'Citizen Jake' gets nationwide release

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly two months since its premiere at the University of the Philippines, Mike De Leon’s comeback film “Citizen Jake” finally gets to reach a wider audience.

In a release, Solar Pictures announced that “Citizen Jake” will hit theatres nationwide on May 23.

De Leon, whose films “Batch 81” and “Sister Stella L” made their respective marks in Philippine cinema, has returned from an 18-year hiatus with “Citizen Jake,” which he penned together with real-life journalist Atom Araullo and comic book writer Noel Pascual.

READ: Review: ‘Citizen Jake’ is every Filipino

In an earlier post on Facebook, the revered film director said: “My film may be fiction, but it is based on truths we ignore at our own risk. It should be seen by its audience in its original version, without cuts and without compromise. The film is not perfect, far from it, but it is a good honest film that is seeking an audience that I am convinced is out there.”

“Citizen Jake” tells the story of Jake Herrera (Atom Araullo) who a self-proclaimed “citizen journalist” fighting to carve his space in the world of media, and move away from his father’s shadows. Jake is fixated on uncovering the corruption of Marcos cronies still in power—including his father who is a senator—when he gets sidetracked by a brutal murder of a student. In the new story he is pursuing, Jake is forced to confront his own demons.

“Citizen Jake” is Araullo’s first foray into acting. Also in the film are Cherie Gil, Dina Bonnevie, Luis Alandy, Gabby Eigenmann, Max Collins, Teroy Guzman, Lou Veloso, Richard Quan, with Victor Neri, Allan Paule, Anna Luna, Elora Españo, Cholo Barretto, Raquel Villavicencio, Nanding Josef and Ruby Ruiz.

The MTRCB gave the uncut version of “Citizen Jake” an R-13 rating.