by Reymundo Salao
The Singaporean movie "Ilo ilo" may have its official home in Singapore, because this is a Singaporean movie directed by Singaporean director Anthony Chen. But at its emotional core, we Ilonggos can acknowledge a certain connection, a certain emotional link with the movie, and we consider this film's premiere here in Iloilo as a "Coming Home"event.
The highly acclaimed and multi-awarded Singaporean drama film entitled "Ilo ilo" had its Philippine premiere in SM City Iloilo Cinema last Sunday December 1, 2013. The premiere was also a fundraising event for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Northern Iloilo. And the event was really successful and jampacked. "Ilo ilo" officially opens its regular run in Philippine cinemas December 4, 2013.
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"Ilo ilo" is a story of a Singaporean family who is having such simple but emotionally tumultous troubles in life, at the center of the story is 10-year old Jiale who is such a troublesome kid, and the changes he's going through when he meets the Filipina maid hired by his parents. This story is based upon the experiences and memories of its director Anthony Chen and the Filipina maid, Aunti Terry from Iloilo, who acted as her nanny when he was a kid. The film stars Chen Tianwen as Teck, the father, Yeo Yann Yann as Hwee Leng, the mother, Koh Jia Ler as Jiale, and Angeli Bayani as Auntie Terry.
MEMORIES OF A FILIPINA
At the screening and at the press conference, the cast and director of the film were present, as well as the real-life Aunti Terry. Director Anthony Chen clarified that the film is not necessarily a direct adaptation of his experiences with Auntie Terry, rather, it was a re-telling of his memories woven together, bits and pieces of history, and some more added drama; he joked that his real life story was too boring to be told on screen. He added that the title "Ilo ilo" was used because it was the only word that Chen could remember, back then, about Auntie Terry. But he fondly remembers many good things about Auntie Terry, and even the details, such as how she often listens to Lea Salonga's Miss Saigon album, and how she loves to cook, and how she often watches shows like "Yan Can Cook". Auntie Terry spent ten years working in Singapore; she was in the Chen family's employ for eight years. Whenever she is asked about her experiences, it brings cheerful positive tears in her eyes. A heart-warming reminder of how Filipinas and Ilonggas can be so emotionally and tenderly close to a family they're working for.
Actress Angelie Bayani, who played the Ilongga maid role, was not able to meet the real Auntie Terry during the filming of the movies. As research, she had to meet and interview several OFWs in Singapore, and realized that these OFWs were not only doing their best in their job, but they also do their best to set a certain standard that gives the world an idea how caring and how trustworthy Filipinas are, to the point that foreign employers will never have second thoughts about hiring a Filipina OFW. Bayani expresses how much she is impressed with Filipina workers abroad, and salutes them. She also adds "whoever watches this film, if even one OFW watches it, I have that hope that when they see Auntie Terry, they will say: 'Yes, that's what exactly what it was like, that's what our lives were like' they will see it as something true and sincere"
ANTHONY CHEN
Anthony Chen belongs to the younger generation of Singaporean filmmakers, these are the ones who's proper training in film schools. He has made over ten short films, and "Ilo ilo" is his first full-length feature film. He has expressed that the directors that inspire him include the likes of Ang Lee (director best known for such dramas as The Ice Storm, Brokeback Mountain, and Life of Pi), Chen himself seems to have an interest more on emotional films. When I asked him what genre of film he would love to next focus on, he replied: "It can be anything, but I'm most interested in people, in relationships, in humanity, all my films will not stray from that. It could be a genre film, it could be a science fiction but it will always focus on the characters and the people."
With this movie, Chen clearly does exhibit the kind of skill that promises more dramatic films from his slate. Chen is already breaking big with "Ilo ilo" as it has won several awards all over the world, including the Camera d'Or award from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It is has been selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.
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