A riotously funny film on friendship, love, and liberation
The roadtrip adventure comedy film “Si
Chedeng At Si Apple,” starring two of Philippine cinema’s most beautiful
actresses Gloria Diaz and Elizabeth Oropesa, joins Cine Lokal as it celebrates
diversity and pride this LGBT month featuring award-winning movies shown on
selected theaters starting June 22 (Friday).
Gloria and Elizabeth reunite to give a
fresh and fun narrative in this Cinema One Originals entry as part of the
weeklong “PelikuLAYA sa Cine Lokal: An LGBT Film Festival,” led by the Film
Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with different
LGBTQ organizations. The former Miss Universe (1969) first teamed up with La
Oropesa, 1999’s grand slam best actress, in “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat
ng Lupa” in 1974.
Their exceptional tandem takes moviegoers
to a new adventure that centers on friendship, self-discovery, and finding true
love. Two old women become accidental criminals after Chedeng (Gloria) decides
to come out of the closet in the wake of her husband’s death just as Apple
(Elizabeth) beheads her live-in partner. The best friends then embark on an
exciting road trip to find their heart’s desires.
“Si Chedeng At Si Apple” is directed by
young filmmakers Fatrick Tabada and Rae Red, best known as the screenwriter of
the award-winning films “Patay Na Si Hesus” and “Birdshot,” respectively.
Moviegoers of all ages can relate to the
film’s overall self-discovery and liberation theme. “It’s about freedom from
whatever you need to unshackle yourself from, taking control of your own life,
[and] learning to fight for what you want.” shared its directors. The story,
they said, aims to depict that “coming out shouldn’t be gloomy and bleak."
The “riotously funny” movie, according to
a review by Megan Purdy of international film site msenscene.com, talks about
friendship, love, duty, and scoundrels. She said, “‘Chedeng and Apple’ is a
funny and refreshing film about older women living for themselves and
rediscovering the importance of their friendship.”
Hayley Scanlon of windowsonworlds.com,
meanwhile, stressed the fine performance of the leads. “The spiky banter
between the two women has an authentic, lived-in quality that brings a degree
of realism,” he said.
The movie had its international premiere
at Europe’s largest filmfest dedicated to Asian cinema --the 20th Far East Film
Festival-- held in Udine, Italy last April, and was also recently shown in
Seattle International Film Festival. It will be screened at Frameline’s 2018
San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival this month.
In last year’s Cinema One Originals, “Si
Chedeng At Si Apple” won best supporting actress for Mae Paner and also earned
a special jury citation "for its humorous critique on Filipino macho
culture and discourse on the emancipation of gender and age."
The film’s lead actresses Gloria and
Elizabeth got Best Actress nominations at the Gawad Urian 2018. Gloria also got
nominated for Best Actress at the 66th Famas Awards.
Catch “Si Chedeng At Si Apple” on Cine
Lokal at SM Manila, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa,
SM Fairview, SM Southmall, and SM Bacoor from June 22 to 28.
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