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| director JOEL LAMANGAN with NORA AUNOR & PHILLIP SALVADOR |
ACTOR-DIRECTOR JOEL LAMANGAN have won so many awards this year as best director for “Rainbow’s Sunset” and as best supporting actor for “School Service”. He also gained rave reviews at the Cannes Filmfest for his role as the psychotic Philippine president in Lav Diaz’ “Ang Hupa”, which will be the opening film of the Cinemalaya Filmfest on August 2 at the CCP.
He’s now directing “Isa Pang Bahaghari” which they intend to enter in the coming Metro Manila Filmfest. What can he say that some bashers are saying it’s just another story of “kabaklaan”, like “Rainbow’s Sunset”?
“Magkaiba naman sila,” he says. “Mas bata ang characters sa ‘Isa Pang Bahaghari’. Sa ‘Rainbow’ kasi, mga 80 years old na sila. Mas bata naman sina Nora Aunor, Phillip Salvador and Michael de Mesa, at hindi naman nagsama rito ang characters nina Ipe and Michael. Basta si Michael, since high school, one true love niya si Ipe, pero si Nora ang nagustuhan nito at tinuluan pa niyang manligaw. Years later, after magkahiwalay sina Nora and Ipe for so many years, si Michael uli ang tutulong kay Ipe para ligawan uli si Nora.”
Another difference is in the setting and milieu of the stories. “Sa ‘Rainbow’, mayayaman sila. Dito, poor sina Ate Guy. So sa mga nagrereklamo kung bakit may bakla na naman, e bakit, di ba kahit saan naman, may bakla? Dito, ipapakita namin na yung mga mahihirap na bakla, kahit sawimpalad, nagpupunyagi pa ring mabuhay nang tama at positibo pa rin ang tingin sa buhay.
"Si Nora rito, ang trabaho, nagpapatuyo ng isda para maging daing. We found a beautiful village sa Cavite na ganun ang trabaho ng mga tao. Ang ganda nung location. Virgin pa at ngayon lang may magsu-shoot doon. Kahit tungkol sa mahihirap ang movie namin, we want the set to be light and not depressing para hindi masabing this is another poverty porn.”
So how is it working again with Ate Guy after their last film together in 2014, “Hustisya”, where she won as Cinemalaya best actress? “It’s always a pleasure working with her kasi si Nora Aunor is just like wine. Habang tumatagal, lalong sumasarap. So dito sa ‘Isa Pang Bahaghari’ mas masarap pang Nora Aunor ang mapapanood ninyo.”
