SUPERSTARstruck: The Nora Aunor Fanatics Blog

Artwork by Mark Cruz
Qtv's Ang Pinaka ... episode first aired on July 8, 2007
Video courtesy of Ang Pinaka ...

Part 1 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6
(You Tube videos posted by loonzhaus)

(In order)

1. Nora in Nakaw na Pag-Ibig standing on the edge of a ravine. She is pregnant. Her face is clear. She imagines the possibilities of the place. The reflections, the romance and the possibility of murder. She looks at the man beside her (Philip Salvador) and suspects his motives. She panics and plunges to her death. The wide range of emotion she displayed during that scene from calm to hysteria can only be played out by a true artist whose talent is “pure instinct,” according to Bernal.

2. Nora in Bulaklak sa City Jail giving birth alone at night inside a cage at the Manila Zoo. People find her. She cradles her newborn, holds on to it, protects it. Recall how she squints as flashlights blind her. This powerful primal image of giving birth is unequalled in film history. Nora was, at that moment, not human. She was a nocturnal animal giving birth in the dark.

3. Nora, the flower vendor in Condemned, locked in a battle of steely nerves against a crazed mobster matriarch (Gloria Romero) over a bounty of dollar bills in Nora’s possession. Gloria taunts her. They’re fake, she says. Nora remains calm. She burns the dollar bills one by one. Her eyes cold as she defies evil, “Fake?”

4. Nora, the unfavoured daughter in Bakit Bughaw ang Langit. Three sequences capture her character’s transformation, from quiet sufferance, to defiance and ultimate liberation. (1) She waters cactus plants with complete devotion. Recall the almost zen-like manner in which she performs this task, her only source of fortitude against her abusive family. (2) She is thrown out of the house. As neighbors struggle to hold her still, she hurls in pain one of the most memorable lines of Nora Aunor against her oppressors in Philippine cinema—in this case, her mother, a former actress (Anita Linda). “Laos na kayo Inay!”—her delivery solid and crushing. (3) The family moves away and as the truck leaves, we see Nora across the street, wearing a T-shirt and a skirt and holding all her possessions in one small luggage. She is, finally, on her own.

5. Himala. Not the much raved climactic scene where Nora, the faith healer, was fatally shot but the funeral scene. Her power begins to fail and children die one by one. Nora in black, attends the funerals, a white cloth wrapped around her forehead and a veil covering her head. One of the dead children’s mother lunges at her and curses that she will go to hell. Recall how this jolts Nora, as if stabbed. And how she wailed. I remember reading an interview with actress Susan Valdez about that scene. “It was as if all the pain she went through in life was captured in that single moment …” True, like a dam that suddenly cracked and burst.

6. Nora, the fan in Bona. Two scenes. (1) After abandoning her family to serve her idol, she returns to attend her father’s wake. Clearly, she is unwanted. She walks to the coffin in fear. She presses her face to her late father’s. Close-up of her final payments, her grief clenched tightly like a fist. A tear falls. Suddenly, her brother pulls her hair so violently, she gasps in shock, her momentary grief interrupted by a more painful assault. A mute sequence only La Aunor could give the unbearable weight it requires. Which brings me to the finale. (2) Betrayed by her idol, she seethes behind a pot of boiling water. If you want to see Nora at her most disturbing moment, when all hope is lost—recall how she stares blankly at the steam rising from the boiling pot: vengeance and madness darkly, quietly brewing.

7. In Atsay, Nora the maid is alone in the kitchen. She is going to eat her meal. She does not eat at the table. She eats standing right next to the corner where she cooks and washes dishes. She does not use utensils. She uses her hand and eats a mouthful. She almost throws up. The food is spoiled. It does not revolt her. She does not get angry. If she is sorry for herself, we do not see it. As if it had to happen naturally once in a while. Classic.

8. In Minsan, May Isang Ina, all hope is gone for Nora and she loses her sanity. In a burial, she cracks and regresses. She believes she is being abandoned. She clings to her younger sister and starts calling her “Ate! Ate!” Much has been said about the wide range of emotions Nora’s eyes can convey but if you want to see her eyes dead, as if the soul itself had departed, watch her final scene at home where she stuffs her mouth with crumpled paper and then hangs herself.

9. Nora, the nurse riding the New York subway train in ’Merika. This scene was repeated several times in the film. It’s not much. Nora simply stands in the crowd. She does not have to do anything. But the message is clear in her face: her life has no meaning; it is a pointless ride from one station to another. Nothing interests her. I hate to compare but Gil Portes did the same thing for Vilma Santos in Miss X but the effect was laughable (mukha pa rin siyang turista). Only Nora could portray displacement. Because she knew what it meant not to belong; she is a spirit that cannot be contained and will be forever be homeless.

