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| image = Santa Santita movie cover.jpg | image = Santa Santita movie cover.jpg
| caption = Theatrical poster | caption = Theatrical poster
| director = Laurice Guillen | director = ]
| writer = Jerry Gracio | producer = Tony Gloria
| screenplay = Johnny Gracio<br />]<br />]
| starring = {{ubl|]|]|]|]}}
| studio = Unitel Pictures International | story = Jerry Gracio
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| music = Vincent Abenojar De Jesus
| cinematography = Lee Meily
| editing = Efren Jarlego
| studio = ]
| distributor = Unitel Pictures
| released = {{Film date|2004|11|17|Original|2005|3|11|International}} | released = {{Film date|2004|11|17|Original|2005|3|11|International}}
| runtime = 113 minutes
| country = ]
| language = Filipino | language = Filipino
| gross = $6,470 <small>(Domestic only)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=magdalena.htm|title=Magdalena, The Unholy Saint (2005)|publisher=]|access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref>
}} }}


'''''Santa Santita''''', or '''''Magdalena, The Unholy Saint''''', is a 2004 ] film starring ] and ], directed by ]. The film follows Malen, the daughter of an ], her love affair with a hustler and gigolo, and her confrontation of the evil within her life. Based on a script by Jerry Gracio, the film was picked up by Guillen in 2000 but did not start production because an appropriate actress for Malen could not be found. After picking Panganiban, Guillen began work, and the eventual film was released on November 17, 2004, in the Philippines and March 11, 2005, internationally. Receiving good reviews from ''Variety'' and the ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'', ''Santa Santita'' was one of only two films to be rated as Grade A by the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines, and represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy and the ]. '''''Santa Santita''''' (released internationally as '''''Magdalena, The Unholy Saint''''') is a 2004 ] film directed by ]. The film stars ] and ]. It follows Malen, the daughter of an ], her love affair with a hustler and gigolo, and her confrontation of the evil within her life.
Based on a script by Jerry Gracio, the film was picked up by Guillen in 2000, but did not start production because an appropriate actress for Malen could not be found. After picking Panganiban, Guillen began work, and the eventual film was released in the Philippines on November 17, 2004 and internationally on March 11, 2005. Receiving good reviews from ''Variety'' and the ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'', ''Santa Santita'' was one of only two films to be rated as Grade A by the ], and represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy and the ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
Malen (Angelica Panganiban) is the daughter of Chayong (Hilda Koronel), a widowed ] at ] in ].<ref name="var1">{{cite news|title=Magdalena, The Unholy Saint|last=Edwards|first=Russell|date=August 22, 2005 – August 28, 2005|work=Variety|accessdate=7 December 2010|page=33}}</ref> Selling religious charms as a way of meeting men, Malen falls for Mike (Jericho Rosales), a gigolo and hustler.<ref name="nyt1">{{cite news|title='Magdalena' — 'The Unholy Saint'|last=Martel|first=Ned|date=March 11, 2005|work=The New York Times|accessdate=7 December 2010|page=30}}</ref> Mike hustles both for his own survival and that of his son, but also because "he knows essentially he's just strong enough and unscrupulous enough" to do so.<ref name="pdi2">{{cite news|title=In the Tradition of All Memorable Storytelling|last=Cruz|first=Ruben M.|date=November 29, 2004|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=2}}</ref> After her mother takes umbrage at Malen's assumed promiscuity, she moves out of Chayong's house and stays with Mike. When her mother then dies of a heart attack, Malen feels guilt and becomes an intercessor despite having previously sworn the profession off.