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Eugene is Marilou, the meek and subservient wife of the town’s barber (Daniel Fernando) who treats her more like his personal housemaid. It’s a sad childless marriage. After Daniel suddenly died of “bangungot”, the town’s priest (Eddie Garcia) urges Marilou to assume her husband’s job. At first, the men are reluctant to have their hair cut by a lady barber. But after Marilou helps the rebel brother of Rosa (Sue Prado), a prostitute who used to be her husband’s mistress, her barber shop picks up when Rosa tells her colleagues to pressure their customers to go have a haircut with Marilou.
Marilou is a truly gifted hair cutter and even the town’s corrupt mayor and Marcos’ supporter, Alfredo Bartolome (Noni Buencamino), is having his hair cut by her. She wants to have an uncomplicated life but Marilou gets involved with the underground movement when her “inaanak” (Nicco Manalo) asks her to help some rebels. She also finds a new friend in Cecilia (Iza Calzado), the abused and barren wife of the mayor. Soon, Marilou will face a personal crisis and make a very important decision that will culminate in an explosive scene of violence.
Those who are used to seeing Eugene doing comedy will be amazed at how effectively she interprets with much control and internalization her serious role as the cheerless Marilou who transforms into a more socially aware individual. She’ll certainly be competing with Nora Aunor in “Hustisya” as best actress in film awards derbies next year.
“Barber’s Tales” shows Filipino culture where women are regarded mainly as second class citizens needed primarily only for procreation and where family values of supreme importance. It is also about woman empowerment, awakening and emancipation and the Gabriela should support this. It’s reminiscent of the rise of the late Cory Aquino from being a plain housewife to being the leader of the protest movement against Marcos that led to the tyrant’s downfall.
This is also about sisterhood among troubled women and Eugene is superbly supported by her allies, notably Shamaine Buencamino as an old maid whose nephew becomes a rebel and Gladys Reyes as a submissive wife who’s forever getting pregnant and who acts as the film’s narrator. The film has a serious theme but it’s presented with liberal doses of humor. We particularly like the ending about the speculations of what could have happened to Marilou. Then the Nora Aunor and Marilou says “Tawagin nyo akong Luz.” You have to see the movie for yourself to know exactly what we mean. Please support “Mga Kuwentong Barbero” so young filmmakers like Jun Lana will further be encouraged to go on meaningful films like this which majority of our audiences choose to ignore.