What began out as a “revenge” mission in opposition to her household is now profitable Rebecca Chuaunsu performing awards. The actress-producer lately obtained her second greatest actress trophy for JE Tiglao’s “Her Locket” on the Wu Wei Taipei Worldwide Movie Pageant
She received the identical award on the Transsaharien Worldwide Movie Pageant in Morocco final 12 months.
“Her Locket” brings the viewers again to 32 years in the past, when Rebecca’s father wrote his final will and testomony, “however no person made a giant deal about it. Nevertheless, being a robust lady, I fought for gender equality. The thought began there, and whether or not or not it ended as a revenge movie, you would need to watch,” she informed Inquirer Leisure in an interview.
“Her Locket” is likely one of the official alternatives on this 12 months’s Sinag Maynila Movie Pageant, which is able to run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 10.
Rebecca first shared the story at a seminar on writing and filmmaking facilitated by JE through the pandemic. She needed to inform the story by way of Zoom. JE commissioned Maze Miranda to cowrite the screenplay.
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Rebecca stated that, surprisingly, the story remains to be related to loads of Filipino Chinese language households as much as at the present time. “This story of the character Jewel Ouyang is ready within the Seventies, that’s why we’ve got a youthful Jewel (performed by Sophie Ng). She is telling us now that the problems earlier than are nonetheless the identical in the present day. Throughout our time, I couldn’t date Filipinos. I additionally couldn’t be part of present enterprise. Thirdly, the Chinese language at all times favor sons over daughters. These are nonetheless the identical as much as at the present time,” stated Rebecca.
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“Her Locket” has additionally participated on the 2023 Marché du Movie–Pageant de Cannes in France, 2023 London East Asia Worldwide Movie Pageant in the UK and the twenty second Dhaka Worldwide Movie Pageant in Bangladesh.
‘Near residence’
“At first, we didn’t know what our class was. We went to Cannes after which to London and so they categorized us as “household drama” and “ladies empowerment.” Was this our objective to start with? No. We didn’t know precisely, till this occurred and we stated, ‘Oo nga! Tama pala!’” Rebecca stated.
Sophie stated she was grateful to have been given the prospect to be in a movie that’s “truly so near residence.” She defined: “I’m additionally Chinese language. Whereas I did my analysis on the lives of Filipino Chinese language ladies within the ’70s, I additionally discovered quite a bit from the heart-to-heart speak I had with Ms Rebecca,” she started.
“It’s humorous as a result of Jewel is like me in actual life. I’m additionally not inspired up to now Pinoys. Jewel’s dad and mom don’t know that she is taking over movie. I’m taking movie in Mint School proper now and my dad and mom are additionally unaware of it. I’m completely satisfied that I truly received to voice out what’s taking place to me by means of this film,” stated Sophie.
Boo Gabunada, who performs Jewel’s son Kyle Nicholas, studied to change into a lawyer hoping to provide justice to his mom’s story.
“What grew to become my character’s battle was this: All of this revenge or battle for justice is at what price? What can be its impact on the household and their psyche?’ As for my mother’s battle—I promised her I’d battle for her, however as much as what level? It’s because I typically really feel like I used to be the one one preventing since her well being is already deteriorating,” defined Boo.
Elora Españo performs Tere, Jewel’s caregiver. “I’m the one pure Filipino right here. I’m a mirrored image of unemployment within the nation. I present what a determined one that desires to rise from poverty can do with a view to survive,” she stated
Cinematographer Jag Concepcion was additionally current through the interview to share his imaginative and prescient for the movie.
“This options loads of claustrophobic feels as a result of I used to be coping with so many themes, additionally as a result of it was a interval movie—I had the current, the previous, and I’ve Jewel’s moments of readability and moments of dementia,” Jag started.
“I had needed to showcase visually what I believed dementia would appear to be as an individual going by means of it, as she interacts together with her son and her helper. Each character goes by means of his or her personal issues—Jewel together with her dementia, Kyle being a son coping with a mom with dementia and Tere, who’s simply making an attempt to outlive after which sees many alternatives that this dementia brings,” defined Jag.
When requested how she thinks the movie would influence the Filipino Chinese language group, Rebecca stated: “I’ll inform you that loads of the attorneys you will notice within the movie are literally my attorneys in actual life. They stated, ‘You dare to indicate this movie within the Philippines?’ I stated, ‘Why not?’ I’ve proven this overseas. I hope for it to interrupt obstacles. It’d trigger extra issues, sure, however the movie is already on the market, so convey it on!” INQ