Film aficionados and history buffs are in for a great treat as the relevant cult movie “Citizen Jake,” helmed by directing legend Mike de Leon, is available for free streaming this weekend and two more dates.
The relevantly political movie is set for free streaming through the Mulat app which secured rights from the legendary filmmaker himself.
“Citizen Jake,” which stars real-life journalist Atom Araullo in the title role of Jake Herrera, is set for streaming on Mulat Premiere Cinema today, April 9, and tomorrow, April 10, and then on April 30 and May 1.
Mulat creative director Mel Bacani, a collaborator and friend of De Leon, said, “I think showing Mike De Leon’s film Citizen Jake cannot come at a better time. Mike and I talked about the prospect of showing his film early on, but since both of us are busy, him on his book and myself with Mulat’s productions, it was only a few weeks ago when we finally decided on showing it on two important weekends in our country, Araw ng Kagitingan at Araw ng Manggagawa, where Labor Day falls roughly a little over a week before we elect our new president.”
The said instant classic shown in traditional theaters a few years back touched the country’s struggle with authoritarianism. This time around, the movie will be screened through open ticketing and school watch parties.
Mulat’s streaming of “Citizen Jake” is a meaningful undertaking and puts the rising creative digital avenue into a spot where it wants to be. Mulat hopes to serve as a valuable platform for content creators, filmmakers, influencers, and other modern-day artists. The production arm officially named Mulat Broadcasting and Entertainment, Inc. is aid to be utilizing the most modern and latest breakthrough technologies on Big Data, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. It wishes to guide and help underserved acts in the field of arts and communication.
“Citizen Jake” is a film noir centered on the emotional struggle of a new school journalist in search of and protecting the truth, while ironically existing as the son of a dictator’s crony. The movie also stars Teroy Guzman as Jake’s father Jacobo Hererra Sr. who plays a corrupt senator, Gabby Eigenmann as his congressman-brother Roxie, and Max Collins as Mandy, an English school teacher and Jake’s girlfriend. Other notable portrayals in the movie come from familiar names Cherie Gil, Victor Neri, Allan Paule, Nonie Buencamino, Lou Veloso, and Dina Bonnevie.
Bacani shared, “When Mike asked me if Mulat Premiere Cinema would like to show Citizen Jake as his gift to the younger generation, I immediately said yes without even thinking! I was actually trying to talk to him if we can show other classic LVN films and films he owns . “
According to DLSU professor Manny Reyes who himself directed a movie about Filipinos’ obsession to become American called “Dreaming Filipinos,” the film’s backdrop is rooted on “state-sanctioned violation of human rights.” In his review, he noted that main character Jake Herrera’s “attempt to try to get to the bottom of a murder case is met with a lot of resistance by powerful people who maybe behind it.” The film strongly reflects director Mike de Leon’s beef with abused authority which for the multi-awarded innovator is “not one to be followed blindly.”
De Leon’s filmography is a legend’s track record with classics from the 70s (“Itim,” “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising,” “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?”), and the 80s (“Kisapmata,” “Batch ’81,” “Sister Stella L.”). He was awarded Best Director in the 1978 Asian Film Festival held in Australia.
In 1999, he brought to new-age moviegoers the brilliant “Bayaning Third World.” The same year he was honored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines with Parangal Sentenyal sa Sining at Kultura.
Mulat’s partnership with the veteran filmmaker is poised to highlight more of his classic work for audiences of digital streaming to savor.
Bacani added, “Mulat is a Filipino made streaming app for Filipinos. Our hashtag is #BilibSaGalingNgPinoy. Three years ago our CEO Sophia Quintanar-Mara thought of having a purely Pinoy streaming app for Filipinos abroad, specially the OFWs and their families here. I fell in love with the idea of doing something different so when they ask me to come on board as Creative Director and Head of Production, I didn’t hesitate at all.”
(“Citizen Jake will be shown today, April 9, and tomorrow, April 10, and on April 30 and May 1, at Mulat Premiere Cinema. To stream for free, register at cinema.mulatmedia.com.)
