A Mother Story Pokwang Full Movie Download
Ashlie Hagenson
In John Lazatin's film, the character of the mother is one of compassion and inner strength. In struggling to raise her children, she will do everything to ensure their survival. They are her driving force.
In A Mother's Story, Medy (Pokwang) is confronted with the most difficult circumstance that any parent can be put in: to work abroad and earn money at the cost of leaving behind her children and giving up her physical presence in their lives. It is a tale of a heartbreaking sacrifice that strikes a chord among parents, with mothers mostly.
What makes Lazatin's film of relevance is that it illustrates how a Filipino with an obligation to raise a family is pushed to labor overseas because of financial adversity. Medy's character is even made complex by her illegal status, thus prying open the predicaments and perils of the "TNT" (Tago Nang Tago) or the Filipino migrant in hiding.
A Mother's Story portrays to the family members left behind in the country, the kind of life that their loved ones live abroad--the emotional pining for home and the physical labor that their jobs entail.
The film also depicts the impact of overseas working within Filipino families and the relationships that are compromised and damaged due to the physical distance and emotional disconnection between family members.
More than its portrayal of the OFW, the plot succeeds in unraveling Medy's journey as a mother of two who mainly wanted to provide for her kids while she worked as a makeup artist for a celebrity. Medy is shown to be optimistic and strong-willed despite being broke and receiving no help from her incompetent husband, Jerry (Noni Buencamino), who squanders her earnings in gambling.
After giving birth to her second child Queenie (Xyriel Manabat) who is born with a respiratory ailment, Medy is given a shot to work abroad for a week. Thinking of the money she will make in order to avail of medication for her newborn, Medy agrees to be a part of her employer's entourage. Before leaving, she promises her first born, King (Rayver Cruz), that she will be back in a week. Little did Medy know that her seven days will stretch on for seven years.
Left with no choice, Medy considers Helen's offer and steals away from the group she originally left the Philippines with. Her dire need for money compels her to obtain employment as a front desk assistant in a small school, and later, because it pays higher, as a housekeeper in an American home.
While the plot basically occurs in present time, Medy coming home to her family after seven years, it also retells the hardships she experienced through flashbacks. The film ardently presents the situations in detail, made even more emphatic by the simple but forthright screenplay conveyed by an efficient cast.
Pokwang's heartfelt performance as Medy transcends her comedic prowess. While the actress' knack for delivering punch lines is apt for Medy's candidness and comical antics, the character's agony in diaspora is brought to life when the audience witnesses Pokwang in the thick of the drama. Her real to reel acting communicates the pains of a mother, most poignantly when she comes home to find that after all the sacrifice, her children have become estranged to her. King, who by now has finished college, has held a grudge against his mother for breaking a promise seven years back.
As the plot unravels the flashbacks, Pokwang as Medy makes the OFW's predicament comprehensible to the point of making an audience undergo the emotional suffering of her character. She is able to portray Medy's helplessness as she is alienated from and harshly treated by her employers.
One of the most remarkable scenes is when Medy confesses the toughest part of her experience to her mother (Daria Ramirez), the very person who urged her to be practical and to get a job in the United States. The audience learns how her employers treated Medy like a slave, shut off from the world. This is made worse by the fact that her only connection to her family is Helen, who although makes sure her salary and balikbayan boxes reach the Philippines, steals from Medy's pay.
To come home to a family who has forgotten her and equated her value in their lives in the balikbayan boxes she sends, is perhaps the most tormenting predicament in the story. How she manages to stitch back the loose ties of her bond with her children is the endearing portion of A Mother's Story. It is how she makes them understand her side, while apologetic for her absence while her kids were growing up, that moves the audience.
Last night, January 8 a very star studded Celebrity screening was held at Trinoma cinema for the anticipated TFC and Star Cinema film, A Mother Story. Topbilled by Pokwang, A Mother Story is an offering movie for all the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and mothers brought to us by The Filipino Channel (TFC). The movie was already released internationally. Yes, meaning Philippines are the last one to catch this since this was originally intended for release abroad. Back to the Celebrity Screening, is a combination of glamour and glitz, most of the artists came to witness the screening are from different TV networks.
Medy (Pokwang), a make-up artist, was given the chance of a lifetime to accompany a concert star to the United States for a performance. She promised her family that she will return after a week. However, while in America, she stumbled upon a formerclassmate Helen (Beth Tamayo) who convinced her to stay for good in the land of milk and honey. She initially refused, but eventually gave in, when she got a call one night from her husband that they need a big amount of money to bring her youngest daughter to the hospital. America has not been the friendliest to her and our story begins with her coming home to Manila literally with nothing.
