Hustisya

Hustisya
Directed by Joel Lamangan
Produced by Harlene Bautista
Written by Ricky Lee
Starring Nora Aunor
Rocco Nacino
Rosanna Roces
Sunshine Dizon
Cinematography Nap Jamir
Edited by Vanessa de Leon
Production
company
Likhang Silangan Entertainment
Release dates
  • August 2, 2014 (2014-08-02) (Cinemalaya)
Country Philippines
Language Tagalog

Hustisya (English: Justice) is a 2014 Filipino political thriller-drama film starring Nora Aunor.[1] The film is about the story of a foul-mouthed woman fights for her soul in the belly of the city. Working for a human trafficking agency controlled by a powerful syndicate, she sees no evil, hears no evil. In a society like ours, you have only two choices - to be a victim, or a victimizer - she makes her choice. The film was written by Ricky Lee and directed by Joel Lamangan

The film is one of the official entries to the Directors Showcase of the 10th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.[2] The film will also have its international premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, under the Contemporary World Cinema selection.[3]

Plot

Biring is a probinsyana from Bicol who becomes involved in the illegal world of human trafficking. She becomes the right-hand woman of her distant relative Vivian (Rosanna Roces).

Virginia Cabahug or Biring to those who are close to her is the bag lady of the syndicate, her main task in the syndicate is to meet up with the clients for their requirements. She is tough on the outside, foul-mouthed, but soft on the inside. This is what the syndicate wanted to change in her. Vivian is a childhood friend from Bicol, and she took Biring and her family to Manila, sent her daughter (Sunshine Dizon) and grandson (Jeric Gonzales) to school, and made Biring her girl Friday. However, greediness took the better of the friendship and Vivian sets up Biring for the crime of passion she did and that is shooting her unfaithful lover Gardo (Gardo Versoza). When she lands in jail for a crime that she did not commit, Biring experiences the slow grind of justice in the Philippines. Through the help of a corrupt lawyer named Gerald (Rocco Nacino), the syndicate would turn her into a sophisticated crook and eventually replace Vivian. Gerald, a young and scheming lawyer does this task, first teaching her the lesson of how to get ahead in life using the predatory tactic of a frog catching a mosquito, and then getting her beaten by inmates to make her tough on the inside.[4]

When the right time came, the syndicate bails her out and offers her the role she was prepared for. After some concessions, she agrees to take on the job, but it was only her ploy, she has other plans. Biring wants to have a new life and gets ready to leave for Bicol with her daughter and grandson and quickly meets up with a local investigative journalist (Romnick Sarmenta) to give him a notebook that contains syndicate information. Her decision to escape the syndicate also came with a resolve to expose the crime. Unfortunately, the syndicate knew about her plans and quickly sets up her grandson for illegal possession of drugs. She had to abort her plan for her family’s safety. She becomes co-opted in their crime, and what follows is her ascent into the echelons of greed and power in the syndicate. Vivian is shot in broad daylight, and as she lay dying, Biring looks on her with vengeful eyes. She meets with the journalist to take back the notebook that she gave him and to stop the expose, but the journalist refused and she unintentionally killed the journalist. And although she has kept her personal faith in God (as shown in her devotion to the Black Nazarene and in her friendship with a priest), such did not move her to abandon her criminal acts. The final scenes show her on top of the pecking order, with what used to be her masters but are now on her beck and call. A whisper by Gerald makes her laugh like a demon. She has become the queen of hell. Biring turns the tables on her tormentors. She learns the corrupt practices of the powerful syndicate behind Vivian. The victim eventually becomes the victimizer.

