THE ACCIDENTAL ACTOR: MA' ROSA Advanced Screening

MA' ROSA Invitational Premiere Screening

Venue: SM Lite Cinema

Time: 1800H

Date: Monday, 04 July 2016

Director: Brillante Mendoza

Producer: Larry Castillo for Centrerstage Productions

Writer: Troy Espiritu

Music: Teresa Barrozo

Cinematography: Odyssey Flores

Running Time: 110 Minutes

Finally got to watch the screening of Brillante Mendoza's "MA' ROSA". It was shown two days ahead of its regular screening in cinemas.

Jaclyn Jose is Rosa Reyes, who owns a sari-sari store

Official Movie Poster

The Cannes Contingent

Ma' Rosa is directed by Brillante Mendoza. It competed at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, and won for Jaclyn Jose the Palme d'Or for Best Actress, the first to be conferred upon a South-East Asian actress.

Jaclyn Jose with the Palme d'Or Award for Best Actress
- AP/ Lionel Cironneau

Mr. & Mrs. Rivera, with Cataleya Surio and Troy Espiritu

The special advanced screening was held for the cast and crew of “Ma’ Rosa”. Brilliant minds and brilliant actors conspired to come up with this opus on poverty and corruption, a realistic vision of what the underprivileged struggle with to cope with the rigors of their daily existence.

Jomari Angeles, Brillante Mendoza, and Raymund Gutierrez

As a special feature, the short film `Imago' was screened prior to `Ma' Rosa'. `Imago', directed by Raymund Gutierrez, also competed in Cannes for the Short Film category.

Carlo Valenzona, Line Producer for Ma' Rosa

"MA' ROSA" was shot in Mandaluyong, and was originally titled `Palit Ulo’. It is distributed by a French firm, Films Distribution.

Direk Dante, with muses Jaclyn Jose and Andi Eigenmann

Having watched the film, I can say that Jaclyn Jose truly deserved the Best Actress award. That much-talked about final scene where she shows her vulnerability as she consumes fishballs on a stick - after having been heckled by society, after her family leaves an indelible mark in our consciousness. Without explicitly saying it, the audience receives the message loud and clear - peddling illegal substances does not pay. It brings out the worst in people, be it the user, the peddler, or the police. Better an honest day's work, than to take the short path paved with treachery, and suffer the consequences.

Synopsis (from Wikipedia)

Rosa (Jaclyn Jose) is married to Nestor (Julio Diaz) to whom she has four children. Rosa's family runs a sari-sari store in a neighborhood in Manila. The income from the small convenience store business alone isn't enough to meet the family's daily needs, so illegal drugs particularly "ice" or crystal meth, are also sold at Rosa's store. One day the police officers arrest Rosa and Nestor for selling drugs and asks them for "bail money" or bribe for the couple's release. Rosa's children, left to their own to deal with the struggles of daily life, finds a way to free their detained parents.