<ref name="var1"/> Initially met with mistrust by her colleagues, one of whom exclaims that "She is defiling prayer", Malen heals a child with a hole in its heart through her prayers,<ref name="nyt1"/> despite not even praying seriously.<ref name="pdi2"/> This meets with additional hostility, both from the other intercessors and the clergy,<ref name="pdi1">{{cite news|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Asilo|first=Rito P.|date=November 20, 2004|title=Faith and Fate|accessdate=7 December 2010|page=3}}</ref> and when Malen dreams of having ], she is forced to confront the problems with her own life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to bring Mike's dead son back to life.<ref name=pdi3>{{cite news|title=Angelica And Jericho Come Into Their Own|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=November 20, 2004|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=2}}</ref> A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt the priest about his failures as the film goes on.<ref name="pdi2"/> At the end of the film, Mike is sent to prison for killing a man after a traffic accident, while Tony's interactions with Malen convince him that he is addicted to alcohol, prompting him to return to his parish and continue serving as a priest.<ref name=man1>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2004_Nov_24/santa-santita-minsan-pa/ai_n33837376/?tag=content;col1|title='Santa Santita' and 'Minsan Pa'|date=November 24, 2004|work=Manila Bulletin|accessdate=27 February 2011}}</ref> Malen (Angelica Panganiban) is the daughter of Chayong (Hilda Koronel), a widowed ] at ] in ].<ref name="var1">{{cite news|title=Magdalena, The Unholy Saint|last=Edwards|first=Russell|date=August 22–28, 2005|work=Variety|page=33}}</ref> Selling religious charms as a way of meeting men, Malen falls for Mike (Jericho Rosales), a gigolo and hustler.<ref name="nyt1">{{cite news|title='Magdalena' — 'The Unholy Saint'|last=Martel|first=Ned|date=March 11, 2005|work=The New York Times|page=30}}</ref> Mike hustles both for his own survival and that of his son, but also because "he knows essentially he's just strong enough and unscrupulous enough" to do so.<ref name="pdi2">{{cite news|title=In the Tradition of All Memorable Storytelling|last=Cruz|first=Ruben M.|date=November 29, 2004|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|page=2}}</ref> After her mother takes umbrage at Malen's assumed promiscuity, she moves out of Chayong's house and stays with Mike. When her mother then dies of a heart attack, Malen feels guilt and becomes an intercessor despite having previously sworn the profession off.<ref name="var1"/>
Initially met with mistrust by her colleagues, one of whom exclaims that "She is defiling prayer", Malen heals a child with a hole in its heart through her prayers,<ref name="nyt1"/> despite not even praying seriously.<ref name="pdi2"/> This meets with additional hostility, both from the other intercessors and the clergy,<ref name="pdi1">{{cite news|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Asilo|first=Rito P.|date=November 20, 2004|title=Faith and Fate|page=3}}</ref> and when Malen dreams of having ], she is forced to confront the problems with her own life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to bring Mike's dead son back to life.<ref name=pdi3>{{cite news|title=Angelica And Jericho Come Into Their Own|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=November 20, 2004|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|page=2}}</ref> A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt the priest about his failures as the film goes on.<ref name="pdi2"/> At the end of the film, Mike is sent to prison for killing a man after a traffic accident, while Tony's interactions with Malen convince him that he is addicted to alcohol, prompting him to return to his parish and continue serving as a priest.<ref name=man1>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2004_Nov_24/santa-santita-minsan-pa/ai_n33837376/?tag=content;col1 |title='Santa Santita' and 'Minsan Pa' |date=November 24, 2004 |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=27 February 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

