Author Topic: Ishmael Bernal (Read 23053 times)

RMN · « **on:** Feb 05, 2003 at 01:31 PM »

After catching Manila by Night, and in addition to the Mike de Leon thread, I thought it appropriate to start a Ishmael Bernal thread.

keng001 · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 19, 2003 at 03:26 PM »

CITATION

ISHMAEL BERNAL, filmmaker was hailed as ‘the genius of Philippine Cinema”. As a director par excellence he was also accorded the rare honor of being called a true maestro as he paved the way for succeeding directors and a new breed of film artists to perfect their craft.

Twenty five years and 45 films after his first film Pagdating sa DuIo (1971), he elucidated the Filipino life’s complex profundities, confronting verities like death and love as exemplified in cinematic masterpieces, namely, Nunal sa Tubig (1976), City After Dark (l980), Himala (1981), ReIasyon (1982), Broken Marriage (1983), Hinugot sa Langit (1986) and Wating (1994).

A fastidious worker, Bernal rose above the commercial orientation of local filmmaking through the innovativeness of his daring experimentations. His films have multi-level yet clear-sighted messages, unmasking lucidly the figurative resonances of dramatic actions as possibilities to expound fresh insights even to trite plots and conflicts.

While aware of his high level of artistry and distinct cinematic language, he broadened his directorial vision to explore the question of Filipino-ness by unfolding the layered psyche of the Filipino in the movies that dealt mostly with urban realities and marginalized characters. In such themes, he expressed vivid visual statements to assert the inherent dignity of the human personality amid various forms of degradation and struggles for survival.

An actors director who was also known for his subdued yet precise technical perspective, Bernal extended his craft beyond aesthetic aims. He also maintained a manifest fortitude to fight the censors, free the artists, seek justice for the oppressed, and enlighten the audience.

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 33, dated 20th of AprI 2001, and in recognition for his acclaimed filmography whose insightful realities on the Filipino psyche shaped new emblems of cinematic irony and of his creative audacity to redefine directions in the content and form of Philippine cinema,

ISHMAEL RERNAL
is conferred this 11th of June 2001 the award of
NATIONAL ARTIST.

Source: http://www.upd.edu.ph/~film_ctr/cinesked/2002/upshots7/citation.html

RMN · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 21, 2003 at 06:57 PM »

This was given posthumously, right?

keating · « **Reply #3 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 06:30 PM »

I just finished watching last night CITY AFTER DARK or is it MANILA BY NIGHT?

Although no opening & closing credits the ensemble cast delivered a fine performance especially Cherie Gil as the lesbian drug pusher. But her voice reminded me of LOUELLA, the comedienne who mostly played the sidekick of Nora Aunor in her 80's movies in Regal Films.

Was the voice dubbed...RMN?

All the social commentaries/issues are present in this movie from prostitution, drugs, homosexuality, adultery, pre-marital sex.

What surprised me was the mind-boggling NARRATION at the end of the movie where the characters lived happily ever after....

Most impressive was the conversation of ALMA MORENO & LORNA TOLENTINO amidst the backdrop of rains.
With all those craping words said in this movie...now I know why the former first lady wanted to ban this movie.
Aside from the fact that it was heavily censored & butchered during the marcos regime, CITY AFTER DARK is worth revisiting.

Reuven Malter · « **Reply #4 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 06:38 PM »

aside from the memorable scene between Alma and Lorna, I can still recall Bernardo Bernardo and his wooden statues of saints.

keating · « **Reply #5 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 06:42 PM »

And bro Reuven Malter, MAYA VALDEZ was a hoot!

The house of Charito Solis & family was the same house used also by the brilliant BERNAL in the Pridyeder episode of SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #6 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 08:06 PM »

Someone else who deserves his own thread!

Article on Ishmael Bernal

indie boi · « **Reply #7 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 08:58 PM »

A friend of mine once worked for Bernal in that movie starring Kris Aquino. He says he was quite the eccentric. During one of the shoots Bernal saw a swimming pool. He said it looked inviting so he took off ALL of his clothes, dove into the pool, swam one lap, got out of the pool and dressed up.

Centurion Obama · « **Reply #8 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 09:15 PM »

I don't think that's eccentric. I think that's kinda kewl

.

indie boi · « **Reply #9 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 09:18 PM »

well, cool in an eccentric kind of way.

Centurion Obama · « **Reply #10 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 09:19 PM »

hahaha

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #11 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 09:25 PM »

Only Bernal story I know is this: when he met Mario O'Hara, he wanted to screw him.

indie boi · « **Reply #12 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 09:26 PM »

Quote from: Noel_Vera on Jul 30, 2003 at 09:25 PM

Only Bernal story I know is this: when he met Mario O'Hara, he wanteed to screw him.

That's also cool in an eccentric kind of way, hehehe.

pinoymovies · « **Reply #13 on:** Jul 30, 2003 at 10:23 PM »

Noel, the movie Pito ang Asawa Ko you mentioned in your article, was that the one with Vic Vargas in the lead and one of the "wives" was a gay character played by Orlando Nadres? Who else played the other wives?

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #14 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 04:16 AM »

I don't know, that, sorry...

X44 · « **Reply #15 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 10:18 AM »

Worked with Bernal a long time ago. Nice guy. Funny, too. One of the talents was playing the prima donna and he threatened (jokingly and only to us) that if the guy didn't behave, he was gonna give him a blowjob.

