Crafting love beyond age in new movie
THE name, filmography, and unwavering artistry of Aga Muhlach are as revered as ever in Philippine Cinema. To this day, his presence alone commands attention, and when word about a rare new film he has accepted explodes, so does the giddy excitement of both showbiz media and the Filipino audience ensue. This time, however, for his upcoming movie “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko,” reactions are a mix of good and bad.
Now 54, the former teen idol of “Bagets” and superstar leading man of his time finds himself facing the challenge of portraying the older half of a character entangled in a May-December romance with the vibrant superstar du jour, Julia Barretto, 26. The scenario initially gave the multi-awarded actor of such movies as “Sana Maulit Muli” and “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” pause.
He, therefore, understands why it stirred quite the online buzz and would like those who have prematurely judged the pairing to be in bad taste to know he didn’t take the offer lightly. A huge hush rippled through Viva Cafe at a media conference this week when Aga finally addressed the controversy.
“When this role was first given to me, I said right away, ‘Ha? I can’t do this! Hindi ko kaya ‘to!’” he candidly admitted, unraveling the layers of discomfort that flashed across his mind in playing an older man romantically involved with a much younger woman. He openly acknowledged the potential awkwardness of it all. His reflections, in fact, even extended beyond the script, encompassing his real-life role as a father.
“Yes, I thought about it. That I have a daughter, and there were parts of the script where I thought, ‘What’?” he continued. As everyone knows, Aga’s beautiful fireball of a daughter, Atasha, has started a career in show business and has yet to debut in a movie amid her promising TV commitments. “But just to make it clear, Julia is way older than my daughter, ha,” Aga chuckled, injecting a touch of humor into the serious discussion.
Despite his initial reservations, however, the seasoned actor recognized the intrinsic beauty in the story crafted by the noted writer and director Denise Ohara, who wears both hats for this Viva Films production. So, rather than retreating, Aga went about the project, suggesting modifications to ensure that the bittersweet tale delivers not just quality but decency and respect for the audience and his own sensibilities.
“Before we started rolling, we had to change a lot of scenes. I was very careful with this thin line [that comes with a] May-December story. I was like, ‘Let’s fix this, that; out na yan at yan [let’s take out this and that scene].”
He also insisted that he gets to “act his age” in his role, reflecting the level of responsibility and conservatism that comes with it, as he began envisioning the delicate dance between his serious choir conductor character and Julia’s passionate and free-spirited choir member. Once the changes were made and Aga’s concerns were addressed and guaranteed a go, the production began, and he was swept away by the result. In so many words, he describes it not only as a stirring cinematic exploration of age and love but also as a testament to the actor and the entire production’s commitment to authenticity. “At the end of the day, it’s this beautiful story that mattered,” he expressed. True enough, Aga’s detailed backstory is effectively reflected in the two official movie trailers launched side-by-side with his solo interview. From the snippets alone, one can see him acting his age with a specific set of principles as Michael, who encounters a drunk Jas (Julia) drunkenly singing off-key at a bar. The same characterizations continue playing out when their paths cross again at choir practice.
Jas — coming late to practice — is surprised to see that Michael is their new musical conductor, preparing for a concert honoring George Canseco, one of the Philippines’ most prolific and talented composers. Skeptical about Jas’ skills, Michael arranges more practice sessions with the smart-alecky beauty, and between rehearsing for the concert and talking about their passions, their friendship turns into something more. Michael is separated from his wife, but, of course, everyone around them — as’ father included — is against their relationship. The conflict boils over when what started as a “you-andme-against-the world” situation begins breaking the two apart.
“There’s so much more to this movie than just a May-December affair,” assured Aga, who rightly declared that as an actor, he is steadfast in his belief that the story’s quality supersedes age-related concerns. “I look at it as a blessing really that I still get to work and get the chance to be paired with the younger generation. Bottom line is the story — it has to be good. Age doesn’t matter in terms of work,” he asserted.
Set against the backdrop of Canseco’s timeless classics, including “Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan,” “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” serves as Viva Films’ Valentine offering. Besides Aga and Julia, it boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Cindy Miranda, Nonie Buencamino, and Frost Sandoval. Written and directed by Gawad Urian awardee Denise Ohara, it set to hit cinemas nationwide on February 7.