⚫ ==Cast==

⚫ * ] as Chayong
⚫ * ] as Father Tony
* ] as Sister Dolor
⚫ * ] as Mike
⚫ * ] as Malen


==Production== ==Production==
The script was written by Jerry Gracio, influenced by the poem '']'', and won first prize at the scriptwriting competition hosted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in 2000.<ref name="pdi4">{{cite news|title='Just a Job' Says Echo of Love Scene with Angelica|last=San Diego|first=Bayani|date=October 26, 2004|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=2}}</ref> This attracted the attention of ], who bought the script (the first time in her career that she had done so) and signed on to direct the eventual film. The script was brought to ], who became interested in producing it, but production stalled due to difficulties finding an appropriate actress to play Malen. Guillen stated that "Since she was a Magdalene, she had to be sexy but she also had to be much more than that....I was shown many sexy actresses, some of them name stars, but I couldn't find my Santa-Santita. I felt that the role should go to someone relatively new, who had no fixed image, so that there would be no expectations". An additional problem was over the religious content of the film, which met with controversy.<ref name=pdi5>{{cite news|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|title=Laurice Guillen Shoots Modern Magdalene Story|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=August 14, 2004|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=3}}</ref> Guillen eventually found Angelica Panganiban to play Malen, and after five years without production, work on the film began for Unitel Pictures International,<ref name=pdi5/> whose CEO stated that "the majority of Filipinos, the so-called masses, are not the targets of this movie. Those who frequent the cineplexes and look for fresh material in the movies are".<ref>{{cite news|title=Art pic shoots in old Manila|last=Tessa|first=Jazmines|date=August 19, 2002|work=Variety|page=24|accessdate=25 February 2011}}</ref> The title, ''Santa Santita'', translates as "saint who is not really a saint".<ref name="var1"/> The script was written by Jerry Gracio, influenced by the poem '']'', and won first prize at the scriptwriting competition hosted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in 2000.<ref name="pdi4">{{cite news|title='Just a Job' Says Echo of Love Scene with Angelica|last=San Diego|first=Bayani|date=October 26, 2004|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|page=2}}</ref> This attracted the attention of ], who bought the script (the first time in her career that she had done so) and signed on to direct the eventual film. The script was brought to ], who became interested in producing it, but production stalled due to difficulties finding an appropriate actress to play Malen. Guillen stated that "Since she was a Magdalene, she had to be sexy but she also had to be much more than that....I was shown many sexy actresses, some of them name stars, but I couldn't find my Santa-Santita. I felt that the role should go to someone relatively new, who had no fixed image, so that there would be no expectations". An additional problem was over the religious content of the film, which met with controversy.<ref name=pdi5>{{cite news|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|title=Laurice Guillen Shoots Modern Magdalene Story|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=August 14, 2004|page=3}}</ref> Guillen eventually found Angelica Panganiban to play Malen, and after five years without production, work on the film began for Unitel Pictures International,<ref name=pdi5/> whose CEO stated that "the majority of Filipinos, the so-called masses, are not the targets of this movie. Those who frequent the cineplexes and look for fresh material in the movies are".<ref>{{cite news|title=Art pic shoots in old Manila|last=Tessa|first=Jazmines|date=August 19, 2002|work=Variety|page=24}}</ref> The title, ''Santa Santita'', translates as "saint who is not really a saint".<ref name="var1"/>


The scenes were primarily shot in ], church scenes were recorded in ] and dream sequences in ]. Guillen noted the stress of recording in Quiapo, due to the large number of extras, the already crowded nature of the area and the small size of the time periods during which they were allowed to film in the church itself.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2004_Sept_3/santa-santita-laurice-guillens-difficult/ai_n33789254/|title='Santa-Santita,' Laurice Guillen's most difficult movie|date=September 3, 2004|work=Manila Bulletin|accessdate=27 February 2011}}</ref> The scenes were primarily shot in ], church scenes were recorded in ] and dream sequences in ]. Guillen noted the stress of recording in Quiapo, due to the large number of extras, the already crowded nature of the area and the small size of the time periods during which they were allowed to film in the church itself.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2004_Sept_3/santa-santita-laurice-guillens-difficult/ai_n33789254/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710185754/http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-bulletin/mi_7968/is_2004_Sept_3/santa-santita-laurice-guillens-difficult/ai_n33789254/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title='Santa-Santita,' Laurice Guillen's most difficult movie |date=September 3, 2004 |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=27 February 2011 }}</ref>


==Release== ==Release==
The film was previewed to good reviews,<ref name=pdi3/> and after an initial release in the Philippines on November 17, 2004,<ref name="var2">{{cite news|title='Sinful Saint' wins Philippine plaudits|last=Jazmines|first=Tessa|date=November 29, 2004 – December 5, 2004|work=Variety|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=16}}</ref> opened in cinemas in ], ] and ] on March 11, 2005, as ''Magdalena, The Unholy Saint''.<ref name="nyt1"/> It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers; '']'' magazine's reviewer noted that "Performances are solid, and former child actress Panganiban is impressive as a young woman who finds herself with a vocation she never asked for.... Guillen's helming is slick and confident, and the HD-sourced photography and other technical credits are of good quality",<ref name="var1"/> and the '']'' reported that "Gorgeously crafted, 'Santa Santita's' strength lies in its illuminating take on man's neverending search for meaning, and in the thoughtful, truthful characterization of its leads".<ref name="pdi1"/> The film was previewed to good reviews,<ref name=pdi3/> and after an initial release in the Philippines on November 17, 2004,<ref name="var2">{{cite news|title='Sinful Saint' wins Philippine plaudits|last=Jazmines|first=Tessa|date=November 29 – December 5, 2004|work=Variety|page=16}}</ref> opened in cinemas in ], ] and ] on March 11, 2005, as ''Magdalena, The Unholy Saint''.<ref name="nyt1"/> It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers; '']'' magazine's reviewer noted that "Performances are solid, and former child actress Panganiban is impressive as a young woman who finds herself with a vocation she never asked for.... Guillen's helming is slick and confident, and the HD-sourced photography and other technical credits are of good quality",<ref name="var1"/> and the '']'' reported that "Gorgeously crafted, 'Santa Santita's' strength lies in its illuminating take on man's neverending search for meaning, and in the thoughtful, truthful characterization of its leads".<ref name="pdi1"/>


