Sidhi (film)

Sidhi
Official Movie Poster
Directed by	Joel Lamangan
Produced by	Tatus Aldana (line producer) Jesse Ejercito (executive producer) Wilson Tieng (co-executive producer) Claire Marie Villar (supervising producer)
Written by	Rolando Tinio
Screenplay by	Ricardo Lee
Story by	Rolando Tinio
Starring	Nora Aunor Albert Martinez Glydel Mercado
Music by	Nonong Buencamino
Cinematography	Romulo Araojo
Edited by	Jess Navarro
Distributed by	Crown Seven Ventures Solar Films
Release dates	24 February 1999 (1999-02-24)
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Sidhi is a 1999 Filipino film based on Rolando Tinio's Palanca-winning teleplay (Ang Kwento ni Ah) expanded into a movie script by Ricky Lee, Sidhi is the story of Ah (Aunor), so called because she's mute and can only utter the first syllable of her name Anna.^[1]

The film won for Mercado all the Best Supporting Actress Awards given by the four annual award-giving bodies in the Philippines that time. The film also gave a posthumous award to Rolando Tinio for Best story at the FAMAS Awards.

Synopsis

Ana (Nora Aunor), is a mute woman living in a remote mountain area with father, Badong (Ray Ventura). Badong is sick and is searching for a man that will marry his daughter. He finds Michael (Albert Martinez), a man who expresses interest to wed Anna, because of the land he could inherit from her father. In the absence of her traveling husband, Ah meets Mayang (Glydel Mercado), with whom she forms a great friendship. Soon, Ana discovers that Mayang is also married to Michael. Angered at first, Ah cozies up to the scandalous cohabitation, even setting up three scarecrows in the field to represent her ideal household. She even has herself crucified on Good Friday to atone for her sin of accommodation.

The three decide to live under one roof. Michael as the king of the house, and Ana and Mayang as wives and slaves. Gradually the two women would find out Michael's debaucheries. When Michael tries to play a dirty trick on her for money, Ah fights back. Eventually, Ana kills Michael and takes care of the Mayang's son.^[2]

Cast

• Nora Aunor ... Ah/Anna
• Albert Martinez ... Michael
• Glydel Mercado ... Mayang
• Caridad Sanchez ... Tia Manuella
• Samantha Lopez ... Dolores
• Ray Ventura ... Badong
• Angie Ferro ... Ina
• Tony Masbesa ... Fr. Morales

Review

• The real strength of the film is the actors, despite their sometimes incredible roles. ~ Constantino C.Tejero, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1999
• Without a line of dialogue, Aunor uses her face to delineate character and draw pathos. This is a face that's not stranger to emotions, greatly devastated by time and human cruelty. Watch particularly how she builds up those emotions to that final cry. That is her moment in this film, comparable to all the highlights of her acting career—her weeping at the funeral procession in Himala, her delivery of “Ang kapatid ko ay hindi baboy-ramo,” in Minsa’y Isang Gamugamo… - Constantino C. Tejero, "A Strange Film Full of Strangers", Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 9, 1999
• Nora Aunor is undoubtedly the greatest living female actor in Philippine cinema. As the speech-impaired Ana, her performance is mesmerizing, possibly her best, even topping her performance in the critically acclaimed films Himala, Bona, and The Flor Contemplacion Story. With almost no spoken dialog (except in a couple of scenes with her dead mother played by Angie Ferro), Aunor is able to convey a variety of emotions through her eyes, facial muscles, her body language, and the guttural sound emanating from her voice box… - S.R.O (Short Review Only), Manila Standard, January 25, 1999

Awards

List of film festivals competed or exhibited

• 1999 - Chicago International Film Festival, Feature Film,
• 1999 - Cinemanila International Film Festival
• 2000 - 2nd New York Filipino Film Festival Lincoln

References

External links

• Sidhi at the Internet Movie Database