10. The funny thing is my tenth most memorable Nora scene is a scene I cannot even remember although I have seen the movie. And Nora was barely in this particular scene. I am only including it here because of a story I heard. It was told that a long time ago Nick Joaquin was invited in a projection room to watch a private screening of Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo. No, I’m not referring to the “My brother is not a pig!” scene. But in the same funeral scene, there is a brief close-up of Nora’s mother (Perla Bautista), weeping. Nora’s hand appears on the screen. Her hand grips her mother’s shoulder. Off-camera, we hear Nora, “Tama na Inay. Tama na.” When the screening was over, it was told Nick Joaquin ordered the projectionist to “Play that scene again!” This made me wonder. What is it about Nora that a hand, her eyes, a few words spoken, could hurt, enrage and comfort us, bring us to reflection and emerge from the theater as if an epiphany has just occurred?

From the Original Nora Aunor Yahoogroup

Seven Samurai
Akira Kurosawa, 1954, JAPAN

Pather Panchali
Satyajit Ray, 1955, INDIA

Gallipoli
Peter Weir, 1981, AUSTRALIA

Himala
Ishmael Bernal, 1982, PHILIPPINES

Chungking Express
Wong Kar-wai, 1994, CHINA

Gabbeh
Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1996, IRAN

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ang Lee, 2000, CHINA

Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki, 2001, JAPAN

Infernal Affairs
A. Wai-Keung, A.Siu-Fai, 2002, HONG KONG/CHINA

Old Boy
Chan-wook Park, 2003, SOUTH KOREA

(In chronological order)

FHM’s (July 2008) 50 Greatest Modern Pinoy Films:

SOCIAL REALISM

Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975)
Kapit sa Patalim: Bayan Ko (1985)
Manila by Night 91980)
Insiang (1976)
Sister Stella L. (1984)
Private Show (1986)
Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo (1976)
Hinugot sa Langit 91987)
Batch '81 (1982)
Live Show (2000)

EPIC
 
Oro Plata Mata (1982)
Himala (1982)
Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976)
Aguila (1980)
Ganito Kami Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976)

FEMINIST DRAMA

Salome (1981)
Moral (1982)
Brutal (1980)
Karnal (1983)
Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap (1984)
Bona (1980)
My Other Woman (1991)

DRAMA

Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa (1974)
Nunal sa Tubig (1976)
Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979)
Paputi ng Uwak, Pag-Itim ng Tagak (1978)
Relasyon (1982)
Hindi Nahahati ang Langit (1985)
Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (1992)
Sana Pag-Ibig Na (1998)

COMEDY

Kakabakaba Ka Ba? (1980)
Temptation Island (1980)
Working Girls (1984)
Bagets (1984)
May Minamahal (1993)
Bridal Shower (2004)

HORROR-SUSPENSE

Sigaw (2004)
Kisapmata (1981)
Itim (1976)
Feng Shui (2004)
Shake, Rattle & Roll 1 (1984)

BOLD

Scorpio Nights (1985)
Boatman (1984)
Segurista (1996)
Tuhog (2001)
Laman (2002)

INDEPENDENT

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005)
Magnifico (2003)
Kubrador (2006)
Ang Kriminal ng Bo. Concepcion (1998)

If a Nora Aunor Retrospective will be shown and there will only be ten films in the list, what movies would you like to see?

Here’s mine:

1. Bakekang (Opening Film)
2. And God Smiled at Me
3. Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos
4. Banaue
5. Annie Batungbakal
6. Bakit May Pag-Ibig Pa?
7. Super Gee
8. Condemned
9. Ikaw ay Akin
10. Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo (Closing Film)

Ito ang reasons ko sa pagpili:

1. Bakekang

The historian Renato Constantino once called Nora Aunor a “purveyor of American culture.” I think this observation becomes even more interesting when you think how the Great American Dream has blurred the lines in Nora’s real and reel life. I’m referring to Blue Hawaii and Winter Holiday. There was also this incident early in her career when she was still a rising singer: international singer Timi Yuro offered to bring her to America, pero tumanggi si Mamay Tunying.

Lagi na lang isyu ang complexion kay Nora at sa fans niya. Naalala n’yo kung paano natin ininda ang mga puna noong araw na siya ay negra at maitim, at lalo natin siyang ipinagtanggol? And yet it is so ironic na mestiso lahat ng na-link sa kanya—mula kay Pip, Cocoy, Boyet, Richard Merck, at John Rendez. Nowhere else did we, as fans, embrace this irony than in the film Bakekang, kung saan nagpabuntis siya sa isang GI sa Gapo para magkaroon ng puting anak, si Crystal.

The impact of the irony becomes even more staggering when you consider how in real life, paulit-ulit na nag-ampon si Nora ng mga anak ng GI: sina Lotlot, Matet, Kiko, at Kenneth. It’s Bakekang wanting her own Crystal in real life. Again, the blurring of lines between what is true and what is longed for.

2. And God Smiled at Me

Kailangang mapanood natin ito dahil ito ang kanyang unang Best Actress award—kahit pa sabihing maliit na award-giving body lang ito, ang Quezon City Film Festival. Magandang mapanood ito dahil ito ang takeoff point natin if we are going to trace the maturing process of the artist.

3. Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos

Kailangan pa bang i-explain? Dito siya unang na-recognize ng mga critic at nirespeto. Kinalbo siya dito at pinatay dahil sa pakikipagrelasyon sa isang Hapon. Naalala ko pa ang isang eksena: buntis si Nora at sumisigaw sa ulan ng “Sinungaling! Sinungaliiing!!!!! SINUNGALIIING!!!!”

4. Banaue

Dahil isa itong obra. Gusto ko ring mapanood ito dahil may isang Vilmanian akong nakaaway noong bata ako na nagsabing napanood daw niya ang Banaue at sinabi sa akin na kulay violet daw ang utong ni Nora. Napakasakit noon.

5. Annie Batungbakal

Dito napatunayan ni Nora na kaya rin niyang magsayaw. Naalala ko pa kung paano nahati ang kampo noon sa VST ni Vi at sa Hotdog ni Guy. Siyempre, maka-Hotdog ako.

6. Bakit May Pag-Ibig Pa?

Wagi ang role ni Nora dito: isang ex-nun. Marami siyang philosophical musings, walang patumanggang aria, mga monologue habang nasa rocking chair.

7. Super Gee

Si Nora bilang isang superwoman na nagmomotor. May helmet na may antena at bra na bakal.

8. Condemned

Classic sa akin ang eksena niya with Gloria Romero, habang sinusunog ni Nora ang dollar bills (America again!)—sabay nanunuyang sabing, “Fake?”

9. Ikaw ay Akin

Si Nora bilang isang horticulturist. Magaling siya doon sa picture-taking scene na ang gulo-gulo ng lahat (Bernal film kasi), pero siya, seething quietly with tension.

10. Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo

Hindi lang dahil sa eksenang My brother is not a pig. Nick Joaquin attended a private viewing of the film, and the story goes that there was this one scene na umiiyak si Perla Bautista pagkamatay ni Carlito. Wala si Nora sa frame. Close up ni Perla iyon. Pero makikita ang kamay ni Nora sa balikat niya at maririnig si Nora saying, “Tama na, Inay. Tama na …” When the film ended, Nick Joaquin requested to “please, play that scene again.”

Kung meron akong idadagdag, ito siguro iyong Roma Amor at
Bakit Bughaw ang Langit.

Sa Roma Amor, kahit na may double stuntwoman si Nora, nakakaaliw pa rin siyang panoorin na nagmo-motorcycle stunts.

Gusto ko iyong Bakit Bughaw ang Langit kasi nag-aalaga si Nora ng cactus dito tapos may isang eksenang sinigawan niya ang nanay niya, si Anita Linda, ng “Laos na kayo, Inay!” Maganda din iyong ending, kasi ang suot ni Nora ay isang lumang T-shirt na parang giveaway item sa isang hardware store at may nakalagay na “LOVE.”

From the Original Nora Aunor Yahoogroup

The Screening Room, the film blog of CNN Intenational, has included Ishmael Bernal’s Himala  in its shortlist of the Best Asian Films of All Time. See story below:  

Pick the best Asian films of all time
By CNN's Mairi Mackay

LONDON, England (CNN)—Asia: Spread over one third of the world's surface, it is home to something like four billion people in 70 countries. It also produces half of the world's film.

Niki Caro avoids all the coming of age cliches in this tale of a teenage girl who believes she is destined to be chief of her patriarchal clan in "Whale Rider."

Bollywood, India's film industry, alone produces around 1,000 films each year—almost two times as many as Hollywood.

This vast continent doesn't just come out on top when it comes to output, it has also sired many influential directors, actors and film-genres.

Ang Lee's 2000 homage to Chinese fantasy martial arts genre, Wuxia, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and Japan's unique take on horror, typified by films like Takashi Shimizu's "Ju-on: The Grudge" are just two examples of Asia's recent contribution to world film culture.

We have included films by Japan's Akira Kurosawa, China's Wong Kar-Wai and India's Mehboob Khan in our provisional list of the best of Asian cinema but we want to hear from Web site users. What are your favorites? Have we missed one? Perhaps you don't agree with our choices.

'In the Mood for Love' ('Fa yeung nin wa') Hong Kong/China(Wong Kar-Wai, 2000)
Wong was heavily influenced by Hitchcock's psychological thriller "Vertigo" during the making of this poetic, exquisitely shot meditation on love and loss starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000.

'Mother India' ('Bharat Mata') India(Mehboob Khan, 1957)
One of the sub-continent's first ever blockbusters, it is also known as India's "Gone with the Wind." Acting legend Nargis plays a woman who must raise her children single-handedly after her husband is maimed in an accident, and becomes the catalyst for her fellow villagers to fight for their land. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 1957 Academy Awards—India's first ever Oscar nomination.
…
'Himala' Philippines (Ishmael Bernal, 1982)
Young Elsa thinks she has seen the Virgin Mary and goes on a healing crusade—just the miracle the nowhere town she lives in is looking for. The film's austere camera work, haunting score and accomplished performances sensitively portray the harsh social and cultural conditions that people in the third world endure.
 …
FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF SHORTLISTED FILMS, FOLLOW LINK BELOW:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/12/asiapacific.top10/index.html