Cast

Reception

“Although ‘Hustisya’ is a far cry from the socio-politically driven classics of decades past, its subject matter is at least reminiscent of the time. A big part of that is the presence of Nora Aunor, who has made a point to challenge herself and the status quo by accepting roles that don’t readily fit the mold of commercial viability. Biring is easily one of the most interesting and morally ambiguous characters to come out of the Cinemalaya Film Festival, and that’s due in no small part to Lee’s exceptional character writing... It’s a flawed yet striking film, with a ravenously engaging first half that unfortunately comes undone in its second. But while Hustisya loses focus well towards its end, it is held together by the strength of Nora Aunor’s performance.[5] -- Zig Marasigan, Rappler Online

“The film was successful in portraying everything that’s ugly about Manila, literally and figuratively... As expected, Nora Aunor gave another tour de force performance as a bida/kontrabida...”[6] -- Don Rapadas, Film Blogger

“And she’s particularly effective as her character clearly shows her transformation from small-time to big-time in the underworld of crime—drugs, murder, white slavery... Serving as backdrop, more accurately sharing “stellar billing,” is the decaying city that is Manila. Never before has “city of our affection” looked so ugly, so dirty.”[7] -- Ronald Constantino, Columnist, Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

“The only thing that holds the film together is Nora Aunor’s riveting performance. Despite being burdened by an uneven script, Aunor manages to make the film very interesting as viewers follow the complex changes that her character undergoes. After playing saintly or oppressed characters for many years, this time around, Aunor plays the victimizer. Biring is probably Aunor’s most shady character, which further expands her acting repertoire.”[8] --- Brun Philippines Online Magazine

“It’s fascinating to watch Nora Aunor radiate the talent on the big screen up today. She displays perfect restraint and fluidity in playing a character so candid and blunt as Biring, especially during the first half of the film prior to when her character “breaks bad.” She manages to crack jokes in the face of the risks entailed by her means of living. She even flashes her middle finger during her mug shot at the police station. She puts on a tough surface in spite of the fears revealed by her eyes. And that’s just about the saving grace of ‘Hustisya’.”[9] -- Philippine Entertainment Portal

List of International Film Festival Competed or Exhibited

Awards and Recognition

International

Year Group Category Nominee Result
2014 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actress Nora Aunor[11] Nominated

Philippines

Year Group Category Nominee Result
2014 10th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival
(Director's Showcase)		 Best Actress Nora Aunor[12] Won
NETPAC Award Won
Audience Choice Won
Best Film Nominated
2015 17th Gawad Pasado Best Actress Nora Aunor Won
Best Story Ricky Lee Won
Best Editing Vanessa de Leon Won
Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Joel Lamangan Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Rocco Nacino Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Rocco Nacino Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Rossana Roces Nominated
63rd FAMAS Awards Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Joel Lamangan Nominated
Best Actor Rocco Nacino Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Romnick Sarmenta Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Rossana Roces Nominated
Best Story Ricky Lee Nominated
Best Screenplay Ricky Lee Nominated
Best Editing Vanessa de Leon Nominated
Best Cinematography Nap Jamir II Nominated
Best Production Design Edgar Martin Littaua Nominated
Best Sound Lamberto Casas Jr. Nominated
Best Musical Score Emerzon Texon Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Sunshine Dizon lauds Nora Aunor’s influence on her". Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  2. ↑ "Nora Aunor topbills "Hustisya" 10th Cinemalaya entry". Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  3. ↑ "TIFF 2014 Adds 'The Cobbler,' 'Madame Bovary,' 'Sils Maria,' 'The Forger' And Many More". Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  4. ↑ "HUSTISYA Review". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  5. ↑ "SWEET YET FLAWED JUSTICE". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  6. ↑ "HUSTISYA (or the lack of it)". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  7. ↑ "Nora’s at her best in very bad character". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  8. ↑ "CINEMALAYA 2014: HUSTISYA". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  9. ↑ "CINEMALAYA 2014 REVIEW: Nora Aunor displays perfect restraint in Hustisya". Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  10. ↑ "HUSTISYA Review". Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  11. ↑ "Nora Aunor gets Best Actress nod at 8th Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  12. ↑ News about Aunor's win at the 10th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

External links

Hustisya at the Internet Movie Database

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