SINAG MAYNILA - `THE SURPRISE' Closing Film 26APR2016

 

SYNOPSIS 1

Multimillionaire Jacob is seen with his dying mother, asking him whether he feels any emotion. He doesn't. Later it is revealed he changed into this state at the age of four, when his father disappeared. He sees no future. At his mother's funeral a pushy lawyer wants him to confirm he will sell the estate, which he does. Next, Jacob tries to end it all in various ways but does not succeed. At one of his attempts he picks up the address of a mysterious organization that helps people to end their life. Having decided to pay them for a surprise ending, he meets a sweet and shy girl in the room where the casks are displayed. She say she also wants to end her loveless life. They fall in love, but find out there is no postponing the trip to a better world. After they escape various attempts at their lives, the plot really starts rolling (contrary to the short story by Dutch writer H.J. Schönfeld (Belcampo) the film is based on). A lot of unexpected things happen and masterful plot twists keep you tied to your chair for the next half hour. Superb direction, superb acting by Dutch, Belgian and Indian(!) actors, superb scene settings, superb camera-work, superb scenario.

SYNOPSIS 2

An eccentric multimillionaire signs an agreement to have his life terminated. While selecting his coffin he meets a young woman who has signed up for the same arrangement. But when the couple fall in love, getting out of the contract proves troublesome...
There are, of course, two surprises in the story. Falling in love is one of them but the manner of the wealthy suicidal's impending death is another ...he doesn't know when or where or how he will be struck down, only that he will.


Bloggers, writers, director, actor



CSP Line Producer Carlo Valenzona with BMFW actors

Adolfo Alix, Sinag Maynila Best Director for `MRS'

Luis Gatmaitan (left) was inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2005 for his writing. Most of his work is in the genre of children's literature, for which he has garnered many awards, including the Catholic Mass Media Awards. His books include Mga Kwento ni Tito Dok and Sandosenang Sapatos.

Luis Gatmaitan has authored and published more than 30 storybooks for children tackling issues such as disability, senility, coping with death, coping with cancer, childhood diseases, and children's rights in his stories. His children's book series "Mga Kuwento ni Tito Dok" was cited by the Manila Critics Circle "for its popularization of the science of medicine in language and illustrations that young children can understand, for its indigenizing of universal scientific principles, and for its imaginative reconstruction of what happens in the human body."

Luis Gatmaitan has also been cited as one of HealthToday Philippines Magazine's Ten Pillars of the Philippine Health Care Industry, 2003 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for his contribution in the field of Literature, and as finalist in the 2004 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) search. Published by several local publishing houses and international agencies like the UNICEF and WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL, Gatmaitan has also chaired the PBBY and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING).

Luis Gatmaitan hosts a children's storytelling program for radio every Saturday morning over DZAS, entitled Wan Dey Isang Araw.

Vion Ello, Luis Gatmaitan, and Grace `Ice’ Antonio