‘Patay na si Hesus’ to kick off launch of InterAksyon Cinema Club

May 10, 2017 - 4:19 PM
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(Clockwise from foreground right) Jaclyn Jose, Chai Fonacier, Melde Montanez and Vincent Viado in a scene from 'Patay na si Hesus.'

As part of its commitment to support Philippine cinema, InterAksyon is launching the InterAksyon Cinema Club with an invitational screening of the acclaimed black comedy “Patay na si Hesus” this Saturday, May 13, 6PM at Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3 in Mandaluyong City.

Headlined by Cannes International Film Festival Best Actress winner, Ms. Jaclyn Jose, “Patay na Si Hesus” was an instant hit with both critics and audiences when it premiered last year at the QCinema International Film Festival.

In the film directed by Victor Villanueva, Jose plays Iyay, a single mother who drags her children on a trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to attend the funeral of their long estranged father named Hesus.

Riding with Iyay in an old cramped multicab are her three children: Hubert (Vincent Viado), who has Down Syndrome; Jude (Chai Fonacier), a lovesick transman; and Jay (Melde Montanez), who is unemployed. During the course of the long road trip, the dysfunctional family encounters unexpected stopovers, detours, revelations, and funny moments.

According to Villanueva, “Patay na si Hesus” is a road movie partly inspired by the 2006 Hollywood comedy “Little Miss Sunshine,” directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

The director admits that it was a pleasure working with the film’s cast, especially Ms. Jaclyn Jose who willingly took workshop classes to learn Cebuano for the film. The actress was also very generous in sharing her insights on how to make the portrayals of the other characters even stronger.

The film went on to win the QCinema festival’s Audience Choice and Gender Sensitivity awards. Some of the most notable reviews are from noted film critics Philbert Dy and Oggs Cruz.

Dy described the film as “thoroughly entertaining” while Cruz hailed it as “merrily blasphemous.” Nel Costales of 1505 Film Avenue (Sine Patrol) also weighed in and called “Patay na si Hesus” both “deliciously hilarious” and a “rare find.”

Presented by the InterAksyon Cinema Club in partnership with Shang Cineplex and Shangri-La Plaza, this special Mother’s Day offering is also made possible by Samsung SmartTV, Oishi, Don Papa Rum, AirAsia, The Bistro Group, and Dorie’s Catering.

Admission to the event is by invitation only.