Rebecca Chuaunsu wins finest actress for “Her Locket” on the Wu Wei Taipei Worldwide Movie Competition in Taiwan. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
What began out as a “revenge” undertaking towards her household is now profitable Rebecca Chuaunsu performing awards. The actress-producer just lately obtained her second finest actress trophy for JE Tiglao’s “Her Locket” on the Wu Wei Taipei Worldwide Movie Competition
She received the identical award on the Transsaharien Worldwide Movie Competition in Morocco final 12 months.
“Her Locket” brings the viewers again to 32 years in the past, when Rebecca’s father wrote his final will and testomony, “however no person made a giant deal about it. Nonetheless, being a powerful lady, I fought for gender equality. The concept began there, and whether or not or not it ended as a revenge movie, you would need to watch,” she advised Inquirer Leisure in an interview.
“Her Locket” is among the official choices on this 12 months’s Sinag Maynila Movie Competition, which can run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 10.
Rebecca first shared the story at a seminar on writing and filmmaking facilitated by JE through the pandemic. She needed to inform the story by way of Zoom. JE commissioned Maze Miranda to cowrite the screenplay.
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Rebecca stated that, surprisingly, the story continues to be related to a whole lot of Filipino Chinese language households as much as at the present time. “This story of the character Jewel Ouyang is about within the Seventies, that’s why we now have a youthful Jewel (performed by Sophie Ng). She is telling us now that the problems earlier than are nonetheless the identical immediately. Throughout our time, I couldn’t date Filipinos. I additionally couldn’t be a part of present enterprise. Thirdly, the Chinese language at all times favor sons over daughters. These are nonetheless the identical as much as at the present time,” stated Rebecca.
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“Her Locket” has additionally participated on the 2023 Marché du Movie–Competition de Cannes in France, 2023 London East Asia Worldwide Movie Competition in the UK and the twenty second Dhaka Worldwide Movie Competition in Bangladesh.
‘Near dwelling’
“At first, we didn’t know what our class was. We went to Cannes after which to London and so they labeled us as “household drama” and “ladies empowerment.” Was this our aim to start with? No. We didn’t know precisely, till this occurred and we stated, ‘Oo nga! Tama pala!’” Rebecca stated.
Sophie stated she was grateful to have been given the possibility to be in a movie that’s “really so near dwelling.” She defined: “I’m additionally Chinese language. Whereas I did my analysis on the lives of Filipino Chinese language ladies within the ’70s, I additionally discovered quite a bit from the heart-to-heart speak I had with Ms Rebecca,” she started.
“It’s humorous as a result of Jewel is like me in actual life. I’m additionally not inspired up to now Pinoys. Jewel’s dad and mom don’t know that she is taking over movie. I’m taking movie in Mint School proper now and my dad and mom are additionally unaware of it. I’m blissful that I really obtained to voice out what’s taking place to me via this film,” stated Sophie.
Boo Gabunada, who performs Jewel’s son Kyle Nicholas, studied to change into a lawyer hoping to present justice to his mom’s story.
Sophie Ng as younger Jewel —JE TIGLAO INSTAGRAM
“What grew to become my character’s battle was this: All of this revenge or battle for justice is at what price? What could be its impact on the household and their psyche?’ As for my mother’s battle—I promised her I might battle for her, however as much as what level? It is because I typically really feel like I used to be the one one combating since her well being is already deteriorating,” defined Boo.
Elora Españo performs Tere, Jewel’s caregiver. “I’m the one pure Filipino right here. I’m a mirrored image of unemployment within the nation. I present what a determined one that needs to rise from poverty can do with a view to survive,” she stated
Cinematographer Jag Concepcion was additionally current through the interview to share his imaginative and prescient for the movie.
“This options a whole lot of claustrophobic feels as a result of I used to be coping with so many themes, additionally as a result of it was a interval movie—I had the current, the previous, and I’ve Jewel’s moments of readability and moments of dementia,” Jag started.
“I had needed to showcase visually what I believed dementia would appear like as an individual going via it, as she interacts together with her son and her helper. Each character goes via his or her personal issues—Jewel together with her dementia, Kyle being a son coping with a mom with dementia and Tere, who’s simply attempting to outlive after which sees many alternatives that this dementia brings,” defined Jag.
When requested how she thinks the movie would influence the Filipino Chinese language neighborhood, Rebecca stated: “I’ll inform you that a whole lot of the legal professionals you will notice within the movie are literally my legal professionals in actual life. They stated, ‘You dare to indicate this movie within the Philippines?’ I stated, ‘Why not?’ I’ve proven this overseas. I hope for it to interrupt obstacles. It’d trigger extra issues, sure, however the movie is already on the market, so convey it on!” INQ