Alagwa holds special Manila screening

MANILA, Philippines - In line with its series of international screenings, Jericho Rosales’ Alagwa (Breakaway) will have a special screening as part of the selected films to be featured in Cinema One’s annual Cinema One Originals Film Festival tomorrow, Dec. 2, 7 p.m.) at Shangri-La Plaza. Alagwa is Jericho’s first co-production venture into the indie movie circuit.

It should be noted that this is the first time Alagwa will be shown in Manila after it debuted at the 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held at Busan, South Korea. 

In Alagwa, Jericho, who recently won as Best Actor in the 26th PMPC Star Awards For TV for his powerful performance on ABS-CBN’s top-rating soap Dahil Sa Pag-Ibig, collaborated with Anakim Productions and filmmaker Ian Lorenos. The Hollywood Reporter describes Alagwa as a low-budget standout: â€œThis sophomore effort from young Filipino director, Ian Lorenos, is not only a powerful film about human trafficking; it is also a small gem portraying a father-son relationship with nothing fake or sentimental about it.”  

He also commended the topnotch performance of Jericho and child actor Bugoy Cariño, “The film owes a great deal to the natural chemistry between singer-actor Rosales and Cariño, the child star of the TV series E-Boy, whose playful, mischievous nature contrasts with Rosales’ nervous hen approach to child-rearing. The spontaneity is a welcome change from the usual parent-child sentimentality on screen.” 

The reporter also described Jericho’s performance as “nagging, brusque and critical, Rosales expertly conveys the over-compensation of the single-parent in the tough love Robert [Rosales’ character] shows his son.”

Alagwa also stars Leo Martinez, Smokey Manaloto, John Manalo, Jeremiah Rosales, Inaki Ting, Garry Lim, Nanette Inventor, Jamieson Lee, EJ Caro and in a very special cameo role, Malaysian actress Carmen Soo. Awit awardee Gabriel Valenciano makes a film debut through producing and arranging the musical scoring for the movie.  The Jericho-Gabriel tandem has produced some of Jericho’s finest recordings like Bumuhos Man Ang Ulan, Naaalala Ka and Dahil Sa Pag-Ibig.

The world premiere opened with a full-house crowd, attended by filmmakers, press and other participants in the festival. Alagwa is Jericho’s most recent foray into the international scene since his first Hollywood film, Subject, I Love You. Two of the three Alagwa screenings were sold-out in Korea.

Alagwa is also currently gearing up with a world tour as part of its advocacy against human trafficking. The film will participate in the Cambodia International Film Festival (Dec. 7 to 12); Chennai International Film Festival in India (Dec. 13 to 20); Kochi International Film Festival in India (Dec. 16 to 24); and Bangalore International Film Festival under its Asian Competition category also in India (Dec. 20 to 27).

Alagwa will have a second screening for the public on Dec. 6, Thursday, at Robinsons Galleria. For details, call Joy Cochon at 0917-5820696.