SARI-SARING SINENG PINOY

Unfaithful Wife

One would get the impression that Peque Gallaga's Unfaithful Wife (Regal Films, 1986) was based on John Steinbeck's classic novel Of Mice And Men. But it is not, save for the ending where Michael de Mesa shoots Joel Torre to spare the latter from the wrath of a mob of pursuers. At most, it is merely inspired by the novel which dramatizes a great friendship binding two men. But like Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men, Unfaithful Wife also has a lot of charm going for it. For one, it has texture not often found in Filipino movies, thanks largely to Eduardo Jacinto's fine photography. The production design also contributed a lot to the overall visual quality of the film. It is just unfortunate that there were a few sporadic moments when the film's time frame tends to be confusing because of the period styles of the dresses worn by some of the female characters in the picture. Unfaithful Wife's setting is contemporary. It stars Michael de Mesa and Anna Marie Gutierrez as Crispin and Irene, a husband and wife running a seedy watering hole in their hometown of San Mateo. Their peaceful existence is suddenly disrupted with the arrival of Crispin's best friend Fidel (Joel Torre), recently released from prison. As dictated by the title, Irene becomes unfaithful, but only for one night. The brief rendezvous , unfortunately, coincides with the murder of Choleng (Lala Montelibano) in a shack nearby. Poor Fidel naturally fails to present an alibi before the investigators and he is pinned down as the prime suspect in the murder. And this is where the strong bond between Crispin and Miguel is put to test.

In the acting division, all three main players are worthy of praise. Michael de Mesa is his usual competent self. The same with Joel Torre whose screen performances retrogressed after Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) and Karnal (1983). This movie also marked the transformation of Anna Marie Gutierrez who displayed a lot of promise in William Pascual's Di Maghilom Ang Sugat (1986). Unfaithful Wife is certainly not Peque Gallaga's best film, it is to be fair, several notches below Oro, Plata, Mata, Virgin Forest and even Scorpio Nights (1985). The picture suffers mainly due to its inferior material. But to Gallaga's credit, he was still able to weave well-staged scenes that somehow sustain the viewer's interest in the film. The movie goes a little downhill towards the middle part but manages to redeem itself in the end. While there is no question about this film being good, there is definitely a lot of room for argument with regards to the quality of its thematic content. Unfaithful Wife could have been a masterpiece, what with its well-orchestrated technical elements and Peque Gallaga's direction. The novelistic narrative may fumble in its attempt to explore character and weave milieu into dramaturgy, but the film emerges from the thickets with some engaging moments and stirring energies.

Directed By: Peque Gallaga
Story: T.E. Pagaspas And Rosauro Q. de la Cruz
Screenplay: Rosauro Q. de la Cruz
Cinematographer: Eduardo Jacinto
Music: Nonong Buencamino
Editor: Jesus M. Navarro
Production Design: Don Escudero
Produced By: Regal Films