“HER LOCKET,” a family drama film bags eight awards at SINAG MAYNILA FILM FESTIVAL 2024

HER LOCKET, a Rebecca Chuaunsu Film Production, in cooperation with Rebelde Films, proudly announces the eight (8) awards it has received from the Sinag Maynila Film Festival held recently at Metropolitan Theater.

The Philippine premiere of HER LOCKET is a family drama film by J.E. Tiglao (Full length film category).

The awards are as follows:

Best Film

Best Actress – Rebecca Chuaunsu

Best Supporting Actress – Elora Españo

Best Ensemble

Best Director – J. E. Tiglao

Best Screenplay -J. E. Tiglao and Maze Miranda

Best Cinematography – Jag Concepcion

Best Production Design – James Rosendal

Filipino-Chinese actress Rebecca Chuaunsu who effectively portrayed the lead role of Jewel Ouyang has also won Best Actress awards from the Wu Wei International Film Festival in Taiwan (held last September 1) and from the 2023 Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora in Morocco.

The film also featured Elora Españo (as Teresa, the caregiver); Boo Gabunada (as Kyle, lawyer-son of Jewel); Sophie Ng (young Jewel); and Benedict Cua (young Magnus, brother of Jewel).

Completing the roster of cast are Tommy Alejandrino, Jian Repolles, Tommy Alejandrino, Zoey Villamangca, Norman Ong, Nellie Ang See, Angela Villarin, Ashlee Factor, Matthew Seaver Choy, Roberto Uy Kieng, George See, Rolando Inocencio, Atty. Kesterson Kua.

STORY PLOT:
With the aid of a locket necklace, a Chinese woman suffering from dementia is able to gradually recall memories from her past.

SYNOPSIS:
Jewel Ouyang, a senior Chinese woman, has lost everything – her youth, beauty, popularity, and fortune. Now with dementia, she lives with her lawyer son, Kyle, and a young caregiver, Teresa, who seems more ambitious than caring.

She finds an old locket that contains her old photo with her parents, and her brother, Magnus.

The locket removes the cloud of forgetfulness and frees her memories of her tenuous relationship with her family.

This includes their opposition to her career and love life; of a happy marriage to her husband which was cut short by his untimely death; of achieving success as an actress which enabled her to solely raise their son; and that Magnus tampered her father’s will and robbed her of her inheritance.

Seeking vengeance, Jewel faces her brother in court to claim what is rightfully hers. Still inflicted with dementia, will she choose to forgive… and forget?

Written by J.E. Tiglao and Maze Miranda, assistant director is Roderick Goot, cinematography by Jag Concepcion, production design by James Rosendal, line produced by Jane Danting, production manager is Laugelie Gadon, producers are Sarah Pagcaliwagan Brakensiek and Ferdinand Lapuz, executive producer is Dr. Rebecca Shangkuan Chuaunsu.

“Her Locket” is J.E. Tiglao’s second feature film as director, after “Metamorphosis” by which he won best director in Cinema One Originals 2019.

“Two women want to do something about their memories. One wants to get it back, the other one wants to forget. Both came from experiences of pain and loss. Both a victim of patriarchy under two familial cultures of Chinese and Filipino.

“However, this is also a restorative story of women who choose not to be silenced. My intention is to portray an empowering tale of feminism in front of a backdrop of conservative milieu,” statement of the filmmaker.

“I’m so happy that finally, after HER LOCKET has been screened in international film festivals, we can now show it in our homeland, the Philippines and share to our kababayans a film that is inspired by a true story.

“A tapestry weaving the stories of the director, writer, and storyteller. I’m so grateful to Sinag Maynila organizers for this awesome opportunity.

“With the Sinag Maynila best actress award that was bestowed to me, I am most humbled and beyond grateful.

“To God be the glory!” quips actress-producer Rebecca Chuaunsu.

Aside from the Philippines, Taiwan and Morocco best actress victory for Chuaunsu, HER LOCKET has also participated at Marche Du Film – Festival De Cannes (2023) in France; London East Asia International Film Festival (2023) in UK; 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (2024) in Bangladesh.

With Mr. Wilson Tieng of Solar Pictures as founder and Brillante Mendoza as festival director, Sinag Maynila 2024 was held from Sept 4-10 in select cinemas in Metro Manila.

The film has been invited also to participate in the San Diego Film Festival (USA) come October 2024.

(ROHN ROMULO)