Philippine Showbiz Today
May 22 - June
Jan. 22-Feb.7,
2015 7, 2018
Cover Story
9
TFC at the Movies releases the visual
masterpiece Kasal (The Wedding)
to audiences worldwide
Love triangles have existed
since time immemorial. Film
and literature have had their fair
share of memorable, sometimes
notorious, (love triangles), from
Elizabeth Bennet, George Wickham,
and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pride and
Prejudice; Ben Braddock, Elaine
Robinson, and Mrs. Robinson of The
Graduate; to The Hunger Games’
Katniss, Peeta and Gale; even to
Archie comics’ Veronica Lodge, Betty
Cooper, and Archie Andrews; and
the classic troika of Scarlett O’Hara,
Ashley Wilkes, and Rhett Butler of
Gone with the Wind.
ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc.
(Star Cinema) presents a romantic
triangle that would challenge the
viewers’ truths about love in the
production outfit’s 25th anniversary
offering – “Kasal” (The Wedding).
Kasal (The Wedding) features
one of the most beautiful faces and
outstanding actresses of Philippine
cinema, Bea Alonzo, Filipino-British
model and actor Derek Ramsay,
and the brilliant Paulo Avelino, fresh
from the internationally released
and widely acclaimed musical film
“Ang Larawan” (The Portrait) which
made its world premiere at the
Tokyo International Film Festival in
October 2017, and was the opening
film at the inaugural Cinematografo
International Film Festival last
November.
Kasal (The Wedding) takes
the spotlight when it opens in
theaters around the world, via TFC
at the Movies, starting May 24. It is
interesting to note that audiences
and global critics worldwide are
“embracing local pictures,” as per
Matthew Scott of variety.com. Scott
writes that “Filipino cinema is on the
rise.”
The film tells the story of public
school teacher Lia Marquez (Alonzo)
who is about to marry eligible bachelor
Philip Cordero (Avelino), until her ex-
boyfriend Wado dela Costa (Ramsay)
comes forth to expose Philip’s secret.
Wado’s arrival rekindles his romance
with Lia, which makes her doubt her
feelings for Philip. As the wedding
day approaches, Lia becomes unsure
if she is choosing the right man to
marry – torn between the man from
her past and the man she’s about to
build a future with.
Award-winning director Ruyel S.
Bayani is excited about this project.
Bayani shares that “A director is always
looking for a project that reflects his
pulse. Very mature stories require a
lot of sensitivity, understanding and
commitment to be able to deliver the
message to the audience.” He adds
that “The right combination of the
project, the material, the cast, and
crew - these came together,” in a film
where the shrouded truth and veiled
realities place the (love) triangle on
a teetering (im)balance. This delicate
tipping point leads the audience to
ask if the truth will tear them apart.
It is an exciting time for Philippine
cinema. Pavan Shamdasani writes
in variety.com that “Over the past
decade, Filipino cinema has struck
a strong balance between critically
acclaimed, award-winning films and
audience-friendly movies that have
broken box office records. Esteemed
Filipino filmmakers include Lav Diaz
and Brillante Mendoza: Diaz took
home took home the Golden Lion
at the 2016 Venice Film Festival
for “The Woman Who Left,” while
Mendoza’s film “Kinatay” won the
director award at the 2009 Cannes
Film Festival.”
Shamdasani adds “Filipino
movies have shattered box office
numbers in recent years, with action-
comedies and romantic-dramas
bringing in moviegoers around the
world.”
Star
Cinema’s
anniversary
masterpiece Kasal (The Wedding)
starts screening on May 24 in the
Middle East and Papua New Guinea;
May 25 in the U.S. and Canada; May
26 and 27 in the United Kingdom;
May 27 in Italy, Austria, and Madrid,
Spain; and May 31 in Australia, New
Zealand, and Brunei; June 3 in Hong
Kong and Singapore plus Barcelona,
Spain; and June 17 in Taiwan.
For more information on the
film, visit mytfc.com/kasal. ●