Bishops ask public to boycott bold film

Catholic bishops scandalized by the latest movie of sex siren Barbara Milano, Eskandalosa, has asked the public to junk the film.

"Although the people behind this movie tried to make the sex scenes appear as creative art, the same are outrageous," said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Catholic Initiative for Enlightened Movie Appreciation (CINEMA) in its latest newsletter.

The CINEMA review described the sex scenes in the movie, produced by Rose Flaminiano, as "despicable and shameful." It further said Milano was not only scandalous but also a "pain in the neck" among men in their barrio.

The Catholic critics consider the editing "a total dismay," although they admitted the setting showcased several beautiful places in the country.

Eskandalosa, CINEMA said, is one movie where the desires of the producer to make sex a selling point was realized.

It also scoffed at the scriptwriter’s seeming pretension in using religion to try and give the movie a "redeeming value."

"Will the three-minute prayer suffice to prevail over the more than two hours of appalling scenes in the movie?" they asked.

The newsletter exhorted the viewing public to totally ignore the movie released by FLT Films and which, on the other hand, has received rave reviews from entertainment writers.

The movie, written and directed by Joven Tan, was given an R-rating (under 18 not admitted) by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Cinematography was by the award-winning Romy Vitug. – Sandy Aran