It is not everyday one gets to watch a Filipino-Chinese inspired film, but when it happens, it goes on with a bang!
HER LOCKET is the latest movie helmed by award winning director J.E. Tiglao who we met back in 2013 at a prestigious independent film festival for the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
It follows the story of former actress, Jewel Ouyang-Nicolas (wonderfully played by Rebecca Chuaunsu), ‘Her Locket’ brings you back to the late ’50s Manila. Ouyang is a sophomore student of Theater Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman, who always sneaks out from their house at night to meet her friends, at the disco. At UP, she meets jack-of-all trades, Dave (played impeccably by very talented, Tommy Alejandrino), whom she would later on marry. The love of Jewel for Dave did not come easy for her family has already pre-arranged a marriage for her as a known and strict Chinese tradition.
The film also focuses on non-experienced caregiver, Teresa, impressively delivered by Elora Españo, while theater actor now delving into film Boo Gabunada, did not disappoint as young lawyer and Ouyang’s only son, Kyle. Honed by theater, both Elora and Boo contribute the finest acting chops fit for this film.
The “locket” in the film, refers to an old necklace containing a photo of Ouyang’s young self and her family, including her only sibling, Magnus. With this locket, Ouyang is able to recall her lost memories due to her progressive dementia. As siblings, Jewel and Magnus constantly engage in fights, big and small, a hostile relationship that would soon result to a bigger, more chaotic battle so to speak.
Credit also goes out to singer-actress Sophie Ng who’s a dead ringer to fellow actress Kylie Padilla on every angle. She dominates more than half of the movie and played out her emotional scenes well. Perhaps the surprise that left an impressive mark is You Tube sensation Benedict Cua whom we met in 2019 before the pandemic who’s presence onscreen you will long recall. His character as the young adult Magnus depicted a sibling rivalry that would last decades.
For her poignant and exemplary performance in the lead role, Ms. Rebecca won as Best Actress at the Wu Wei International Film Festival in Taipei and at the Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora in Morocco. She has essayed many Chinese roles in the past for television and other films but this biographical role for Her Locket is the one closest and dear to her heart.
Credit should also be given to the remaining ensemble cast which featured several Fil-Chinese actors as well: Jian Repolles, Zoey Villamangca, Norman Ong, Nellie Ang See, Angela Villarin, Ashlee Factor, Matthew Seaver Choy, Roberto Uy Kieng, George See, Francis Mata, Rolly Inocencio, Atty. Allan Jao, Dr. Philip Tan Gatue, and real life lawyer, Atty. Kesterson Cua.
Hokkien is one of the many Chinese dialects difficult to speak to non-Chinese playing actors but with the aid of genuine dialect coaches, Boo Gabunada left us impressed with his delivery of mere perfect Hokkien-speaking lines in the film.
We also met the Director of Photography or first time feature film cinematographer Jag Concepcion during the press conference. He is so used to shoot commercials and Her Locket is his baptism of fire to the world of mainstream films. Jag and director J.E. had collaborated on previous projects beforehand.
Director J.E. together with fellow screenwriter Maze Miranda carefully crafted a family story that triumphs in a sense that it brought out an effective canvass of how greed can destroy relationships, and how family love and forgiveness bring its members back in the fold the way it should be.
After the Sinag Maynila run, “Her Locket” will join the forthcoming San Diego Film Festival in the United States this October 2024. The very best of luck!
Catch ‘Her Locket’ and other Sinag Maynila films until September 10, at these cinemas: Gateway (2 cinemas), Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM Sta. Mesa, and Market Market.