Other reviewers were more cautionary; the '']'' wrote that "the aim of the filmmaker seems unclear, with Magdalena at first celebrated for her humanness and then exalted for her sudden saintliness" and describing the story as "wearyingly eventful".<ref name="nyt1"/> The '']'' noted that while the film is about belief (or lack thereof) in miracles, "the effort to explore this issue is not brought into fulfilling fruition. We keep on hoping something else more significant would happen later in the film to invoke the viewers own feelings about faith and an all-seeing, all-merciful God, but this never comes". Although Rosales and Panganiban were praised for their acting, the reviewer felt that there was "just no combustible chemistry between the two of them".<ref name=man1/> Other reviewers were more cautionary; the '']'' wrote that "the aim of the filmmaker seems unclear, with Magdalena at first celebrated for her humanness and then exalted for her sudden saintliness" and describing the story as "wearyingly eventful".<ref name="nyt1"/> The '']'' noted that while the film is about belief (or lack thereof) in miracles, "the effort to explore this issue is not brought into fulfilling fruition. We keep on hoping something else more significant would happen later in the film to invoke the viewers own feelings about faith and an all-seeing, all-merciful God, but this never comes". Although Rosales and Panganiban were praised for their acting, the reviewer felt that there was "just no combustible chemistry between the two of them".<ref name=man1/>


The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines gave the film a Grade A rating, making it one of only two films to qualify into that category at that point,<ref name="var2"/> and the only film to qualify in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Philippine local prod'n on skids: festivals raise hopes of comeback for homegrown fare|last=Tan|first=Angie|date=December 28, 2004|work=Hollywood Reporter|page=6|accessdate=25 February 2011}}</ref> This rating gave ''Santa Santita'' a 100&nbsp;percent rebate on amusement taxes, and is only awarded to films that the Board feels can "revitalize the moribund industry".<ref>{{cite news|title='Sinful Saint' wins Philipine plaudits|last=Jazmines|first=Tessa|date=November 29, 2004|work=Variety|pages=p.16|accessdate=25 February 2011}}</ref> The movie represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy,<ref>{{cite news|title=Santa Santita Shown in Film Fest of Asian Movies in Rome|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=November 27, 2005|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=4}}</ref> and was also shown at the Sine! Sine! Film Fest in ].<ref>{{cite news|title=2 Bay Area filmmakers on Filipino film festival lineup|date=August 5, 2005|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=2}}</ref> It was a finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards,<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeturian Film Wins CMMA Best Picture|date=October 26, 2005|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010|page=2}}</ref> and represented the Philippines at the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=50 Countries Represented in Bangkok Filmfest|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=February 18, 2006|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=8 December 2010}}</ref> The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines gave the film a Grade A rating, making it one of only two films to qualify into that category at that point,<ref name="var2"/> and the only film to qualify in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Philippine local prod'n on skids: festivals raise hopes of comeback for homegrown fare|last=Tan|first=Angie|date=December 28, 2004|work=Hollywood Reporter|page=6}}</ref> This rating gave ''Santa Santita'' a 100&nbsp;percent rebate on amusement taxes, and is only awarded to films that the Board feels can "revitalize the moribund industry".<ref>{{cite news|title='Sinful Saint' wins Philipine plaudits|last=Jazmines|first=Tessa|date=November 29, 2004|work=Variety|pages=16}}</ref> The movie represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy,<ref>{{cite news|title=Santa Santita Shown in Film Fest of Asian Movies in Rome|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=November 27, 2005|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|page=4}}</ref> and was also shown at the Sine! Sine! Film Fest in ].<ref>{{cite news|title=2 Bay Area filmmakers on Filipino film festival lineup|date=August 5, 2005|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|page=2}}</ref> It was a finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards,<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeturian Film Wins CMMA Best Picture|date=October 26, 2005|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|page=2}}</ref> and represented the Philippines at the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=50 Countries Represented in Bangkok Filmfest|last=Torre|first=Nestor U.|date=February 18, 2006|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref>