Spent a lot of downtime talking with him. Swore by Postcards from the Edge at that time. Also had a thing for Moby Dick. The name sort of makes that obvious. Joel Lamangan was his AD on the project. Not a very nice guy, least back then.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #16 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 10:31 AM »

Joel Lamangan AD? The project wasn't Himala, by any chance?

X44 · « **Reply #17 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 11:32 AM »

No, no. It wasn't a movie. A TVC. Don't even know if the thing got aired.

RMN · « **Reply #18 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 02:16 PM »

Bernal directed two Jolibee commericials--"Ligaw" and the one with these kids treating out their lola at Jollibee. At the end of the TVC, the lola is so touched that she sheds a tear to which her apo askes: "LOLA, NAPUWING KA?" I wonder what other ads he directed...

X44 · « **Reply #19 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 03:30 PM »

Didn't he also direct the famous Bulak commercial?

keating · « **Reply #20 on:** Jul 31, 2003 at 07:40 PM »

Back to CITY AFTER DARK/MANILA BY NIGHT

the only places in Manila I recall while watching the movie are BAYSIDE HOTEL in Roxas BLvd, Malate Church near Shakeys in Ermita, the massage & sauna parlors also in Ermita but I'm not keen on MISERICORDIA St.,

Anyone here who knows this place since I was only in grade one when this movie was released in 1980.

wedge · « **Reply #21 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 06:27 AM »

Quote from: keating on Jul 31, 2003 at 07:40 PM

Back to CITY AFTER DARK/MANILA BY NIGHT

the only places in Manila I recall while watching the movie are BAYSIDE HOTEL in Roxas BLvd, Malate Church near Shakeys in Ermita, the massage & sauna parlors also in Ermita but I'm not keen on MISERICORDIA St.,

Anyone here who knows this place since I was only in grade one when this movie was released in 1980.

Bayside or Bayview, bro Keating? Bayview Hotel (now Bayview Park Hotel) is in front of the American Embassy, at the corner of UN Avenue and along Roxas Blvd. I think Misericordia St is somewhere near that structure. The name's kinda familiar, but I have to look for that street one of these days...

The Shakeys in the Malate circle, yes I think it still exists.

pablo · « **Reply #22 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 04:02 PM »

he was eccentric because of his genius.
he was cool because he had flare.
and he could get away with it because he was ishma.

moviestar · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 04:17 PM »

Quote

Posted by: X44 Posted on: Yesterday at 03:30:55pm
Didn't he also direct the famous Bulak commercial?

Quote

no mandy reyes directed that.

RMN · « **Reply #24 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 05:15 PM »

But he did do Pinulot ka lang sa lupa and Wating

keating · « **Reply #25 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 05:47 PM »

Quote from: wedge on Aug 01, 2003 at 06:27 AM

Bayside or Bayview, bro Keating? Bayview Hotel (now Bayview Park Hotel) is in front of the American Embassy, at the corner of UN Avenue and along Roxas Blvd. I think Misericordia St is somewhere near that structure. The name's kinda familiar, but I have to look for that street one of these days...

The Shakeys in the Malate circle, yes I think it still exists.

Thanks for the information about some places in MANILA...Bro Wedge!

yup its Bayview Hotel not Bayside, and my colleague said MISERICORDIA ST. is a heaven of prostitutes in Manila.

wedge · « **Reply #26 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 06:02 PM »

Quote from: keating on Aug 01, 2003 at 05:47 PM

Thanks for the information about some places in MANILA...Bro Wedge!

yup its Bayview Hotel not Bayside, and my colleague said MISERICORDIA ST. is a heaven of prostitutes in Manila.

No problem, bro Keating! Sa P. Faura lang kasi ako nag-wwork eh.

I know where Misericordia st na. It's near UN--parallel yata siya. It's a small sidestreet, we pass through that way one time after having lunch at one of the restaurants na kahanay ng Bayview.

Anyway, I haven't seen City After Dark, hindi ako maka-relate.

keating · « **Reply #27 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 06:14 PM »

Bro wedge, according to film critic JOEL DAVID, it is Ishmael Bernal's finest film and Noel Vera also wrote a very good review of this Bernal classic.

My first impression to this movie when I first watch it back in the 80's...it is the ugliest Filipino film of all time, just focusing on the denizens of the night as they struggle to their daily life in MANILA.

I have to watch it again to fully understand the vision of the filmmaker and why did he wrote it.

wedge · « **Reply #28 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 06:20 PM »

Quote from: keating on Aug 01, 2003 at 06:14 PM

Bro wedge, according to film critic JOEL DAVID, it is Ishmael Bernal's finest film and Noel Vera also wrote a very good review of this Bernal classic.

My first impression to this movie when I first watch it back in the 80's...it is the ugliest Filipino film of all time, just focusing on the denizens of the night as they struggle to their daily life in MANILA.

I have to watch it again to fully understand the vision of the filmmaker and why did he wrote it.

I really should look for this film...

keating · « **Reply #29 on:** Aug 01, 2003 at 06:26 PM »

Spoiler for CITY AFTER DARK:

Look for the cameo of ABBO Q. DELA CRUZ who was the caretaker in the morgue where the gang led by Bernardo Bernardo is finding the body of Alma Moreno.

Abbo dela Cruz is the one who massacre the entire household in Gallaga's ORO PLATA MATA, incidentally PEQUE GALLAGA also did the production design in this Bernal classic.