Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita
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| Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joel C. Lamangan |
| Written by | Ricardo Lee |
| Story by | Ricardo Lee Joel Lamangan |
| Produced by | Roselle Monteverde-Teo |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Rolly Manuel |
| Edited by | Marya Ignacio |
| Music by | Von de Guzman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Regal Entertainment Inc. Toho |
Release date |
|
Running time | 106 minutes |
| Languages | Filipino Japanese English |
| Budget | ₱75 million |
| Box office | ₱26.3 million |
Aishite Imasu 1941 (from the Japanese 愛しています meaning I Love You; Filipino title Mahal Kita 1941, "Mahal Kita" also meaning I love You) is a drama, romance, and war movie released in the Philippines on December 25, 2004, and is a story of love, betrayal and honor in wartime set in the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines (1941–1945) during World War II. It stars Judy Ann Santos, Raymart Santiago, Jay Manalo and Dennis Trillo. It is directed by Joel Lamangan. It is an official entry to the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival.
Plot
The date is December 1941, and the simple folks of the quiet town of San Nicolas are unaware that war is nearing upon them. Inya (Judy Ann Santos) is a lovely young lady who had just married her childhood sweetheart Edilberto (Raymart Santiago) and they're excited about starting a new family. Ignacio "Igna" Basa (Dennis Trillo) is Inya's best friend, a transgender woman who has been in love with the handsome Edilberto for years. Ignacio falls for Ichiru Hamaguchi (Jay Manalo) a Japanese Army official who returns her affection, but becomes torn between fulfilling her duty to her country and her love for Ichiru.
The arrival of the Japanese throws the town into chaos, days after the Japanese air raid in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7 - which marked the start of the war. Meanwhile, on December 8, Japanese air bombings included Manila, Baguio, Davao, Iba and Clark fields to signal the Japanese invasion to the Philippines.
But Edilberto, Inya and Ignacio aren't the only ones the war will change forever. Traitorous Japanese interpreter and local collaborator Maura (Angelu de Leon), strong-willed Tiyang Melba (Jacklyn Jose), tough guy and Melba's son Antonio (TJ Trinidad), and pure-hearted Julia (Iya Villania) also get caught in the winds of the war, and find themselves doing things they never thought they'd do... all for the hope of living and dying another day.
Starting in December 1941, the guerrilla leader, Captain Ediberto Manalang (Raymart Santiago) was named Commander Berto, and was supported by other local guerrilla forces in the town of San Nicolas during the Fall of the Philippines. Meanwhile, battles between the Japanese and USAFFE troops ends in the Battle of Bataan in 1942 and the Bataan Death March begins on April 9 of that year. 76,000 surrendered Filipino and American troops became Prisoners of War under Japanese hands. The defeated troops were forced to march from Bataan to Tarlac. Antonio joined the guerrilla movement. Ignacio became the movement's spy inside the Japanese forces, catching Maura's suspicion. Anytime Kapitan Berto attacks a Japanese patrol, the latter burns a village and executes suspected guerrilla members under direction from Maura. Inya is also suspected as a Japanese spy and tortured by the guerrillas.
She revealed Ignacio's secret to Hiroshi, who in turn told Ichiru. At first, he did not believe. Until he suffered a nightmare that he was holding his father's blood in front of the Americans. He tried to make love with Igna, but the latter refused. Ichiru revealed that he knew Ignacio is transgender and he never cared about it as long as he loves Igna.
