Whether in living color or in black-and-white (as in his latest movie, Mike de Leon's Bayaning 3rd World, which dissects the "myths" about Dr. Jose Rizal in a detached, even cynical and "irreverent" manner), Joel Torre plays his part well, giving all he can and all his best.
As far back as 1981 when he did his movie debut as the male lead in the Peque Gallaga classic, Oro, Plata, Mata, Joel has set his sight and mind on playing what he considers "the role of a lifetime" -- that is, the National Hero with whom Joel shares not just a name but birthdays.
"I've been so obsessed with playing Rizal," according to Joel, "that from the start of my career, I've been sleeping and living and dreaming Rizal. It's as if I was possessed by Rizal and the only way for me to wrestle free from that 'possession' was to give him life on the screen."
It has been a long and winding road for Joel from the first time he became aware of his "big dream" to the time that dream was fulfilled. There were hits and misses and, for a while, he became so desperate that, thinking the plum role would land on another actor's lap, he actually thought of just turning his back on showbiz, very painful though it might be.
Fate intervened -- and Lady Luck, too.
Joel got what's due him and, those who have seen Bayaning 3rd World can attest, no other actor could have given the role a similar justice. It's an acting piece that comes straight from the heart of an actor who looks up to Rizal not just as an "idol" but as an "alter ego."
Are you a Rizalista?
"A Rizalista?"
Well, not the "cult" meaning of Rizalista. I mean, is Rizal your idol?
"One of my many idols, yeah! But not the only idol."
You were named after him, weren't you?
"Yes, I was. My full name is Jose Rizalino de Leon Torre and my birthday is also, like that of Rizal, June 19. I was born exactly 100 years after Rizal was born."
Having been named after Rizal and born on the same date (June 19, 1961), have you been guided by Rizal's teachings in a way?
"A lot of his ideals, 'yung seeking the truth and striving for excellence not only here but in foreign countries, his love for country and family and God... 'yon ang mga qualities niya na gustong-gusto ko."
What do you admire most about Rizal?
"His ability to excel even outside of the country, 'yung triumph of the human spirit. He was the chosen one to do something about the country."
Your parents must have looked up to Rizal for them to have named you after Rizal.
"Actually, they did not. It was my sister who chose the name and only because pareho ang birthday namin ni Rizal. They could have chosen a name from the calendar, like what others do, but they found it convenient to name me after Rizal."
How old were you when you realized the greatness of Rizal?
"It was in school. Well, back in Bacolod, I'd see him in monuments around the city and, later, in school books."
When and what was your first encounter with Rizal?
"Sa pera. In a piso coin. In a P2 bill."
I suppose that you've been looking forward to playing your namesake in a movie. It's the role of a lifetime.
"You're right. It's the role of a lifetime. You see, the name and the birthday parang naka-attached na sa akin so I told myself, 'If there's an actor who should play Rizal, it has to be me. Sana ako.' After all, I carry his name."
How did you feel when you bagged the role, considering that you're not the first choice (it was Aga Muhlach for the GMA Films' P70-million movie on Rizal, later replaced by Cesar Montano when Mike de Leon quit the project and Marilou Diaz-Abaya took over as director)?
"Other actors were also considered, not only Aga. But way back in 1986, when I was doing Bilanggo sa Dilim with Mike, we were already talking about doing a movie on Rizal. I told Mike that if ever he'd do the project, I'd be the first actor to audition for the role. In fact, I still carry in my wallet a clipping of a newspaper story about the plan of an international company to do a movie about Rizal, with Robert De Niro as bida. We were joking about it pa nga. I said, 'Forget Robert De Niro, I'm here!' 'There was a great curiosity at that time who would really play Rizal in the project na hindi rin naman natuloy."
Would you say that just getting the role was a triumph in itself, considering that many other actors were dying to get it?
"Oh, yes, it is. I should say that I was the last person to board the boat at ako pa ang nakasama. I was the last to audition. At that time, I was doing Marilou Diaz-Abaya's Rizal, as Crisostomo Ibarra, and there were talks that because of that, disqualified na ako to audition for Mike's movie."
