- Title: Philippine film enthusiasts surprised after Filipina wins Best Actress
- Date: 23rd May 2016
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MAY 23, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES FILM CENTER UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES FILM CENTER SIGN STUDENTS WALKING NEAR MOVIE POSTERS DISPLAY VARIOUS OF MOVIE POSTERS SHOWING INDEPENDENT FILIPINO FILMS STUDENTS IN FRONT OF MOVIE POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FILM STUDENT, ROD TUMBAGA, SAYING: "What I'd like to say is I am abs
- Embargoed: 7th June 2016 12:05
- Keywords: Cannes film festival Filipina actress Jaclyn Jose reax Philippines best actress
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVA0014J121CD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Film enthusiasts in Manila expressed their surprise on Monday (May 23) after Filipina Jaclyn Jose won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 52-year-old actress, who was known for starring in independent films and local television soaps, won the award on Sunday (May 22) for her role in "Ma' Rosa", a brutal dive into the Manila underworld directed by Brillante Mendoza.
It was the first acting honour for the Philippines at Cannes, and also the first international win for Jose.
"I am absolutely shocked, half surprised but also half really proud for Jaclyn Jose," said fourth-year film student, Rod Tumbaga, who was awake until the early hours of the morning watching the live broadcast of the awards ceremony. "It just makes me feel very, very proud to be a Filipino," he added.
Another film student, Queenie Aguirre, who studied Jose in one of her film classes, said the award was justified and Jose's acting skills on par with other lead actresses on the international stage. "You can see the character in her eyes because she speaks through her whole body," she said.
"It's not just her win", added film maker Peterson Vargas, who said the award was a big opportunity for Philippine cinema.
"Ma' Rosa", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday (May 18), tells the story of Rosa Reyes, a woman who owns a convenience store in a poor neighbourhood of Manila, making ends meet with her husband Nestor by selling drugs.
Both are detained at a police station after their home is raided and it leaves their three children in the Manila wildness looking to find money to pay off the corrupt police officers to free their parents.
University of the Philippines Film Institute Director Sari Dalena said Mendoza's theme of humanizing issues common in developing countries was meant to highlight contemporary issues rather than capitalizing on the underprivileged.
"Showing the truth through the medium of cinema is empowering," Dalena said.
"Ma' Rosa" was among the twenty-one films competing for the Palme d'Or.
Jose's victory comes weeks before Duterte is sworn as the Philippines' 16th president. Duterte, who vowed to crush crime, corruption and drug abuse, has a huge lead over his rivals in an unofficial vote count. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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