A few years later, local guerrilla forces are led by Captain Inya Marasingan-Manalang, who replaced Commander Berto in 1943 after Edilberto died during a Japanese attack on their camp. The Japanese retaliated with brutality, hanging the mayor and others. Antonio and Igna's transgender friend, Edna, were released at Igna's request. A guerrilla raid sealed Igna, Ichiru and Akihiro's fates. As Igna returned to the camp after she warned Inya of the raid, she was caught along with Ichiru by Maura and Hiroshi. Igna was beaten. Ichiru escaped along with Akihiro and Igna. They returned to Tiyang Melba's house, where Akihiro and Ichiru committed seppuku. Igna again was arrested by Maura and Hiroshi. The former was tortured until unconscious. Kapitan Berto (Inya) raided the town hall, rescued the mayor and Igna and eliminated the Japanese garrison, at the cost of several resistance members, including Anton who was shot by Hiroshi, until the latter was also killed. As soon as Inya and Igna got outside, Maura and her backup arrived. As she shoots Inya, Igna uses her body as cover and took the fatal shot. Inya's men opened fire on Maura's vehicle, killing her and the Japanese inside. Igna's last words said she was a traitor, so she deserved a traitor's death.
Many decades and many coercions later, Inya told the whole truth about what happened during the time. As the mayor and the historian discusses future plans, including a memorial for the victims, she left them.
Cast
- Judy Ann Santos as Virginia "Inya/Commander Berto" M. Marasingan-Manalang
- Raymart Santiago as Edilberto "Commander Berto" C. Manalang
- Jay Manalo as Ichiru Hamaguchi
- Dennis Trillo as Ignacio "Igna" Basa
- Marco Alcaraz as Akihiro Yorokobe
- Angelu de Leon as Maura
- Jacklyn Jose as Tiya Melba
- Yasmien Kurdi as Senyang
- Anita Linda as Inya (old)
- T.J. Trinidad as Antonio
- Iya Villania as Julia
- Tony Mabesa as Mayor Aldecoa
- Domingo Landicho as Assistant of the Mayor
- Menggie Cobarrubias as Panotes
- Jim Pebanco as Edna
- Neil Ryan Sese as Hiroshi
- Mon Confiado as Alexander
- Gilleth Sandico as Edilberto's sister
- Tom Olivar as Edilberto's father
- Edna May Landicho as Edilberto's mother
- Kokoy Palma as Dinglasan
- Archie Adamos as Igna's father
- Virginia Joshen
Awards
| Year | Organization | Category | Name of Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo |
| Best Production Design | Joey Luna | ||
| Best Sound | Ramon Reyes | ||
| Film Academy Of The Philippines | Best Picture | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions | |
| Best Director | Joel Lamangan | ||
| Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jay Manalo | ||
| Best Editing | Marya Ignacio | ||
| Best Production Design | Joey Luna | ||
| Gawad Pasado | 3rd Best Picture | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions | |
| Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jay Manalo | ||
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Best New Movie Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| ENPRESS Golden Screen | Breakthrough Performance by an Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Gawad Tanglaw | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo | |
| Young Critics Circle | Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role | Dennis Trillo | |
| 2004 | Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines[1] | 3rd Best Picture | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions |
| Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo | ||
| Most Gender Sensitive Film | Regal Entertainment Inc. and BASFILM Productions |
Nominations
| Year | Organization | Category | Name of Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita |
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Director | Joel Lamangan |
| 2005 | Filipino Academy of Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actress | Angelu de Leon |
| 2005 | Gawad Urian | Best Supporting Actor | Dennis Trillo |
| 2005 | Film Academy of the Philippines | Best Sound | |
| 2005 | Film Academy of the Philippines | Best Musical Scoring | |
| 2005 | Gawad Pasado | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Picture | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Director | Joel Lamangan |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Original Screenplay | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Editor | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Production Designer | |
| 2005 | PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Best Original Theme Song | |
| 2005 | ENPRESS Golden Screen | Best Sound | |
| 2005 | ENPRESS Golden Screen | Best Original Song | |
| 2004 | Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines[1] | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos |
| Best Actor | Raymart Santiago |
References
- ^ a b "Metro Manila Film Festival:2004". IMDB. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
External links
- 2004 films
- Philippine LGBT-related films
- 2000s Tagalog-language films
- Films about trans women
- Japanese World War II films
- Japanese occupation of the Philippines films
- Philippine romantic drama films
- Regal Entertainment films
- 2004 LGBT-related films
- 2000s romance films
- LGBT-related romantic drama films
- Films directed by Joel Lamangan