For a film like ‘Saving Sally’, the timing for its exhibition at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2016 is just perfect.
It may not be the kind of ‘kilig’ love story that Philippine cinema can offer, but definitely it has that kind of ‘ibigay-mo-ang-hilig’ for this type of material. It pays homage to how an animated film fused with real actors to come up with such brilliance in providing a palatable love story of Sally and Enzo.
Charlene Sawit Esguerra, a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines in Diliman conceptualized the said film and its principal photography for it was directed by Avid Liongoren and began as early as 2005 but due to financial constraints, the production was halted. It took five years after to resume its production with the help of French film producer Alain de la Mata.
The ‘Long Wait’ is worth it.
The movie is a typical love story about a boy and a girl in a world full of monsters set in a futuristic Manila. Marty (Enzo Marcos), the male protagonist is an aspiring teenage comic-book artist who dreams of becoming a superhero to save his secret love—Sally (Rhian Ramos), a gadget inventor, who has monsters for parents and a literal dick for a boyfriend (TJ Trinidad).
The plot is no extraordinary but it is actually the collaborative creative work of the people behind the animation is worth the wait. Green screen were used for the film which was later superimposed with 2D animated elements. Rocket Sheep artists were the ones responsible for making the futuristic Manila backdrop of the film so as the 2D animated monsters.
One can just imagine the talents combined and all the resources poured into this masterpiece that took 10 years in the making to finally complete this fantasy love story.
Pairing Enzo with Rhian.
Frankly speaking, I was not convinced by the ‘chemistry’ of Marcos and Ramos at first, when I saw the trailer. It had to make me watch the film in order to see the connection between the two actors and their characters.
But as the film progresses, their characters grew within me that I learn to love them and the dynamics of their relationship as best of friends. Then, I realized—the two characters are ‘relatable’. Even if their characters were set in a futuristic Manila, both actors were able to let that ‘bond’ leapt from the silver screen and allowed the moviegoers (including me) feel their internal struggles and their hearts’ desires.
Enzo fits the bill. In fact, according to Sawit Esguerra, he was natural and ‘non-artista’ that made him perfect for the role of Marty, which I can concur. Rhian on the other hand, being the replacement to Anna Larrucea when the latter couldn’t continue the role when shooting resumed in 2010 is probably the best alternate to assume Sally’s character.
Yes, somewhere along the way, as the movie progresses—the ‘chemistry’ was established. Both Marcos and Ramos look good together, thus the ‘EnRhi’ tandem was born.
The Future of Philippine Cinema is Here!
Change has really arrived. Though this isn’t the first time to have an animated film as part of the entries in the MMFF, but it is a clear indication that moviegoers of today are more open, intelligent and diverse.
I look forward that these types of genre would thrive not just survive in Philippine cinema and may this festival be the catalyst in welcoming more and more diverse genres in the future.
With ‘Saving Sally’ in this festival, and with the character of Marty wasting time to rescue his ladylove, there is one lesson that shines—Filipinos must be decisive and be bold in pursuing something worthwhile like this film.
