Written By RICARDO F. LO
The Philippine StarIt’s a movie Joey Reyes has been wanting to do all these years. And when Maverick Films commissioned him to do it, he jumped for joy, seized the chance. The movie in reference is Katas ng Saudi, which captures the joy and pain of families torn apart because a parent has to work abroad to give loved ones a better tomorrow.
Direk Joey is interested in, fascinated by stories of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) and the families left behind, some of whom are relatives and friends. He listened — he still does — to their heartbreaking and inspiring tales, jotted them down for a movie he was hoping to do in the future.
Katas ng Saudi is Pinoy na Pinoy, showing how much a parent will sacrifice for his family. The story refers to a father working in the Middle East, but it may well be the story of a Filipino parent, a sister or brother, aunt or uncle toiling in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, US or Canada, Europe, Africa.
Sounds like a tearjerker?
Joey says not really. Katas ng Saudi has many light moments, but in the end, “May kirot o kurot sa puso. You laugh then you cry.â€
Pinoy na Pinoy, indeed. Trust a kababayan to find humor in the most trying moments.
Jinggoy Estrada plays the father who returns to Manila after spending 10 years in Saudi Arabia. He returns to a home he finds completely different, despite the efforts of his wife (Lorna Tolentino) to make it appear nothing has changed. His children do not know him.
His only daughter (Shaina Magdayao) is now a young lady studying in a private school and gravitating around a social class that looks down on the common worker. She is spoiled by her grandmother (Liza Lorena) and feels no affection for the absentee father.
His eldest son (Arron Villaflor) has become a computer nerd who can’t relate to his father, while his youngest, a boy (Julian Estrada), does not even recognize the father he never saw in his entire life. Julian, a student of Xavier in San Juan City, is introduced in the movie. Yes, Julian is Jinggoy’s son.
The Saudi worker, doing his best to be a good husband and father, confronts a series of disastrous situations. He does not approve of his daughter’s sosyal friends, especially the young man she’s going out with (Rayver Cruz).
Making the situation worse is his own mother (Vangie Labalan) and sister (Eugene Domingo) and her bum husband (Dick Israel) depend on him for their financial expenses. He feels eternally entrapped by his family obligations. Even his friends expect him to dole out money for the emergency needs since, after all, he is a dollar earner.
source: The Philippine StarLinkback:
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