdy, practical and sensitive. Not outcasts of time, the lolas are ageless.
Previously rejected by a number of movie companies, Mendoza’s win at the recent Cannes Filmfest was the catalyst to get “Lola” off the ground. With a Dubai Best Film win on its cap, three nominations at the Asian Film Awards, and an Official Competition entry at the Venice Film Festival, there isn’t much a movie that was filmed in 13 days could ask for.
During the tete-a-tete, Mendoza revealed he is currently doing research on his next movie, this time involving the peace and order situation in Mindanao, the southern island of the Philippines.
< height="328" width="420" alt="" src="/global//UserFiles/abs-cbn interviewing dante ED. " /> ABS-CBN’s Mario Dumawal interviews director Brillante Mendoza
The adobo main course screening of “Lola” was made possible by friends and supporters: adobo magazine, Abracadabra, Bayan, Optima Digital and VideoSonic.
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