REDWOOD CITY, CA, November 2, 2011 – Filipinos worldwide will once again witness another first in Philippine cinema as TFC unveils its very first foray into movie production with A Mother's Story.
Headlined by Pokwang, one the country's leading comedy sensations in her first dramatic role, A Mother's Story will have its premiere showing at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on November 6 with two screenings at 1 pm and 6 pm.
Headlined by Pokwang, one the country's leading comedy sensations in her first dramatic role, A Mother's Story will have its premiere showing at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on November 6 with two screenings at 1 pm and 6 pm.
Some 100 TFC subscribers, who were selected randomly, will get a chance to have their pictures taken with the film's lead star, Pokwang, at the premiere's venue.
Filipino movie enthusiasts around the world will also get their chance to witness Pokwang's transformation from a comic host to a dramatic actress when A Mother's Story is shown starting November 11 in major cities worldwide including Calgary, London, Madrid and Milan.
“We at TFC are overseas Filipinos ourselves so we live and breathe in the world our kababayans abroad are in. Thus, it’s not enough to tell stories of Filipinos that come from the homeland through TV programs and movies, but also share those that come from us who have lived outside of it,” said Kerwin Du, TFC North America’s head of theatricals.
Du continued: “Film is one of the essential purveyors of narratives. The journey of the overseas Filipino is among the finest and richest sources of compelling stories that need to be told to the world. Hence, TFC’s foray into film production is a natural and relevant progression of our mission to serve Filipinos wherever they may be.”
Du also shares that most of the film's screenings in the US will be subtitled to allow even non-Filipino speaking moviegoers to understand and appreciate the film.
A Mother's Story gives life to the story of Medy, played by Pokwang, a make-up artist who dares to make a life in the United States as an illegal immigrant in exchange for saving the life of her infant daughter.
The film focuses on the everyday sacrifices that millions of Filipino parents make as they leave their homes to find jobs overseas.
“For TFC's initial offering, we dedicate A Mother's Story to all the Filipino parents and children who continue to live and love apart,” explained John-D J. Lazatin, the director of A Mother's Story.
Lazatin embarked on the journey of helming TFC's very first production as a way to honor his own mother. “She was a widow who also came to America and sought the American Dream to secure the future of her kids,” shared Lazatin as he added that the film, “is very personal to me, having lost my mother during the post-production stages of the movie.”
Beyond the universal themes of a parent's love and sacrifice, A Mother's Story also showcases both the travails and triumphs of illegal immigrant Filipinos.
Juxtaposed with their humiliation as they suffer from physical and emotional abuse from employers as well as the betrayal they experience from fellow kababayans are the kindness of strangers and the value of treating every human being with decency.
In returning to the Philippines, Medy is also forced to deal with the resentment of her oldest son King, who felt that his mother abandoned him seven years ago, while her seven-year old daughter Queenie treats her with innocent wonder.
TFC chose host and comedienne Pokwang to play Medy because her own personal life epitomizes the struggles of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). “She does not just know it, she has lived it. She has a full grasp of what sacrifice means to the overseas Pinoy,” Lazatin pointed out.
Lazatin praised Pokwang for her “authentic” portrayal of Medy. “Her performance in the film is a reflection of an honest and pure heart. Watching her, what is left is a thin layer between the reel Medy and the real Pokwang,” Lazatin further shared.
Joining Pokwang are Nonie Buencamino, Daria Ramirez, Rayver Cruz, Ana Capri, Beth Tamayo and child sensation Xyriel Manabat. Screenplay is by Senedy Que, who also wrote the award-winning film, "In My Life".
A Mother's Story will be showed across the U.S. in the following theaters and on the following dates:
November 11-17, 2011
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way,
San Francisco, CA 94132
SAN FRANCISCO CENTRE
November 11-24, 2011
Century San Francisco Centre
845 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103
SF-UNION CITY
November 11-24, 2011
Century 25
32100 Union Landing,
Union City, CA 94587
SF BAY - MILPITAS
November 11-24, 2011
Century Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive,
Milpitas, CA 95035
SF BAY - SACRAMENTO
November 11-24, 2011
Century Laguna 16
9349 Big Horn Blvd.,
Elk Grove, CA 95758
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