I was confused when I saw Chris Martinez's upcoming Status: It's Complicated's teaser. I didn't understand what it's about. Characters led by Jake Cuenca, Paulo Avelino, Maja Salvador, Solenn Heusaff, and Eugene Domingo were just throwing lines at each other that you'd hardly understand (dahil sa bilis o dahil hindi mo alam ang pinanggagalingan). The point of teasers and trailers is to get at least the gist of the story and not get confused by it. I wasn't into watching it (even though I am a Chris Martinez fan) until I learned that it is a remake of Ishmael Bernal's 1979 classic Salawahan starring Jay Ilagan, Mat Ranillo III, Rio Locsin, Andrea (Sandy) Andolong, and Ms. Rita Gomez.
Immediately, I looked for my copy of the film and watched it. I was giggling in most of the scenes! It was the first time I've seen it in its entirety (I've only seen parts of it in Cinema One every now and then.) and instantly became one of my favorite Bernal movies!
To quote a friend, "Si Bernal talaga ang magaling! From camp to high art, from Pridiyer to Himala to Nunal sa Tubig!" We were just talking about Pridyider (second episode of Shake, Rattle and Roll) then and how it was a product of its time: bold genre of the '80s. It was a horror film yet it was never shy of its sexual tone. He has not seen Salawahan yet, but I'm sure that he will like it, too, as much as I do.
Here are some of the witty/campy dialogues of the film that had me giggling!
Andrea: Saan ka nagpapagupit? Ang ganda ng buhok mo, ah.
Jay: Tinatapat ko lang sa bentilador.
Rene Requiestas: Bakit hindi mo ko kaladkarin sa batalan at gahasain?
O, diyos ko! Anong sinabi ng oblation ng UP!
Andrea: Sa New York, wala akong ibang ginawa kundi swing dito, swing doon.
I am such a swinger, talo ko pa si Tarzan.
Mark Gil: Napakahina mo sa babae. Nakapatong na sa 'yo, tatanungin mo pa ng,
"What school are you from?"
Bongchie Miraflor: Kuya Jerry, bisita mo!
Jay: Paano mo nalaman?
Bongchie: Matanda, eh!
Jay: Pasensiya ka na sa kapatid ko. Probinsiyano 'to, eh.
Hindi sanay makakita ng magaganda.
Rita: OK lang. Mahilig din naman ako sa mga bata.
Lalo na kung tahimik.
Bongchie: Hello, lola!
Rita: Biologically, I'm 33. Intellectually, I'm 60. And I hope I look 18.
Rita: How do you like my position er I mean my opinion?
Jay: Well, I respect your opinion. And I love your position!
Matt: Bakit kayong mga babae, gan'yan? Kapag nakuha n'yo na ang lalaki,
gusto n'yo siyang baguhin? Kung babaguhin n'yo rin lang ang lalaki,
bakit n'yo pa nagustuhan in the first place? It doesn't make sense.
Kung nagustuhan n'yo s'ya, dapat for the way he is,
not for the way he will be.
Rita: Girlfriend ako ni Jerry.
Andrea: Same to me.
Rita: Hindi ba tayo magko-confrontation?
Andrea: 'Wag na lang. Nakakatamad, eh.
Rio: I hope you understand. I'm impulsive. I'm only 18.
Andrea: Parehas lang tayo. I'm only 20.
Rita: Ako, I'm hungry.
Last screencap doesn't include any caption because it is purely visual! Two words to describe it: Mark. Gil. See for yourself!
Salawahan was one of the finest performances of THE Ms. Rita Gomez. She was memorable in every scene. I wonder how Eugene Domingo will do in this role (even if she is already an established actor). Para ngang nababataan pa ako sa kanya para sa role. Even then, mahirap ding isipin kung sino ang puwedeng gumanap sa role na ito. Jaclyn Jose perhaps?
