Last week, I was able to visit the house of Don Lorenzo Marasigan which was last seen 5 decades ago. I was acquainted with this film's script and I was lucky to watch it as Cinematheque Center Manila restored the 'A Portrait of an Artist as a Filipino' and offered a free admission to every one who wanted to watch the film.
Cinematheque Center Manila is located at Kalaw, Ermita, Manila. If ever you are acquainted at Manila, you would consider paying a visit to their movie house which comes with a café and a souvenir shop. I am a student of Philippine Normal University (PNU) and it is just a block away from my university. If you are aware of Savemore Kalaw corner is Chowking, you just have to follow the street next to it, straight ahead and you would find the statue of Gerry De Leon in a rather directing pose. Here's a bit of information about the movie and how restoration process has repainted many other films, youths like me should watch:
"All the humiliations, Paula.. All the humiliations that we have suffered, Paula.. All the bitter, bitter humiliations we have suffered!" Candida said while holding her hands before her face.
Once again, the adaptation of Nick Joaquin's A Portrait of an Artist as a Filipino which is directed by none other than the "The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies" Lamberto Avellana casts the house of the renowned painter Don Lorenzo Marasigan and his daughters - Candida and Paula Marasigan. This film visualized the situation after the Spanish reign that was followed by the colonization of the Americans. The settings of the film was during the pre-2nd World War at the walled city - Intramuros, and talks about how our country is back then being tormented by the two cultures being mixed upon through time. How would Candida and Paula explain the "Retrato del Artista Como Filipino" or "A Portrait of an Artist as a Filipino" painted by their father? How long could the Marasigans kept their home together through the tough times of indifference?
"He has painted himself as he is now - and he used to be - in the past." said Candida.
And now it would be possible for us film fanatics to view the painting of Don Lorenzo Marasigan as the Cinematheque Center Manila opened this 2016 showing different classical movies that are being restored to be enjoyed in a high quality mode. Other films like Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Mula sa Kung Ano Man Ang Noon and other phenomenal movies were brought to life after the restoration project back in 2014 spearheaded by the Film Developmental Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the National Archives of the Philippines (NFAP) and a known director-cinematographer Mike de Leon. the said restoration was conducted at the L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratories in Bologna, Italy.
Here are some sites you would like to visit to know more about Cinematheque Center Manila (CCM) and their February schedule so you could choose what to watch and which films are free from viewing!Film Developmental Council of the Philippines:
http://fdcp.ph/contents/view?id=Cinematheque
Cinematheque Center Manila Schedule:
http://www.fdcp.ph/contents/viewid=cinemathequemanila
