Supreme agenda
Who to see: Xyza Cruz Bacani
MANILA, Philippines - If you missed Xyza Cruz Bacani’s talk earlier this month, now’s your luck. Senator Sonny Angara, DAAN Street Photography, and Fujifilm Philippines are hosting another one of Xyza’s talks, about her life as a Filipina domestic helper in Hong Kong whose bleak black-and-white photos made international waves in the New York Times and Vogue Italia. This time, the event will be open to the public and admission is free. Xyza’s talk will be today at the Recto and Laurel Room at the Senate of the Philippines GSIS Building, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
What to catch: ‘Venus in Fur’
If you enjoyed Inception’s dream-within-a-dream-within-a-dream mindf*ck, and you like sex and a bit of domination, Venus in Fur is the play that will hopefully get you to support the theater. Venus in Fur is a Tony Award-winning play based on the book Venus in Furs, which spawned the term masochism. The play was also adapted to screen two years ago by Roman Polanski. The play is about Thomas Novachek, a theater director who is staging an adaptation of Venus in Furs, but fails to find a suitable actress to play the role of Wanda, the female lead. Out of nowhere, in comes a woman (also named Wanda) who is the opposite of the role: she is rude, brash, and aggressive. She convinces him to let her audition, and as she transforms herself into the role, Novachek succumbs to her charms until life imitates art and he becomes her slave. The local stage adaptation will star Jennifer Blair-Bianco and David Bianco, a real-life couple who can make the scenes extra steamy. It will be directed by award-winning director Bart Guingona. Venus in Fur will have a very limited run this weekend at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute. Tickets are available at Ticketworld and the CCP Box Office.
What to watch: Moviemov Italian Film Festival
The Italians are coming! After the French and Japanese film festivals, it is now our friends from Italy ready to showcase their art and culture by holding “Moviemov 4: Italian Cinema Now,” a film festival featuring seven of the most talked-about contemporary Italian films. The festival will end tomorrow, but you still have time to catch I Can Quit Whenever I Want, a dark comedy inspired by Breaking Bad about a recently fired teacher who starts a drug business; The Dinner, a commentary on society set in a restaurant where the camera moves from one table to another; South is Nothing, a drama about a young woman who investigates the Mafia territory of South Italy to find justice for her missing brother; and the short film A Tutto Tondo, a charming look at the Filipino community in Rome. Moviemov will be held at the Shang Cineplex, and all films will be screened free of charge. They say the Italians do it better. Time to put it to the test.
Where to spend: Batman Day
It’s hard to imagine that Christian Bale is 75 years old, but that’s the case. At least his screen character, Batman, is. The Dark Knight is celebrating his 75th anniversary at comic book shops around the world. For the Philippines, Comic Odyssey and Fully Booked (Bonifacio High Street, ATC, SM MOA, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, Promenade, The Block, TriNoma, Katipunan, and Eastwood Mall) are joining the caped fun by giving away free copies of the anniversary issue, a reimagining of the crusader’s debut by renowned book cover artist Chip Kidd and author Brad Meltzer. Aside from the free copy, there will be Batman activities to be announced today. For non-Batman fans, graphic novels and manga titles will be discounted at all Fully Booked branches. Consider this your way of helping fight crime at Gotham. Here’s to 75 more years!
* * *
Have an event you want to share? Tweet the author @kojibberish.