Pokwang, as expected, effectively portrayed a role of a mother trying to reach out to her children after she came back from States. But what is more surprising is her signature way of punchlines. The comic of the films are just perfect!
After watching the film, my love to my mother (which is celebrating her birthday today January 9) revalidated. The movie is a reminder of our family ties, of our love to parents, of fulfillment of a promise to our love ones.
Congratulations my dearest Pokwang for a wonderful performance. I remember during the presscon she mentioned she never had a hard time playing the role since it was also a reflection of her real life story.
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EDSA Woolworth is a film that looks into a blended Filipino and American family whose members, at first glance, have everything clashing personalities, lifestyles, life goals, name it. If you were to match a whole family, this one' a mismatch. But the journey each member takes to look beyond what doesn't work and focus on what does within themselves and with others is a story that will resonate among many families nowadays. In the end, it' all about love and values. John-D Lazatin, director, EDSA Woolworth
EDSA Woolworth is the perfect Thanksgiving holiday entree for the family. It doesn't overwhelm with too much, but it bursts with interesting flavors that are tasty and entertaining, sometimes surprising, and guaranteed to leave the family talking about it. ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus
The holiday season is here and this has been the time that major film studios roll out their biggest and brightest movies to entertain the family.
The road to Thanksgiving weekend in cinema history has been filled with big screen offerings for everyone in the household: from the mega-box office performers like Frozen and Hunger Games: Catching Fire to the hilarious Robin Williams starrer, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the quirky Jodie Foster-helmed Home for the Holidays.
In 2011, ABS-CBN TFC made its intrepid entry into the world of film production with A Mother' Story, also released in November in time for the holidays. This seemingly unassuming, family-oriented movie about an overseas Filipina working mother in the U.S. who sacrifices much for her family in the Philippines surprised many with 18 nominations from the Filipino Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) in 2012. It was also adjudged Best Film at the 2012 Migration Advocacy and Media Awards (MAM) awarded by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
The FAMAS-nominated star and director of A Mother' Story versatile comedienne actress Pokwang and ABS-CBN Global Head of Theatricals John-D Lazatin, respectively have teamed up anew for TFC@theMovies' second film, which will open this Friday, on November 14, in 30 theatres in the U.S. and 11 in Canada as another Thanksgiving theatrical offering for the family.
EDSA Woolworth: The story of a different kind of family
What is EDSA Woolworth? Who is EDSA Woolworth?
EDSA Woolworth is a film that looks into a blended Filipino and American family whose members, at first glance, have everything clashing personalities, lifestyles, life goals, name it. If you were to match a whole family, this one' a mismatch. But the journey each member takes to look beyond what doesn't work and focus on what does within themselves and with others is a story that will resonate among many families nowadays. In the end, it' all about love and values, said Lazatin.
Lazatin continues: EDSA Woolworth as a character is Pokwang. In her name alone, you can see already two cultures, two races, put together. It stands out; so do Pokwang' character and her family in this film, in more ways and reasons than one.Lazatin explains why he teamed up with Pokwang anew for the movie. Pokwang is very relatable, he said. Whether she plays bizarre comedic roles or straight up drama, viewers identify or empathize with her characters. She brings passion and authenticity into her roles which connect easily with viewers.
With the always brilliant funny girl, Pokwang, in the title role, expect generous moments of laugh-till-it-hurts hilarity in EDSA Woolworth. Expect some daring, too, especially with her character' relationship with charming Chad Bauer, played by American actor Lee O'Brian. Their easy chemistry ignites onscreen and brings the audience into their private space, whether to swoon, laugh or cry.
Excellent cast and crew
The interesting family dynamics full of quirks and idiosyncrasies come into full play through the spot-on acting by the very capable cast. The film assembled the dignified Stephen Spohn as Papa Frank Woolworth, the talented Ricci Chan as Boni Woolworth, and Prince Saruhan as the angst-ridden twentysomething Paco Woolworth. Enriching (or complicating) their lives are popular Adobo Nation co-host Lee Robin Salazar as Patrick and Princess Ryan as Shayne.
Lazatin tapped writer-director Noel Nuguit for EDSA Woolworth' story and screenplay, and relied anew on A Mother' Story' FAMAS-nominated cinematographer Shayne O. Sarte and editor Mitos R. Briones. The film' photography captured the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area which many viewers will be able to identify.
The music will linger in the viewers' minds. Original songs sung by artists are on www.EDSAWoolworth.com home page: Dressing Room by Summer Breeze, Undone by Manny Garcia, Dancing All Night Long by Michelle Martinez are available on iTunes, and Felt Like Love by Ricci is a free download from the film website.
For more on EDSA Woolworth showing in US and Canada this Friday, visit www.EDSAWoolworth.com or www.facebook.com/edsawoolworth.