By RONALD CONSTANTINO
GOOD FRIENDS – After Lino Brocka, comes Ishmael Bernal’s retrospective, the greatest directors of the ‘70s. Then people liked to pit them against each other, but in reality they were good friends.
Both were fighters albeit different in “styles.” Brocka was passionate, while Bernal was sophisticated.
Bernal’s most memorable film is “Himala,” topbilled by Nora Aunor, voted by CNN viewers as the greatest Southeast Asian film of all time. Needless to say, “Himala” is on top of the list of Bernal retrospectives suggested by Highspeed for next year’s centennial of Philippine Cinema.
Other classics by Ishmael Bernal: “CITY AFTER DARK” – All-star cast led by William Martinez.
“PAGDATING SA DULO” – Rita Gomez and Vic Vargas (directorial debut).
“RELASYON” – Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon.
“NUNAL SA TUBIG” – Elizabeth Oropesa, Daria Ramirez, and George Estregan.
“IKAW AY AKIN” – Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, and Vilma Santos.
“SALAWAHAN” – Rita Gomez, Rio Locsin, Jay Ilagan, and Mat Ranillo III.
“LIGAW NA BULAKLAK” – Vic Silayan and Alma Moreno.
“WATING” – Richard Gomez and Carmina Villarroel.
“PAHIRAM NG ISANG UMAGA” – Vilma Santos, Gabby Concepcion, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Eric Quizon.
“HINUGOT SA LANGIT” – Maricel Soriano.
(To date Manay Ichu Maceda is still looking for a copy of Bernal’s “Pito ang Asawa Ko,” produced by the family studio VP Pictures. Surely, the sex-comedy would have been perfect for a Bernal retrospective.)