MANILA, Philippines—Veteran actresses Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio, who play two elderly women at opposing ends of a murder case in the Brillante Mendoza drama “Lola,” shared the Best Actress award at the 33rd Urian Awards given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino on Thursday night.
“Lola” tells the story of grandmothers who find themselves at opposite ends of a murder case involving their grandsons.
“Some people told me, ‘You’re nominated for Best Actress pero kalaban mo si (but you’re running against) Vilma (Santos for ‘In My Life’) kaya dapat kabahan ka na (so you should be nervous). Everybody knows how good an actress she is.’ To be nominated alongside Vilma and the other ladies, panalo na agad ako (already makes me a winner),” Linda told the Inquirer shortly after the awards show held at the UP Cine Adarna at University of the Philippines compound in Diliman, Quezon City.
“I’m thankful to Mendoza who, when he signed me up to play Lola Puring, didn’t know me from Adam,” said Carpio. “I hope that Filipino filmmakers will continue to make films that are reflective of the current state of our society.”
Mendoza won Best Picture for “Kinatay” and Best Production Design for “Lola.”
The award-winning director was abroad attending the Benelux Cinematheque, which is the Cannes filmfest in film distribution. His daughter, Angelica, read his speech on his behalf: “It is one thing to win a Best Picture award abroad, and another to be given the same at home. Among film audiences, the Filipino is severe in his judgment, yet more than any other moviegoer in the world, I hold [the Filipino] closest to my heart and with high regard.”
“Kinatay” is the story of a criminology student who takes a job to earn extra money which he later learns involves killing a woman. It had won the Best Director award at the prestigious 2009 Cannes International Film Festival in France. This is Mendoza’s third best picture award from Urian. He also won for “Serbis” in 2009 and for “Tirador” in 2007.
Mendoza’s movie competed against Erik Matti’s “The Arrival,” Ralston Javier’s “Bakal Boys,” Jobin Ballesteros’ “Colorum,” Pepe Diokno’s “Engkwentro,” Raymond Red’s “Himpapawid,” Arnel Mardoquio’s “Hospital Boat,” Veronica Velasco’s “Last Supper No. 3,” Alvin Yapan’s “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe” and Mendoza’s “Lola.”
Best actor
The Best Actor award was won by veteran actor Lou Veloso for his role as an ex-convict seeking to connect with his only son in the Ballesteros film “Colorum.”
The movie, which takes a look at the paradox of the human condition, won for Veloso the same award in the 2009 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Marissa Sue Prado brought home the Best Supporting Actress award for three roles—neighborhood harlot, unsympathetic clerk and beleaguered flight attendant—that she played in the film “Himpapawid.”
