In a film packed with passion, politics and well, pigs, it’s the women — and one surprising pig farmer — who quietly steal the show.
“Isla Babuyan,” directed by Jose Abdel Langit, is an emotionally rich drama set on a remote island that simmers with secrets. At the center of it all is Geraldine Jennings. As Anastacia — or Tasing — a young woman raised in the UK who returns to reconnect with her estranged mother, played by Lotlot de Leon, Geraldine brings a fresh, unaffected quality that stands out amid her surroundings’ chaos. Even when the story demands moments of sensuality or confrontation, she retains an air of innocence.
Lotlot de Leon delivers a strong performance as Rose, the bar-owning mother whose past haunts her at every turn. Tagged the “kabit ng bayan,” Rose is shamed but not broken — and Lotlot plays her with dignity. Rose’s line, “My daughter is not a pig,” echoes Lotlot’s late mother, National Artist Nora Aunor’s famous line, earning its place as one of the film’s standout moments.
Joining them is Samantha Da Rosa, a promising newcomer who brings vulnerability to her character Jasmin, Rose’s adopted daughter and Tasing’s island “sister.” There’s a spark in her scenes that hints at more to come. Coming from the famous Diaz and Da Rosa clans, Samantha is a raw talent to watch.
Another standout is Nathalie Hart’s scene-stealing Margaux, who brings much of the film’s zing, punch and shocking moment.
On the male front, Jameson Blake and James Blanco, playing son and father respectively, offer strong support. But if there’s one performance that nearly hijacks the film, it’s Paolo Gumabao as Javier, the island’s notorious pig farmer and resident lothario. Introduced as crude — with a few daring derriere-baring scenes that are sure to spark conversation — Paolo peels back layers to reveal surprising emotional depth. Though Javier starts off as a sleaze, he proves that underneath there’s a guy who seeks more than just sex.
Despite its darker moments, “Isla Babuyan,” conceptualized by the late talent manager Leo V. Domingo, leaves audiences with hope and deserves to be seen on the big screen.
“Isla Babuyan” is Rated-18 and opens October 1 at Robinsons Cinemas.
