Beloved (Viva Films, 1985) tackles a complex range of human relations premised on romance, but problematizes it quite rigorously so that love, though central in the lives of the characters, is continually reread and therefore rewritten. Ensuing from the the competing affections between Adora Bernal (Nora Aunor) and Renee Regala (Hilda Koronel) over Dindo Tuason (Christopher de Leon) and his conflict with Ver Alonzo (Dindo Fernando) is a struggle that does not at all resort to conventional melodramatic tactics. The film is filled with emotional rigor through which the affairs of the heart are dealt with, and dealt with intelligently. How Adora and Renee choose to make their lives more difficult by staking their right to love Dindo inspite of the circumscriptions of traditional heterosexist norms engenders a creative tension that enables women to appropriate the power to break the culture of silence and express sexuality in specific terms within specific situations. Adora has to inevitably give up the fight, but only after she has achieved a realization that strikes at the core of practical realities. Beloved cleverly choreographs the elements of cinema and local melodrama with restraint and without the komiks winded tediousness normally associated with the exercise.
Nora Aunor's highly textured performance suffuses the melodramatic heroine with the spirit in which it could have been strategically envisioned. Aunor's constant displacements climaxes in a cleverly orchestrated maneuver that careens from deception to sacrifice and on to the struggle of prefiguring an ending which may not necessarily be happy, and a happiness which need not be the inexorable ending. Hilda Koronel on the other hand, shows that the strength of women need not come from the repudiation of feminine traits and roles as constructed by patriarchal systems. The acting method employed here is able to twist the logic of cliche and reconstitutes the drama of yearning with passion and grace. Koronel's portrayal is one that can hold a candle to Aunor's substantial work in this film. Dindo Fernando expresses desire in all its discrepant aspects breathes a different rigor into the tradition of acting for the screen. Finally, Christopher de Leon's intelligent handling of his character resonates with the perspicacity and method of the film's dramatic goals. Beloved's achievement rests on its skillful appropriation of the conventions of a commercial feature in its earnest effort to come up with a truly artistic, purposive and serious motion picture.
Directed By: Leroy Salvador
Screenplay: Orlando R. Nadres
Story: Nerissa G. Cabral Serialized In King Komiks
Director Of Photography: Rody Lacap
Musical Director: Willy Cruz
Film Editor: Ike Jarlego, Jr.
Production Designer: Manny Morfe
Produced By: Viva Films
Release Date: June 27, 1985
Beloved theme song performed by Nora Aunor
10:18 AM
Hi Jojo,
What a surprise...a post in English.
Leroy Salvador I don't usually equate to good films but this one sounds promising...
Regards,
RSE
2:46 PM
Hello Ron!
I know you would be surprised. I tries my hand at writing a post in English but honestly, I'm more comfortable writing in Filipino since I've been doing it eversince I started this blog. I agree with you on Leroy Salvador but Beloced was one of the few Viva produced komiks melodramas that was on par with Laurice Guillen's Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap...
4:50 AM
Hey Jojo, why shift to English? Will this be the start of your reviews in English language?
BELOVED was pitted against Maryo J delos Reyes' HINDI MO AKO KAYANG TAPAKAN at the box-office in 1984, I think BELOVED was a winner at the tills. And I agree with you, this was at par with KUNG MAHAWI MAN ANG ULAP and HINDI NAHAHATI ANG LANGIT when it comes to above average komiks melodrama.
6:11 PM
It's just an experiment Ronald...
Both Beloved and Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan were shown in 1985 and the Viva film broke all box office records inspite of the movie being shown at the height of a typhoon in Manila. Beloved was indeed one of the few well-crafted komiks based melodramas from the 80's. I'm hoping that GMA or ABS-CBN won't turn this film into one of those dreadful sine-seryes...
6:24 AM
Vilma Santos is much more credible if she played the role of Nora Aunor here...
12:25 PM
I don't believe so Victor. Vilma is an amazing actress but Nora was able to give the heroine gravitas especially near the films' conclusion. Only an actress of her caliber can pull off the kind of performance she showed here.
1:07 AM
jo, di ko naman ini-imply na hindi maganda yung acting ni Nora sa movie na to, okay na okay yung acting,eh kaso lang mas may laban si Vilma kay Hilda sa physical features and that will make the story more believeable,har har har,di ko hinahamak sa Nora ha, gusto ko lang naman sabihing ganito i find her awkward sa pananamit dito cguro mas sophisticated kung si Vilma ang magdala (papatayin ako ng mga Noranians)basta hindi sa akting yung punto ko at alam mo na cguro kung anong gusto kong sabihin, patawad po sa mga Noranians...
1:30 AM
Naintindihan ko ang point mo Victor. Naging higit na epektibo na si Nora ang gumanap dahil wala namang kinalaman ang physical features ang labanan nila ni Hilda sa pelikula. Christopher's character was not physically attracted to Hilda, his lofty ambitions drove him into her arms. Disagree din ako sa pananamit. This was actually the third time Nora played a sophisticated career woman, a far cry from the usual roles she portrays kaya siguro nakakapanibago. In Sinasamba Kita, Vilma played a successful businesswoman pero lumabas na unsophisticated yung character. Kahit maganda ang suot niyang damit hindi siya mukhang mayaman dahil para siyang hindi mayaman kung kumilos at magsalita. Sabagay it's always been a problem with komiks based melodramas .
12:47 PM
Beloved is one of my favorite Nora Aunor films. You know that already Jojo! hehe...
Beloved was made more watchable with great actors cast. You sympathize with the late great Dindo here yet you hate him at the same time. Something that only few credible actors can pull off.
5:39 AM
I couldn't agree more. Beloved is one of Viva's best komiks based melodramas. Dindo Fernando is an amazing actor bar none... Did you know that his role was first offered to Jay Ilagan?
7:35 AM
Wow! Another late great actor. I didn't know that Jay Ilagan was the first choice. I have no problem if he was the one. Why was he 'replaced'?
8:19 AM
Jay was uncomfortable making a film with Hilda at the time and since the movie also stars Nora and Christopher he didn't want to be part of a movie with two ex-couples as part of the cast...