Documentary on Bessie Badilla as carnival queen in Brazil to be screened in Cinemalaya
FILIPINOS OF a certain age and persuasion remember Bessie Badilla, a top model from the Philippines who developed a large gay following with her outrageous costumes and quick one-liners on TV when she was a popular star of the TV sitcom “Eh Kasi Babae” in the ’80s.
“Dance of My Life” is a documentary about Badilla tackling the role of Carnival Queen in Brazil, the first Filipina ever to attempt such a feat.
The 75-minute film follows Bessie learning how to samba, studying Portuguese, undergoing vigorous physical training and getting to know the members of the 3 Escolas de Samba (or neighborhood associations) for whom she will perform during their annual carnival competition.
That Badilla is a woman “of a certain age” in a field dominated by 20-somethings is amazing to watch, but for a non-Brazilian to star in Carnival this way is unprecedented.
The documentary shows how Badilla has prepared her whole life for her role as Carnival Queen.
The movie will be presented on July 27, 9 p.m., at the CCP Little Theater as part of Cinemalaya’s Documentaries section.
Cinemalaya is supported by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments Inc.
“Bessie is a natural-born storyteller,” said Lyca BenitezBrown, who wrote and directed “Dance of My Life.”
Badilla is coming to the country to attend the Cinemalaya screening.
Visit www.queenbessie.com for more information about “Dance of My Life.” For tickets, call CCP Box Office at 8323704.