FILM SHOWING: BOSES, Aug 4, 2008 "Boses"
stars Cherry Pie Picache and Meryll Soriano
by Jocelyn Dimaculangan
Cherry Pie Picache and Meryll Soriano star in a Cinemalaya entry about a violin teacher and his student. Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil is the director and producer of the indie film Boses (international title: Voices), which will premiere as one of the finalists of the fourth edition of
this annual filmfest. The 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will be held from July 11-20 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Boses (Voices) is the story of a musician named Ariel (played by Coke Bolipata) who offers violin lessons to a child of the slums (played by Julian Duque). Through the violin, the abused child Onyok is able to get back his voice from a mute, desensitized existence. Cherry Pie plays Amanda, the sister of Ariel while Meryll plays the student-girlfriend of the violinist.
A violin teacher and his student, a mute 7-year old abused child in a shelter, develop a friendship stemming from their love of music. Ariel discovers the immense talent of Onyok hiding behind a veneer of silence and pain caused by an unhappy and cruel father. In the
developing relationship of teacher and student, both characters reveal more of themselves that otherwise may have remained unspoken. They discover each other's strengths and failures through the violin lessons.
Boses is being taped on location in Casa San Miguel (a farm in Zambales converted into a complete center for the arts). Violinist Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata studied at the New School of Music in Philadelphia, Indiana University, and at the Julliard School in New York. He established Casa San Miguel in his family's mango orchard in Zambales when he returned home from his studies abroad.
Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil is best known for the movie Mga Pusang Gala, which she both directed and produced. She was schooled at the University of the Philippines, Philippine Educational Theater Association, Mowelfund Film Institute with short visitors' programs in
Paris and London. She founded Erasto Films Inc., named after her father. Erasto means
"man of peace." Its objective is to help push alternative filmmaking to the forefront of Philippine cinema, and create impact on the mainstream. Erasto Films' first project is Mga Pusang Gala, which was made possible through equity-sharing of almost the whole cast and staff. She used to be a public affairs program manager for GMA-7 shows
I-Witness, Debate, and Unang Hirit.
Each ticket costs 70 pesos.
For inquiries contact: 09175591318 or 09215117960
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