Monday, December 7, 2015

The Beauty of Kapampangan Language Explored in “ARI” starring Ronwaldo Martin

*Photos are from the film's official Facebbok page

            Jaypee (Ronwaldo Martin) a personification of the Kapampangan youth who does not speak Kapampangan, is tasked to fetch 69-year old Conrado Guinto, the reigning king of poets, for the recognition rites in his quaint village. Guinto is the school’s outstanding alumnus. What waited for the two ahead is a deep friendship and an understanding of each other’s upbringing, bridged by the generation gap yet still tied by the Kapampangan lineage.




            The film’s aspect ratio is not the usual, it is 4:3. The casting is also radical, featuring Kapampangans who are mostly non-actors, like the actor who played Guinto, the real-life poet Francisco Guinto. In fact, some of the incidents in the film are based on Guinto’s experience. The tradition of electing the Ari ding Poetang Kapampangan (King of Kapmpangan Poets) is very much alive. The Kapampangan language omits the letter “h”, hence the title being ari instead of hari.




“We want the world to see this little-known literary tradition in Pampanga where poetry is a way of life and poets recite poems at the drop of a hat,” screenwriter Robby Tantingco said. He is also the Director of the Center for Kampampangan Studies. This film, produced by Holy Angel University (HAU), is helmed by one of its alumni active in the filmmaking scene, Carlo Enciso Catu.

HAU faculty members, employees, and students, mostly comprise the cast and crew. Other Kapampangan poets Eufrocina Peña, Felix Garcia, and Policarpio Batac play supporting roles as well as former HAU faculty members Cecile Yumul, Jonalyn Ablong, and Chloe Carpio.




After winning the Best World Film Award from the Harlem International Film Festival and the Best Debut Feature Film Award from the All Lights India International Film Festival, the film is set to have its official Philippine premiere as part of the 41st MMFF in the New Wave Category. Last Dec. 2, there was a press preview held at the MMDA Theater located inside the MMDA Conpound in Guadalupe, Makati City.




The festival runs from December 17 to 24 at the Glorietta 4, SM Megamall, and Robinsons Manila Cinemas. For ticket inquires for ARI: My Life with a King, you may contact 09999590601.



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