Rape
is a terrible thing, and it does hold brutal consequences for its perpetrators
, especially if the victims look as ravishing, as Rosanna Roces who goes
for extreme justice in "CARINO BRUTAL", a story of rape and vengeance.
The hazel-eyed tigress said that this is definitely "a movie for women,
who must learn to assert themselves when faced with injustice." It
is not just another rape movie. Osang, who has been raped countless times
in so many movies strikes back in this Romy Suzara movie up for release
in mid-July. Like the ancient Greek huntress-goddess, she has been appropriately
named Diana. The woman exacts cruel vengeance on her tormentors.
Demure Daisy Reyes plays Esperanza, Diana's co-worker. Unlike her street- smart friend, Esperanza unwittingly marries her rapist. This movie isn't about rape only, its about the friendship between two women who eventually realize that they hold their fates in their own hands.
With the coming release of Premiere Productions' "CARINO BRUTAL" Rosanna found herself again in the middle of a brewing storm. The old MTRCB board gave the movie's trailer an X rating, insisting that the movie be sanitized. The new MTRCB chaired by Armida Siguion Reyna will give the film an R-18 rating, without cuts.
The Suzara's movie, though fictional, recalls the shenanigans of the big four, a gang of politicians' sons who sowed terror in Metro Manila during the 60s because of their penchant for gang raping and even murdering young women. In the movie, it is Rosanna who gets gang raped. Still, rape, whether by an individual or a group is a brutalizing experience that capitalizes on a woman's helplessness in the face of her tormentors. Director Suzara demonstrates that rape goes beyond sex, it is a degradation of one human being by another. He also shows that rapists deserve to get the full brunt of justice.
Indeed, Rossana Roces has lived up to her title as the box office queen of Philippine movies; no one else has generated as much excitement this year in local movies. After "Curacha", she's headlining Chito Rono's "Babae sa Bintana" and she's also teaming up with Rudy Fernandez in another Romy Suzara film, "Ginto't Pilak" and anytime soon, cameras will begin grinding for Joel Lamangan's "Kalyehera, ang Babaeng may K" which is also a Premiere Entertainment Productions project.
Rosanna stands high above the clawing pretenders to the title of Sex Goddess. After all, she's got a good head atop her shoulders. This pert package of beauty, brains and character speaks with an honesty that would enrage advocates of political correctness. On the other hand, Daisy Reyes has been brushing up her thespic skills.
After her initial foray into comedy, Daisy was featured in a number of sex-dramas where she played daring and dramatic roles. It hasn't been an easy life for Ms. Reyes. After all the rumors and intrigue that attended her entrance into show business, all she wants to prove now is her talent in dramatic roles. Being in the limelight is tough but Daisy doesn't allow it to stop her. "Being a beauty queen was a somewhat different game, you were not subject to the same level of intrigue that you get in showbiz circles," admits Daisy.
"I really can't control other people's opinions of me. If I pass them on the street and they don't have a kind word to say, I just ignore them. You can't please everybody. The important thing is that I do my job to the best of my ability. If that gets noticed, then I am happy," she says.
For this former beauty queen, seeking out roles that will enhance her reputation as a dramatic performer is top priority. "I'm glad I have a very good agent in Manay Lolit Solis. However I read the scripts offered to me myself. She advises me on projects that are potentially worthwhile but the final decision is really up to me. In this industry, you often have to compromise. Women performers become more competitive if they are willing to take on more daring roles. Still the bottom line for me is whether the role will add to my depth as an actress."
"Actually, we finished shooting this movie last year," says Digna Santiago. After all the flak at the MTRCB, the film finally got approved for exhibition. Director Romy Suzara stood his ground as far as the rape scenes were concerned. "Those scenes explain the rest of the movie," said Suzara. "If they were excised, then no viewer would understand why the characters behaved the way they did."
Both Roa and Santiago backed up Suzara's position. "Even when we examined the first rushes, we asked ourselves what was really needed and even trimmed some of the scenes. We could trim no further lest we damage the integrity of the movie."
Sex is just one of the ingredients of this film which falls squarely within the suspense thriller genre. It's Rosanna's first excursion outside the sex-drama genre but it is also her way of telling other women that they don't have to stay victims. "Women can learn from what I go through in this film," relates Rosanna. "What my character went through -- from the gang rape, to abandonment by her boyfriend, on to exacting cruel vengeance on her oppressors and finally getting reconciled with her friend -- is an abject lesson for women, that life does go on, no matter what."
Treading on somewhat unfamiliar territory is something Rosanna Roces has been doing all these years. "Sure, I became famous for my roles in titillating films like "Machete II" and "Patikim ng Pinya". But I went on to do "Ligaya", "Selya", "Mapusok" and "Curacha". I consider myself lucky to have had all these wonderful breaks. I learned so much from my directors and my co-actors. Besides, if you really want to grow as an actress, nothing substitutes for taking on one challenge after another. Yes, I may somewhat be limited right now, considering that most of my movies are classified R-18 or suitable only for adult audiences, but there will be more opportunities in the future. We can never predict the future but the important thing is that I do my work well. NOW." says Osang.
"Carino Brutal" because of its theme and comments on rape, should prove another step up the career ladder of both Osang and Daisy. If anything comes of it, let it be a telling example of how women can overcome their helplessness in the face of personal tragedy, through sheer determination. (AJ)