So it's a double honor for you, playing Rizal and his alter ego (from Noli Me Tangere).
"For a while, I thought I wouldn't be allowed (by GMA Films) to do the Mike de Leon movie and I was so frustrated. Imagine, my dream of a lifetime about to be realized and slipping out of my fingers!"
Finally, how were you tapped for the role?
"When I finished shooting Rizal, I called up Mike again. He said, 'Okay!' I felt relieved."
What do you think helped you clinch the role?
"I guess they wanted somebody mature; somebody who, in a sense, has gone through life already. I guess I'm just the right actor for the role."
Talent, of course, was also taken into consideration. So how did you prepare for the role? Did you make any research? Did you read more books about Rizal?
"It was like this: Before the audition for Mike's movie, I had already read several books about Rizal. When they told me that I might not be considered, I got so frustrated that I put everything behind me. I told myself, 'There goes your role of a lifetime!' Wala na, I thought. I felt so frustrated that I actually contemplated on quitting showbiz. You know, you've been looking forward to doing your dream role and when it's just within reach, mawawala pa."
You were that frustrated.
"Can you imagine if I didn't get the role! For the rest of my life, that frustration would have hung over my head like Damocles' sword. I would have regretted all my life. Imagine how miserable I would have been!"
How differently did you play Rizal, in contrast to the performances of Albert Martinez, Cesar Montano and Eddie del Mar; and theater Rizals like Ricky Davao (as the scriptwriter in Bayaning 3rd World, vainly searching for the ideal Rizal material), John Arcilla, Rustom Padilla and Ogie Alcasid?
"I saw Cesar in Rizal, Albert in Rizal sa Dapitan and Ricky in the play. I should say that their interpretations of the role were different from mine. Iba-ibang actors, iba-ibang interpretations. They have their own and I have mine."
It's good that you didn't allow, maybe subconsciously, their interpretations to get in the way of your own.
"No, I didn't! I like to think that I played Rizal from inside me. Para bang all my life, I've been possessed by Rizal and when I started playing him in the movie, that was the only time I got him out of my system."
What's the difference between playing Crisostomo Ibarra in Rizal and playing Rizal in Bayaning 3rd World?
"Playing Crisostomo Ibarra was more theatrical, parang surreal, so malayo sa Rizal role. But the big difference is, of course, the fact that Mike's film is in black and white while that of Marilou is in living color."
It's not the first time you played Crisostomo Ibarra, is it?
"A few years ago, I played the role in Eddie Romero's ABC-5's teleseries Noli Me Tangere (with Chin Chin Gutierrez, then a newcomer, playing Maria Clara). Sometimes, people get confused; they mix up Rizal with Crisostomo Ibarra. They think I've played Rizal before when it's my first time to be playing Rizal, in full."
You're hooked on Rizal.
"In a sense, yes."
How was it working with Mike who's reported to be "eccentric" and "hard to deal with"?
(Laughing) "I had already experienced the wrath of Mike de Leon..."
...the wrath of Mike de Leon?
"...yes, the wrath of Mike de Leon!"
How did it happen?
"Well, while doing Bilanggo sa Dilim, I made the mistake of one time reporting late to the set."
How did that Mike de Leon "wrath" manifest itself?"
"Oh, never mind! Basta, I've learned my lesson and I never reported late to the set again. In fact, during the shooting of Bayaning 3rd World, I don't recall anybody reporting to the set late. Mike is an ultimate artist and you just have to do your part well so as not to cramp his style. I've always been comfortable working with Mike. I have no problem with him."
Have your family (wife, the former Christy Ascuna; children Aila, 10, and Marela, turning 5, both studying at Community of Learners Foundation in Pasig City) seen Bayaning 3rd World?Ano'ng reaction nila?
"The kids haven't seen the movie yet; I'm still waiting for the right time for them to see it. When they get to high school and they take up a course on Rizal, maybe they can use the movie as a reference. Of course, my wife liked it as she does all my other movies."
