Captive is about
self-preservation, about survival in the face of hardships and situations
beyond one's control. Directed by the 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director
winner, Brillante Ma Mendoza.
SYNOPSIS:
The story of Captive is adapted
from the Dos Palmas kidnapping of two US missionaries by the Abu Sayyaf Group
in 2001.
On May 27, 2001 members of the
Abu Sayyaf Group abduct 20 local and foreign tourists from the DOS Palmas
resort in Palawan and transport them via a fishing boat across the Sulu Sea to
the island of Basilan.
On the boat, the ASG demand
ransom from the hostages. One of the hostages arranges an easy transfer of the
ransom to a bank in Zamboanga, the reason why the group makes a stopover in Lamitan
City hospital en route to their hideout in the mountains. A bullet mistakenly
shot by one of the ASG leaders at a passing military truck triggers a military
assault on the hospital that lasts the whole day the next day.
Amid the firing, three hostages
are freed after what is implied as payment of ransom. Four more hostages are
taken from the hospital staff when the group leaves, even if the kidnappers
release three others with orders to arrange ransom for their loved ones whom
the kidnappers are taking with them in the mountains. Two are left behind after
being wounded from ambush assault by the militia.
The first natural casualty of the
kidnapping is an old Filipina social worker, who dies during the journey. Her
companion, Therese Bourgoine, a French social worker, wins a score over the
kidnappers when she succeeds in giving Soledad a Christian burial.
On the eve of Philippine
Independence Day, the kidnappers beheaded one of the foreign hostages, a result
of a failed negotiation with the government.
Finally, the military manages to
stage a daring rescue. Only Therese Bourgoine and the missionary Sophie
Bernstein are saved alive from the clutches of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
CAST:
Isabelle Huppert as Thérèse
Maria Isabel Lopez
Joel Torre
Mercedes Cabral as Fiancee
Sid Lucero
Bernard Palanca
Kristoffer King
Kristoffer King
Ronnie Lazaro
Mon Confiado
Baron Geisler
Baron Geisler
Raymond Bagatsing
Evelyn Vargas
Perry Dizon
Madeleine Nicholas
Evelyn Vargas
Perry Dizon
Madeleine Nicholas
The film was screened in
competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2011.
Star Cinema will be distributing this film on September 5, with MTRCB rating PG
13 and Rated A by CEB. It also got
endorsements from National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera, F Sionil Jose and
Senator Loren Legarda.
Brillante Ma Mendoza is a
Filipino film director. He has directed sixteen films since 2005. He won the
award for Best Director for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.
His 2009 film Lola won the award for Best Film at the 6th Dubai International
Film Festival.
"Captive" is a film only proves Mendoza's ability
to mount productions that are bigger than what he usually does.
In a Bloggers Conference held at
Patio Carlito Restaurant, Quezon City one of the country's respected film
makers, Director Brillante Ma Mendoza shared his experiences in doing this
film. He also shared his realizations as an artist, director and filmmaker.
"It took a year of research
before the film was shot. The Captive movie was shot in different parts of
Luzon and the post production was in Paris. It took 25 back-breaking days to
simulate the kidnapping and the experience of being held captive from resort to
city to boat ride and up to the forest.
"We went to the camp nakita
ko yung mga military. I had dinner with the generals and Muslim brothers, sa
ganoong paraan ko pinag aralan yung buhay nila," Brillanate said.
"I went to Basilan kasi
maliit lang ang alam ko tungkol sa Mindanao. Takot ako kasi baka di na makabalik.
Nung nakasakay ako sa police car akala ko safe ako pero di pala. I'm just
putting myself in danger," he added.
He said that the film has 200
members including the 40 actors/actresses like Isabelle Huppert, Ronnie Lazaro,
Angel Aquino, Coco Martin, Sid
Lucero, Raymond Bagatsing, Maria Isabel Lopez, Mercedes Cabral, Kathy Mulville,
Rustica Carpio and Timothy Mabalot.
In terms of philosophy, religion, government, marami akong realizations in doing this film. It has a bigger
budget, bigger than Indie. Almost 40-60M Php in budget. Considering that he
owns a small company, he realized he can make a big film "Captive."
"When I make a movie it's an
extension of my soul."
Brillante Mendoza said.
Check these Captive Teasers in YouTube.
