Bernal retrospective

Tempo Desk
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ISHMAEL Bernal

 

By RONALD CONSTANTINO

ISHMAEL Bernal
ISHMAEL Bernal

 

GOOD FRIENDS – After Lino Brocka, comes Ish­mael Bernal’s retrospec­tive, the greatest direc­tors of the ‘70s. Then people liked to pit them against each other, but in reality they were good friends.

Both were fighters albeit differ­ent in “styles.” Brocka was pas­sionate, while Bernal was sophis­ticated.

Bernal’s most memorable film is “Himala,” topbilled by Nora Aunor, voted by CNN viewers as the greatest Southeast Asian film of all time. Needless to say, “Himala” is on top of the list of Bernal retro­spectives suggested by Highspeed for next year’s centennial of Philip­pine Cinema.

Other classics by Ishmael Bernal: “CITY AFTER DARK” – All-star cast led by William Martinez.

“PAGDATING SA DULO” – Rita Gomez and Vic Vargas (directorial debut).

“RELASYON” – Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon.

HIMALA movie poster
HIMALA movie poster

“NUNAL SA TUBIG” – Elizabeth Oropesa, Daria Ramirez, and George Estregan.

“IKAW AY AKIN” – Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, and Vilma Santos.

“SALAWAHAN” – Rita Gomez, Rio Locsin, Jay Ila­gan, and Mat Ranillo III.

“LIGAW NA BULAKLAK” – Vic Silayan and Alma Moreno.

“WATING” – Richard Gomez and Carmina Vil­larroel.

“PAHIRAM NG ISANG UMAGA” – Vilma Santos, Gabby Concepcion, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Eric Quizon.

“HINUGOT SA LANGIT” – Maricel Soriano.

(To date Manay Ichu Maceda is still looking for a copy of Bernal’s “Pito ang Asawa Ko,” produced by the fam­ily studio VP Pictures. Surely, the sex-comedy would have been per­fect for a Bernal retrospective.)

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