Media and Information Literacy: Movie Review: Ang Larawan: A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

Christmas here in the Philippines is never complete without our families and friends without watching to the cinemas on December 25 for every year Metro Manila Film Festival or commony known as MMFF.

"Ang Larawan" is the official entry of Direk Loy Arcenas to the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival. It was internationally released as "The Portrait" and had it's premiere in Japan last October 30, 2017 as the entry for Tokyo International Film Festival.

Background of the film from it's official page

Ang Larawan is the film adaptation of Larawan, The Musical which is based on National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s three-act English play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. First published in 1952, Joaquin’s work has been depicted numerous times on stage on screen and in English and Filipino—making it one of the most pedigreed literary works of the Philippines.

In 1997, Musical Theater Philippines (now Culturtain Musicat Productions Inc. ) headed by singer Celeste Legaspi and talent manager/producer Girlie Rodis staged Larawan, the first musical rendition of Joaquin’s great play, at the CCP. The elegaic play was transformed into a musical with a libretto written by National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio and music created by iconic original Filipino music composer Ryan Cayabyab.

This year, Culturtain with the help of supervising producer Alemberg Ang, shares Ang Larawan, The Movie with the global audience. Loy Arcenas, a multi-awarded Broadway theatrical set designer and director, was at the helm of the much-awaited film.

Synopsis of the Movie from it's official website

This story set before World War II in Intramuros tells of the plight of sisters Candida and Paula Marasigan, daughters of high-profile painter Don Lorenzo Marasigan.

Since Don Lorenzo has not produced a single painting for a long time, the family is in financial trouble. The unmarried sisters have had to rely on their seemingly more successful brother Manolo and sister Pepang. Their siblings urge Candida and Paula to sell the house.

To have a source of income, the sisters take in a boarder, Tony Javier. Meanwhile, Don Lorenzo becomes a recluse. The painter’s self-portrait fetches a high sum as it attracts the curiosity of many individuals which include pretentious art critics, bonafide journalist and family friend Bitoy Camacho, Senator Perico who asks the sisters to donate the portrait to the government and Tony who tries to convince Candida and Paula to sell it to an American.

Larawan is an ode to the passing of the world of truth and beauty and a celebration of the tenacity of the spirit amidst the rise of materialism and consumerism.

Did you know that?.....

They began working on Larawan four and a half years ago.

The music had to be written completely and it took an entire year.

Believe it or not, the film was shot well over two years ago.

5 reasons to watch " Ang Larawan" by Rachel Alejandro

1.Joanna Ampil deserves to win the Best Actress award.

2. You’ll get goosebumps with Ryan Cayabyab's music, played by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.

3.You will cry buckets.

4.It has never been done.

5. And lastly, Paula and Paulo's on-screen chemistry.

Last December 27 at the Kia Theater, they bagged 7 awards as the BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTRESS- Joanna Ampil, BEST MUSICAL SCORE- Ryan Cayabyab, BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN- Gino Gonzales, GATPUNO ANTONIO VILLEGAS CULTURAL AWARD, and the POSTHUMOUS SPECIAL JURY PRIZE- National Artist Nick Joaquin at the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal. After watching the trailers and reviews, the movie deserved to won that awards.The scene makes you feel you are living in a history.All the characters played their beyond their best.

REVIEWS from the netizens

For me, the lesson of the story is all about women empowerment but it is also so much more.It's all about standing on your own ground, no matter what the cost, and fighting for what you believe in.