Film indeed is a universal experience.
Such is the global wonder.
Language barrier is thrown out of the screen. Translations and English subtitles set in.
Images speak a thousand words.
It is so when Filipino filmmaker Jeffrey Jeturian went to Russia recently to screen his newest film “Unmarry” at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival in Moscow to a full audience capacity.
While the film was wholly well-appreciated by a multicultural crowd, predominantly Russian and Filipino moviegoers were seen cheering for it.
One of the most striking events during the screening was the scene-stealing performances of child actor Zack Sibug who plays Elio in the film.
According to Jeturian, “this kid doubly stole and broke the hearts of the audience with his heartfelt performance.”
Sibug delineates the son of actors Zanjoe Marudo as Ivan and Solenn Heussaff as Maya—a married couple in the middle of an annulment—who was caught in the maze of emotional pains and mental anguish tormented to cling to any of them.
At the Q&A segment of the talkback, Jeffrey shared that one Russian actress from the audience asked how old Zack is. “I told her, thirteen,” he said.
“Then she followed the question up with how he was cast. I told her it’s his first acting job but he had to undergo a workshop before facing the cameras.
“There was laughter, though, when I added information that he happens to be the producer’s grandson,” Jeturian chuckled.
The Russian actress and most members of the audience, Jeffrey recalled, found the situation common as well in Russia. “They said it happens in Russia too. I had to add though that ‘the production was lucky that the kid can act and how!’” the maverick director quipped.
“Unmarry,” produced by Quantum Films and Cineko Productions also stars Angelica Panganiban ang Tom Rodriguez.