⚫ ==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Actor|| Role|| Notes
|-
⚫ | ]|| Malen ||<ref name="var1"/>
|-
⚫ | ]|| Mike || <ref name="nyt1"/>
|-
⚫ | ]|| Chayong || <ref name="var1"/>
|-
⚫ | ]|| Father Tony || <ref name="pdi2"/>
|}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0433635|title=Santa Santita}}


] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 04:11, 17 December 2024

2004 Filipino film
Santa Santita
Theatrical poster
Directed byLaurice Guillen
Screenplay byJohnny Gracio
Michiko Yamamoto
Juan Feleo
Story byJerry Gracio
Produced byTony Gloria
StarringHilda Koronel
Johnny Delgado
Cherry Pie Picache
Jericho Rosales
Angelica Panganiban
CinematographyLee Meily
Edited byEfren Jarlego
Music byVincent Abenojar De Jesus
Production
company		Unitel Pictures
Distributed byUnitel Pictures
Release dates
  • November 17, 2004 (2004-11-17) (Original)
  • March 11, 2005 (2005-03-11) (International)
Running time113 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
Box office$6,470 (Domestic only)

Santa Santita (released internationally as Magdalena, The Unholy Saint) is a 2004 Filipino film directed by Laurice Guillen. The film stars Angelica Panganiban and Jericho Rosales. It follows Malen, the daughter of an intercessor, her love affair with a hustler and gigolo, and her confrontation of the evil within her life.

Based on a script by Jerry Gracio, the film was picked up by Guillen in 2000, but did not start production because an appropriate actress for Malen could not be found. After picking Panganiban, Guillen began work, and the eventual film was released in the Philippines on November 17, 2004 and internationally on March 11, 2005. Receiving good reviews from Variety and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Santa Santita was one of only two films to be rated as Grade A by the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines, and represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy and the Bangkok International Film Festival.

Plot

Malen (Angelica Panganiban) is the daughter of Chayong (Hilda Koronel), a widowed intercessor at Quiapo Church in Manila. Selling religious charms as a way of meeting men, Malen falls for Mike (Jericho Rosales), a gigolo and hustler. Mike hustles both for his own survival and that of his son, but also because "he knows essentially he's just strong enough and unscrupulous enough" to do so. After her mother takes umbrage at Malen's assumed promiscuity, she moves out of Chayong's house and stays with Mike. When her mother then dies of a heart attack, Malen feels guilt and becomes an intercessor despite having previously sworn the profession off.

Initially met with mistrust by her colleagues, one of whom exclaims that "She is defiling prayer", Malen heals a child with a hole in its heart through her prayers, despite not even praying seriously. This meets with additional hostility, both from the other intercessors and the clergy, and when Malen dreams of having stigmata, she is forced to confront the problems with her own life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to bring Mike's dead son back to life. A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt the priest about his failures as the film goes on. At the end of the film, Mike is sent to prison for killing a man after a traffic accident, while Tony's interactions with Malen convince him that he is addicted to alcohol, prompting him to return to his parish and continue serving as a priest.

Cast

Production

The script was written by Jerry Gracio, influenced by the poem The Hound of Heaven, and won first prize at the scriptwriting competition hosted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in 2000. This attracted the attention of Laurice Guillen, who bought the script (the first time in her career that she had done so) and signed on to direct the eventual film. The script was brought to Star Cinema, who became interested in producing it, but production stalled due to difficulties finding an appropriate actress to play Malen. Guillen stated that "Since she was a Magdalene, she had to be sexy but she also had to be much more than that....I was shown many sexy actresses, some of them name stars, but I couldn't find my Santa-Santita. I felt that the role should go to someone relatively new, who had no fixed image, so that there would be no expectations". An additional problem was over the religious content of the film, which met with controversy. Guillen eventually found Angelica Panganiban to play Malen, and after five years without production, work on the film began for Unitel Pictures International, whose CEO stated that "the majority of Filipinos, the so-called masses, are not the targets of this movie. Those who frequent the cineplexes and look for fresh material in the movies are". The title, Santa Santita, translates as "saint who is not really a saint".

