Now, she’s bound to be nominated again, but this time as best actress, for her crackerjack title role portrayal in Mel Chionglo’s Sineng Pambansa All Masters Edition entry, “Lauriana”, a dark tale of twisted love and obsession produced by Baby Go, written by Ricky Lee and helmed by Mel Chionglo. Set in a small town in Quezon Province in the 50s, Bangs plays a baylarina (dancer in the town’s kabaret) who falls in love with a dashing PC captain (Allen Dizon) who’s already married to Rich Asuncion. They live together but he turns out to be a wife beater.
“To show our passion for each other, Allen and I have a sexy love scene where both of us are totally nude,” says Bangs. “Buti na lang, comfortable ako sa kanya as we just appeared in ‘Burgos’ as brother and sister, parang barkada na kami, tapos biglang dito, mag-asawa na kami. But he’s very professional, a real gentleman, prinotektahan niya ako. Nagulat lang kami kasi 15 minutes nang kinukunan ang bedscene, hindi pa kina-cut ni Direk Mel. Kung gaano ka-tender ang love scene, the opposite naman ang bugbugan scenes. Brutal talaga. Black and blue ako rito kay Allen. Lahat ng mga pasa ko that you’d see in the movie, totoo yun. Hindi make up lang. At may ginawa sa akin si Allen na ikasa-shock ng viewers. It’s so extreme but I can’t reveal it. You have to watch the movie to find out. Basta karumal-dumal ang ginawa niya sa pagkababae ko at tiyak na magkakaroon ito ng big impact sa audience. This is my most mature and daring role so far, not only in terms of going sexy but in stepping up my level of acting. Na-challenge talaga ako nang husto.”
We turn to Direk Mel Chionglo, who also megged the last film of the late Claudia Zobel (whose remains have been intact after 30 years), “Sinner or Saint”. Did Bangs deliver as Lauriana? “She definitely did. And how. She reminded me of Claudia kasi they’re both raw. ‘Sinner or Saint’ got a lot of nominations at maraming nanghinayang kay Claudia kasi she’s an instinctive actress. Marami ring pahahangain si Bangs dito, who plays an even more demanding role as ‘Lauriana’. Mahirap ang range ng character niya who goes through various emotions. She’s a lively girl at the start, but because of the abuse she got from the man she loves, nag-iba siya, iba’t ibang emosyon ang pinakita niya, hanggang maging palaban siya. Sayang nga, inalis yung awards night sa Sineng Pambansa. Kung hindi, I believe malaki ang laban ni Bangs na mag-best actress.”
Does Bangs feel sad about this? “It’s not just about winning awards naman. I accepted to do this movie kasi it’s about improving my craft as an actress. Mas big deal sa’kin yung kasali ito sa first All Masters Edition ng Sineng Pambansa at title role pa ako.”
“Meron pa namang ibang award-giving bodies after the festival,” adds Direk Mel. “So may chance pa rin si Bang na ma-recognize ang acting niya.”
Bangs has not been assigned a new soap by ABS-CBN since she did “Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo” last year. She’s been more busy with movies. Aside from “Lauriana” and “Burgos”, she’s also in the cast of two new films, “El Brujo” with Gerald Anderson and “Sabine” with Felix Roco. “Lauriana” will have its premiere night at SM North Edsa The Block Cinema 2 tomorrow, September 5, 8 PM. Regular showing is September 11 to 17 at all SM Cinemas nationwide.
