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'''''Santa Santita''''' 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''''' 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 ].


==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}}</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}}</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}}</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|title=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Asilo|first=Rito P.|date=November 20, 2004|work=Faith and Fate|accessdate=7 December 2010}}</ref> and when Malen dreams of having ], she is forced to confront the evil within her life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to heal Mike's dead son.<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}}</ref> A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt and tempt the priest as the film goes on.<ref name="pdi2"/> 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}}</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}}</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}}</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|title=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Asilo|first=Rito P.|date=November 20, 2004|work=Faith and Fate|accessdate=7 December 2010}}</ref> and when Malen dreams of having ], she is forced to confront the evil within her life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to heal Mike's dead son.<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}}</ref> A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt and tempt the priest as the film goes on.<ref name="pdi2"/>


==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}}</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}}</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/> 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}}</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}}</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/>


==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}}</ref> opened in cinemas in ], ] and ] on March 11, 2005.<ref name="nyt1"/> It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers, with ''Variety'' noting 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 Philippine Daily Inquirer saying 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, with the '']'' saying 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 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}}</ref> opened in cinemas in ], ] and ] on March 11, 2005.<ref name="nyt1"/> It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers, with ''Variety'' noting 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 Philippine Daily Inquirer saying 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, with the '']'' saying 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 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 it 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}}</ref> It 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}}</ref> 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}}</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 it 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}}</ref> It 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}}</ref> 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}}</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>

Revision as of 05:32, 22 February 2011

2004 film
Santa Santita
Theatrical poster
Directed byLaurice Guillen
Written byJerry Gracio
Starring
Production
company		Unitel Pictures International
Release dates
  • November 17, 2004 (2004-11-17) (Original)
  • March 11, 2005 (2005-03-11) (International)
LanguageFilipino

Santa Santita is a 2004 Filipino film starring Angelica Panganiban and Jericho Rosales, directed by Laurice Guillen. The film 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 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 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 evil within her life, something which comes to a climax when she is asked to heal Mike's dead son. A side plot involves Father Tony (Johnny Delgado), an alcoholic priest who lives with Mike. Initially his drinking partner, Mike begins to taunt and tempt the priest as the film goes on.

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.

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. It was given good reviews by both Filipino and American magazines and newspapers, with Variety noting 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 saying 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, with the New York Times saying 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 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 it represented the Philippines at the Asiaticafilmediale festival in Italy. It was also shown at the Sine! Sine! Film Fest in San Francisco, was a finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards, and represented the Philippines at the Bangkok International Film Festival.

Cast

Actor Role Notes
Angelica Panganiban Malen
Jericho Rosales Mike
Hilda Koronel Chayong
Johnny Delgado Father Tony

References

  1. ^ Edwards, Russell (August 22, 2005 – August 28, 2005). "Magdalena, The Unholy Saint". Variety. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Martel, Ned (March 11, 2005). "'Magdalena' — 'The Unholy Saint'". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ Cruz, Ruben M. (November 29, 2004). "In the Tradition of All Memorable Storytelling". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ^ Asilo, Rito P. (November 20, 2004). "Philippine Daily Inquirer". Faith and Fate. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (November 20, 2004). "Angelica And Jericho Come Into Their Own". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. San Diego, Bayani (October 26, 2004). "'Just a Job' Says Echo of Love Scene with Angelica". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  7. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (August 14, 2004). "Laurice Guillen Shoots Modern Magdalene Story". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ Jazmines, Tessa (November 29, 2004 – December 5, 2004). "'Sinful Saint' wins Philippine plaudits". Variety. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. Torre, Nestor U. (November 27, 2005). "Santa Santita Shown in Film Fest of Asian Movies in Rome". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. "2 Bay Area filmmakers on Filipino film festival lineup". The San Francisco Chronicle. August 5, 2005. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  11. "Jeturian Film Wins CMMA Best Picture". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 26, 2005. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. Torre, Nestor U. (February 18, 2006). "50 Countries Represented in Bangkok Filmfest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
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