The scenes were primarily shot in Quiapo, Manila, church scenes were recorded in Iguig and dream sequences in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. Guillen noted the stress of recording in Quiapo, due to the large number of extras, the already crowded nature of the area and the small size of the time periods during which they were allowed to film in the church itself.

Release

The film was previewed to good reviews, and after an initial release in the Philippines on November 17, 2004, opened in cinemas in Manhattan, San Diego and Honolulu on March 11, 2005, as Magdalena, The Unholy Saint. It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers; Variety magazine's reviewer noted that "Performances are solid, and former child actress Panganiban is impressive as a young woman who finds herself with a vocation she never asked for.... Guillen's helming is slick and confident, and the HD-sourced photography and other technical credits are of good quality", and the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that "Gorgeously crafted, 'Santa Santita's' strength lies in its illuminating take on man's neverending search for meaning, and in the thoughtful, truthful characterization of its leads".

Other reviewers were more cautionary; the New York Times wrote that "the aim of the filmmaker seems unclear, with Magdalena at first celebrated for her humanness and then exalted for her sudden saintliness" and describing the story as "wearyingly eventful". The Manila Bulletin noted that while the film is about belief (or lack thereof) in miracles, "the effort to explore this issue is not brought into fulfilling fruition. We keep on hoping something else more significant would happen later in the film to invoke the viewers own feelings about faith and an all-seeing, all-merciful God, but this never comes". Although Rosales and Panganiban were praised for their acting, the reviewer felt that there was "just no combustible chemistry between the two of them".

The Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines gave the film a Grade A rating, making it one of only two films to qualify into that category at that point, and the only film to qualify in 2004. This rating gave Santa Santita a 100 percent rebate on amusement taxes, and is only awarded to films that the Board feels can "revitalize the moribund industry". The movie represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy, and was also shown at the Sine! Sine! Film Fest in San Francisco. It was a finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards, and represented the Philippines at the Bangkok International Film Festival.

References

  1. "Magdalena, The Unholy Saint (2005)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Edwards, Russell (August 22–28, 2005). "Magdalena, The Unholy Saint". Variety. p. 33.
  3. ^ Martel, Ned (March 11, 2005). "'Magdalena' — 'The Unholy Saint'". The New York Times. p. 30.
  4. ^ Cruz, Ruben M. (November 29, 2004). "In the Tradition of All Memorable Storytelling". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 2.
  5. ^ Asilo, Rito P. (November 20, 2004). "Faith and Fate". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 3.
  6. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (November 20, 2004). "Angelica And Jericho Come Into Their Own". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 2.
  7. ^ "'Santa Santita' and 'Minsan Pa'". Manila Bulletin. November 24, 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  8. San Diego, Bayani (October 26, 2004). "'Just a Job' Says Echo of Love Scene with Angelica". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 2.
  9. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (August 14, 2004). "Laurice Guillen Shoots Modern Magdalene Story". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 3.
  10. Tessa, Jazmines (August 19, 2002). "Art pic shoots in old Manila". Variety. p. 24.
  11. "'Santa-Santita,' Laurice Guillen's most difficult movie". Manila Bulletin. September 3, 2004. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  12. ^ Jazmines, Tessa (November 29 – December 5, 2004). "'Sinful Saint' wins Philippine plaudits". Variety. p. 16.
  13. Tan, Angie (December 28, 2004). "Philippine local prod'n on skids: festivals raise hopes of comeback for homegrown fare". Hollywood Reporter. p. 6.
  14. Jazmines, Tessa (November 29, 2004). "'Sinful Saint' wins Philipine plaudits". Variety. p. 16.
  15. Torre, Nestor U. (November 27, 2005). "Santa Santita Shown in Film Fest of Asian Movies in Rome". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 4.
  16. "2 Bay Area filmmakers on Filipino film festival lineup". The San Francisco Chronicle. August 5, 2005. p. 2.
  17. "Jeturian Film Wins CMMA Best Picture". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 26, 2005. p. 2.
  18. Torre, Nestor U. (February 18, 2006). "50 Countries Represented in Bangkok Filmfest". Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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