You're one of the few actors who can draw a line between your family and showbiz. How do you do it?
"I really make a conscious effort to separate my personal life from my professional life. I've been in the business for 18 years and I've been married for 12 years. I really put a lot of weight on my family because when you come right down to it, what matters most is your family. No amount of success in your work can compensate for your failure in the family. It's only your family who will stand by you when you're down and out, who will be there for you come rain or come shine, fair weather or foul."
It's good that you have a very supportive family.
"Oh, yes, I'm thankful for that. My wife is very supportive and I know that my kids are proud of my achievements; they're proud to tell their playmates and schoolmates that Joel Torre is their father. We stay in Pasig but every now and then we go home to Bacolod."
Glad to know that your marriage is okay.
"But like any couple, we've been through ups and downs, all the trials, the whole cycle of marriage."
How do your kids react to your movie/TV roles?
"They don't watch my movies, they're too young, but they do watch me regularly on television (the ABS-CBN soaps Esperanza and Saan Ka Man Naroroon? as the good brother of Eric Quizon and supposed to be the father of Gladys Reyes). Luckily, my role in Esperanza is a positive one, mabait na meyor, a role-model. Everywhere they go, when people learn that they're my kids, they're complimented for my 'good-guy' roles in TV dramas."
So they haven't been, well, "traumatized" by any of your scenes on TV especially.
"When they were younger and they'd see me being beaten up in a scene, umiiyak sila. It was traumatic for them. But now they know better. They understand that it's all make-believe."
Your transition into playing father roles happened very smoothly.
"Tamang-tama lang. Perfect timing. When I started having a family, doon naman nagsimula ang offers for me to play father roles. I'm 38 and a father in real life, kaya okey lang. Sometimes naman, extreme. Like when I played the father of Joko Diaz."
You look more like brothers than father and son. Joko sometimes even look older than you!
"In Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan (Naked Under the Moon, directed by Lav Diaz), I play the father of Klaudia Koronel. At the recent Berlin International Film Festival where Hubad was shown, a Chinese director was amused. He told me that on the screen, I looked credible daw as a father but he couldn't reconcile me to the father in the movie when he saw me in person. It was flattering!"
It takes a good actor to be so convin-cing in a role.
"In Hiblang Abo, a play I recently did for GSIS Theater, I played a 70-year-old character and the audience said I was credible in my performance."
I should be asking your kids... but how are you as a father?
"I like to think that I'm a loving father, quite strict sometimes. Kapag nagkamali, I address the situation kaagad para hindi na maulit."
Are you the type of parent who spares the rod and spoils the child?
"If I remember right, I've spanked each of them only once. It never happened again because there hasn't been any reason for me to do it. When they misbehave, I always remind them, 'Remember the time I spanked you? Don't let it happen again!' They've learned their lesson."
With your work in television and movies, how much time do you spend with your family?
"Actually now, a lot! Ang TV okey lang because everyday you go home after the taping. Movie work sometimes brings you away from the family for one whole week or even longer, especially if the shooting is out of town. You really miss your family. Because of my regular TV shows, I cannot accept all the movie offers, so I am able to spend more time with my family."
Would you allow Aila and/or Marela to join showbiz?
"By all means! If they're old enough to decide for themselves, why not? Acting is a respectable profession. I'm bringing them up with my earnings as an actor."
Is directing part of your career plan?
"It is, definitely! In fact, I've been directing teleplays. I've been learning from the directors I worked with (from Peque Gallaga who directed him in his movie debut, Oro, Plata, Mata; to Ishmael Bernal, in The Graduates; to Marilou Diaz-Abaya, in Karnal and Rizal; to Celso Ad. Castillo, in Isla and Comfort Women; to Eddie Romero, in Noli Me Tangere; to Laurice Guillen, in Init sa Magdamag; now to Mike de Leon). When I was in Berlin, I went out of my way to watch as many films as I could."
After Rizal, what other role do you want to play?
"Hopefully, a role, any role, good enough for the international market."