Ang Larawan Reflection

Aggangan, Clarisse Monique D.
– 11512962
HUMALIT
Art in Action Film Review
The 2017 Philippine film was entitled “Ang Larawan” directed by Loy Arcenas. It was the film
adaptation of Larawan, The Musical based on the famous Nick Joaquin’s, awarded as National Artist
for Literature, three-act English play named A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. That is why at the
beginning of the movie, Candida says “retrato del artista como filipino” as she shows Bitoy the
portrait. Nick Joaquin’s play was transformed into a musical with a libretto written by Rolando Tinio,
awarded as National Artist for Theater, and music created by the ever-famous Filipino music
composer Ryan Cayabyab. The movie stars major actors and actresses such as Joanna Ampil as
Candida, Rachel Alejandro as Paula, Paolo Avelino as Tony Javier, Sandino Martin as Bitoy, Nonie
Buencamino as Manolo, Menchu Lauchengco as Pepang and many other supporting actors and
actresses.
The story began in Intramuros before World War two. It tells the unfortunate situation of the two
unmarried daughters of Don Lorenzo el Magnifico, Candida Marasigan and Paula Marasigan living in
their ancestral home in Intramuros together with their father who was always in his room. Don
Lorenzo Marasigan was a known painter with all of his paintings being exhibited in other countries
and was rivaled by the famous Juan Luna. The two sisters have older siblings whom they rely to
financially because their father, Don Lorenzo, has not painted for a long time. Since then, the two
sisters suffered from poverty. The story goes on with the two sisters, Candida and Paula, struggle as
people around them, including their older brother and sister, urge them to sell the house, and Tony,
a boarder at their house, tries to convince them to sell the portrait to an American for a huge sum of
money.
Watching the film, the one thing that really stood out for me is how the director and the whole
production team were able to come up with amazing and well-told story despite the film having to
only circle on one area in their house. It’s hard for a movie to be able to capture the viewer’s heart
when there’s not much going on and not much variation of places but Ang Larawan definitely did
capture the viewers with their solid performance. The music, the original soundtrack which was
composed by Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, is also praise-worthy, how every music fit every scene in the movie.
I can’t even explain to words how much I loved the background music played whenever something
dramatic happens to Candida and Paula, but if you watch the film, I’m sure you will understand. In
addition to that, the costumes looked so authentic to my eyes. It’s not exaggerated and it felt real that
they were indeed in the year 1941 and that it helped the viewers feel like we, too, are back in the year
1941. The actors were brilliant and it is amusing to see how Joanna Ampil delivered the role of the
stronger sister exceptionally well since it is her first major role in the big screen. Rachel Alejandro
also did not disappoint the viewers with her realistic acting. She made her character very visible
despite her being the weaker sister. Although a lot of critic have been questioning Paulo Avelino’s
inclusion in the casting, I believe he did good on the acting side but when it comes to singing, I think
he still lacks that wow factor in his singing ability. In terms of formal techniques, the technical staff
used simple camera angles throughout the film, there is not much deep thought or meaning behind
the position of the camera in most scenes which I think is good because it made the film more
theatrical thus being consistent with their origin.
To be honest, when the film was released in cinemas and the trailers were all over the social
media, it didn’t quite seem to amuse me but after I’ve watched it. The hype made all sense to me
because it did not only tell a story of two sister and their struggle with the slice of life, but also it
proved to us, viewers, how we value certain things that have sentimental value in this world of full of
materialistic people. This movie is definitely a must watch to all people who like movies that have
substance and quality.
Refences
Ang Larawan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://anglarawan.com/

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Ang Larawan Reflection

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Aggangan, Clarisse Monique D.

Art in Action Film Review

Ang Larawan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://anglarawan.com/

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