[PHNO-sb] CARINO BRUTAL, A REVIEW
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
Special to PHNO
By Alex Jimenez
Rape is a terrible thing, and it does hold brutal consequences for its
perpetrators , especially if the victims look as ravishing, as Rosanna
Roces who goes for extreme justice in "CARINO BRUTAL", a story of rape
and vengeance. The hazel-eyed tigress said that this is definitely "a
movie for women, who must learn to assert themselves when faced with
injustice." It is not just another rape movie. Osang, who has been raped
countless times in so many movies strikes back in this Romy Suzara movie
up for release in mid-July. Like the ancient Greek huntress-goddess, she
has been appropriately named Diana. The woman exacts cruel vengeance on
her tormentors.
Demure Daisy Reyes plays Esperanza, Diana's co-worker. Unlike her street-
smart friend, Esperanza unwittingly marries her rapist. This movie isn't
about rape only, its about the friendship between two women who
eventually realize that they hold their fates in their own hands.
With the coming release of Premiere Productions' "CARINO BRUTAL" Rosanna
found herself again in the middle of a brewing storm. The old MTRCB
board gave the movie's trailer an X rating, insisting that the movie be
sanitized. The new MTRCB chaired by Armida Siguion Reyna will give the
film an R-18 rating, without cuts.
The Suzara's movie, though fictional,
recalls the shenanigans of the big four, a gang of politicians' sons who
sowed terror in Metro Manila during the 60s because of their penchant
for gang raping and even murdering young women. In the movie, it is
Rosanna who gets gang raped. Still, rape, whether by an individual or a
group is a brutalizing experience that capitalizes on a woman's
helplessness in the face of her tormentors. Director Suzara
demonstrates that rape goes beyond sex, it is a degradation of one
human being by another. He also shows that rapists deserve to
get the full brunt of justice.
Indeed, Rossana Roces has lived up to her title as the box office queen
of Philippine movies; no one else has generated as much excitement this
year in local movies. After "Curacha", she's headlining Chito Rono's
"Babae sa Bintana" and she's also teaming up with Rudy Fernandez in another
Romy Suzara film, "Ginto't Pilak" and anytime soon, cameras will begin
grinding for Joel Lamangan's "Kalyehera, ang Babaeng may K" which is
also a Premiere Entertainment Productions project.
Rosanna stands high above the clawing pretenders to the title of Sex
Goddess. After all, she's got a good head atop her shoulders.
This pert package of beauty, brains and character speaks with an honesty
that would enrage advocates of political correctness. On the other hand,
Daisy Reyes has been brushing up her thespic skills.
After her initial foray into comedy, Daisy was featured in a number of
sex-dramas where she played daring and dramatic roles. It hasn't been an
easy life for Ms. Reyes. After all the rumors and intrigue that
attended her entrance into show business, all she wants to prove now is
her talent in dramatic roles. Being in the limelight is tough but Daisy
doesn't allow it to stop her. "Being a beauty queen was a somewhat
different game, you were not subject to the same level of intrigue that
you get in showbiz circles," admits Daisy.
"I really can't control other people's opinions of me. If I pass them on
the street and they don't have a kind word to say, I just ignore them.
You can't please everybody. The important thing is that I do my job to
the best of my ability. If that gets noticed, then I am happy," she
says.
For this former beauty queen, seeking out roles
that will enhance her reputation as a dramatic performer is top
priority. "I'm glad I have a very good agent in Manay Lolit Solis.
However I read the scripts offered to me myself. She advises me on
projects that are potentially worthwhile but the final decision is
really up to me. In this industry, you often have to compromise. Women
performers become more competitive if they are willing to take on more
daring roles. Still the bottom line for me is whether the role will add
to my depth as an actress."
"Actually, we finished shooting this movie last year," says Digna
Santiago. After all the flak at the MTRCB, the film finally got approved
for exhibition. Director Romy Suzara stood his ground as far as the rape
scenes were concerned. "Those scenes explain the rest of the movie,"
said Suzara. "If they were excised, then no viewer would understand why
the characters behaved the way they did."
Both Roa and Santiago backed up Suzara's position. "Even when we
examined the first rushes, we asked ourselves what was really needed and
even trimmed some of the scenes. We could trim no further lest we damage
the integrity of the movie."
Sex is just one of the ingredients of this film which falls
squarely within the suspense thriller genre. It's Rosanna's first
excursion outside the sex-drama genre but it is also her way of telling
other women that they don't have to stay victims. "Women can learn from
what I go through in this film," relates Rosanna. "What my character
went through -- from the gang rape, to abandonment by her boyfriend, on to
exacting cruel vengeance on her oppressors and finally getting
reconciled with her friend -- is an abject lesson for women, that
life does go on, no matter what."
Treading on somewhat unfamiliar territory is something Rosanna Roces has
been doing all these years. "Sure, I became famous for my roles in
titillating films like "Machete II" and "Patikim ng Pinya".
But I went on to do "Ligaya", "Selya", "Mapusok" and "Curacha". I
consider myself lucky to have had all these wonderful breaks. I learned
so much from my directors and my co-actors. Besides, if you really want
to grow as an actress, nothing substitutes for taking on one challenge
after another. Yes, I may somewhat be limited right now, considering
that most of my movies are classified R-18 or suitable only for adult
audiences, but there will be more opportunities in the future. We can
never predict the future but the important thing is that I do my work
well. NOW." says Osang.
"Carino Brutal" because of its theme and comments on rape, should prove
another step up the career ladder of both Osang and Daisy.
If anything comes of it, let it be a telling example of how
women can overcome their helplessness in the face of personal tragedy,
through sheer determination. (AJ)
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