The cast of 'Apag'

Short of admitting he’s done with and already up to his neck with international awards ("Rosa"; in 2016 and "Kinatay"; in 2009), world-renowned filmmaker Brillante Mendoza hopes and prays his new movie, Apag, shall make money this time.

Awards are good, he says, but the industry also needs cash.

Apag, taken from the Filipino compound "hapag-kainan"; or dining table is a tribute to Philippine culture, in this case, Brillante’s own Kapampangan roots.

It is one of 8 entries to the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival, happening from April 8 to 18.

It features a powerhouse cast that includes Coco Martin, Cannes 2016 Best Actress Jaclyn Jose, Lito Lapid, Gladys Reyes, and Mercedes
Cabral.

Brillante, the country’s first Cannes best director awardee, has not had much success in the local MMFF. Two of his previous entries, Thy Womb, and Mindanao, failed to hit it off at the box office.

“Please help me pray that Apag shall make money,” Brillante requested our small group of media persons who paid him a visit at his sprawling mansion complex in Mandaluyong a few days back.

Brillante Mendoza (seated, left) gives instructions to Coco Martin

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Apag is roughly based on a true story about a man (Coco) who is consumed by guilt after accidentally killing a tricycle driver.

His father, a rich man (Lapid), takes the fall for the crime. Interplayed within the film are themes of family, guilt, justice, and forgiveness.

Featuring a strictly-Pampangueno cast on top, the film uses the native dialect, one of several ways Brillante is paying homage to his home province. The family drama also highlights Pampanga’s fabled cuisine, the centerpiece of family celebrations, its affinity to religious practices, and traditional Filipino family values.

Brillante says Apag is a departure from his usual films that are known for showing sex, violence, or politics.

That is because Apag is partly financed by Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, which clearly stated early on that the film must not possess those characteristic elements in his previous films.

Brillante said that what he sent to the international festivals, where Apag has been featured as the kind version (mabait).

“The one that will be shown in the Summer MMFF is the not-so-kind one,” he laughed. Something like the Director’s Cut.

Making a film without sex, violence, and politics has been the greatest challenge to him while doing Apag.

It was like robbing Brillante of his brand. On second thought, he says at this point, he wants to explore other genres and work with today’s popular young actors. He thinks he won’t be comfortable in a musical, however.

With 'Feast' as its international title, the film premiered at Busan International Film Festival and featured in competition at the Warsaw International Film Festival, World Film Festival of Bangkok, Vesoul International Film Festival, and Asian Film Festival (South Korea) between 2022 and 2023.

Apag’s star-studded cast also includes Gina Pareño, Julio Diaz, Shaina Magdayao, Vince Rillon, Mark Lapid, and Joseph Marco.

Produced by Center Stage Productions, Apag is based on a screenplay by Arianna Martinez.