Anak, internationally titled as The Child, is a 2000 Filipino family drama film directed by Rory B. Quintos from a story and screenplay written by Ricky Lee and Moira Lang. The film stars Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto, with Joel Torre and Baron Geisler, and tells the story of a mother who works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong and her struggle to see her children grow up which she hopes a better future for them.
| The Child | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Rory B. Quintos |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joe Batac |
| Edited by | George Jarlego |
| Music by | Shaun Gaspar |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 119 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
| Box office | ₱165.93 million |
Produced by Star Cinema, the film was released on May 10, 2000, and became a box office hit. It grossed over ₱165 million in its theatrical run, surpassing Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... to become the highest-grossing Philippine film of all time until the release of Ang Tanging Ina in 2003. It was the Philippines' submission to the 73rd Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[1][2]
The film has been restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives. The restored version premiered on ABS-CBN's movie channel, Cinema One, on May 22, 2015.
Plot
editA woman struggling to make a better life for her family finds that her efforts have caused a problem between her and her children in this downbeat family drama. Josie is a mother of three children (Carla, Michael, and Daday) from the Philippines who takes a job in Hong Kong as a nanny for a wealthy couple for several years. She knows she can make more money in Hong Kong than she could at home, but also has qualms about how her absence will affect her children, especially when her husband died not long after she left.
When Josie returns home, she has gifts for everyone and savings from her salary, which she plans to use to start a business. Her children, however, don't welcome their mother with open arms. The younger kids, Daday and Michael, are guarded around Josie, and while they eventually mend their relationship with their mother, the oldest, Carla, does nothing to disguise her resentment for what she sees as callous abandonment of her family. Carla openly challenges Josie's authority, starts dating boys she knows her mother wouldn't approve of, flaunts her burgeoning sexuality, begins using drugs
In the end, Carla realizes what she has done and understands the reason why her mother didn't return home at her father's death. She forgives her and changes her ways, and promises to take care of her younger siblings when she goes back to Hong Kong.
Cast
edit- Vilma Santos as Josie Agbisit
- Claudine Barretto as Carla
- Joel Torre as Rudy
- Baron Geisler as Michael
- Sheila Mae Alvero as Daday
- Amy Austria as Lyn
- Cherry Pie Picache as Mercy
- Leandro Muñoz as Brian
- Jodi Santamaria as Bernadette
- Tess Dumpit as Norma
- Cris Michelena as Arnel
- Hazel Ann Mendoza as Young Carla
- Daniel Morial as Young Michael
- Gino Paul Guzman as Don Don
- Odette Khan as Mrs. Madrid
- Jiro Manio as Jason
- Don Laurel as Lester
Reception
editBox office
editAnak was a box-office success. The film grossed ₱14 million on its first day and earned ₱165.9 million for its theatrical run, surpassing Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... to become the highest-grossing Philippine film of all time.[3][4][5] Its record was surpassed in 2003 by Ang Tanging Ina.[3]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award-giving body | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Catholic Mass Media Award[6] | Best Film | Anak | Won |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Record 46 Countries in Race for Oscar" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. November 20, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "AMPAS Announces the Nominees for the 73rd Academy Awards". indieWire. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ a b Lauzon, Lucenio Martin L. (February 2004). "UP Film Institute Filmography of Films 2003" (PDF). Plaridel. 1 (1): 116. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "Inspired by". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Bardinas, Mary Ann (November 13, 2018). "Mga pelikula ni FPJ na yumanig sa takilya". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Pazzibugan, Donna (October 16, 2000). "Inquirer bags 5 media awards". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A20. Retrieved August 31, 2022.