Ma’Rosa, To The 2017 Oscars
Ma’Rosa, directed by Brillante Mendoza, was the Philippines’ official film entry to the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.
The movie, which already won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival courtesy of Jaclyn Jose, will be competing for the prestigious Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2017 Oscars.
Jaclyn Jose is the first Filipino to win Best Actress at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Ma’Rosa is also comprised of Filipino actors and actresses including Julia Diaz, Baron Geisler, Mercedes Cabral, Neil Ryan Sese, Jomari Angeles, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Felix Roco, Mon Confiado, Maria Isabel Lopez and Jaclyn’s daughter Andi Eigenmann.
The announcement was made by Edgardo Vinarao of the Film Academy of the Philippines last Wednesday.
In a report by ABS-CBN, Mendoza said in an interview that he is very happy that the movie has been chosen and also admitted that he is not expecting the movie to be chosen.
“After doing 12 films and after directing for the past 10 years, hindi ako napipili so I didn’t expect na. Every time they ask for my film, we will give it and they will not choose it naman so I didn’t expect na,” Mendoza said a quoted in the report.
According to the Film Academy of the Philippines, there are also more than 9 films that have been deliberated by the organization. They include:
- Felix Manalo by Joel Lamangan,
- Anino sa Likod ng Buwan by Jun Lana
- Honor Thy Father by Erik Matti,
- Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis by Lav Diaz,
- Dukot by Paul Soriano
- Pamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy Jr.
- Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli by Gil Portes
- Tuos by Roderick Cabrido
The movie Ma’Rosa talks about a story of a mother who runs a sari-sari store (variety store) and also sells illegal drugs as well. As the police arrested the couple, their children had to try and buy their parents’ freedom from corrupt authorities.
