(Larger Than Life)
SYNOPSIS/NOTE ON THE STRUCTURE:
The story is about a film director, who, in his attempt to adapt a true rape story (of a grandfather who raped his own daughter and granddaughter) into film, advertently distorts reality to suit the
dramatic, technical and commercial demands of moviemaking. Scenes from real life and from the film are shown alternately for comparison and to underscore the distortion.
THE REAL STORY:
When Perla's mother dies of cancer, her father GABINO starts raping her. Perla decides to run away with her boyfriend but the man, being married, refuses to take her. Perla then stays temporarily with a relative but the relative asks her to leave when Perla is found pregnant.
Nowhere to go and heavy with child, Perla returns home. Gabino welcomes her back, albeit begrudgingly especially since Perla claims the father of her child is her boyfriend. Perla eventually gives birth
to a baby girl. Gabino starts treating the girl FLORING like his own daughter and continuously molests Perla every now and then. Aware of the goings-on in the house and the town gossip, Floring grows into a timid and unsociable young lady who spends her pastime playing
house with her only friend LITA and flirting continuously with OCA, a farmer's son.
Life is pretty uneventful until Gavino starts lusting after his granddaughter. It does not escape Perla's attention and she becomes protective of Floring, seeing to it that Floring is never left alone in the house with the lecherous old man.
One day, however, Gabino sees Floring and Lita talking to some boys at the town plaza. Furious, Gabino drags Floring away and while walking home through the woods, Gabino finds his opportunity - he finally rapes
Floring. The tearful Floring reports to Perla. Unable to take it anymore, Perla decides to report the rape to the police. Gabino is arrested and eventually convicted the court.
A few years later, Floring and Oca get married. Together with Perla, they live peacefully attending to the family chicharon business.
THE MOVIE:
After the mysterious death of VIOLETA's mother, Violeta and her father LEON start living as husband and wife, unmidful of the town gossip. Violeta gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl. The girl
HASMIN grows into a beautiful seductive woman, attracting the amorous attention of Leon and making Violeta insecure and jealous.
Hasmin meets a handsome ranch hand ADAN and develops a passionate relationship with him. When Hasmin finds herself pregnant, she asks Adan to take her away from her father/grandfather who has attempted once or twice to molest her. They plan to elope. But Leon discovers Hasmin's condition and her affair with Adan. Leon is so full of anger and jealousy so her rapes Hasmin and warns her afterwards never to leave the house again. Hasmin reports the rape to Violeta and asks her mother to help her escape. When Violeta confronts Leon, the old man threatens to kill them if the defy him. The confused and helpless Violeta acquiesces but when she chances Leon in the act of raping Hasmin again, Violeta impulsively kills Leon.
Violeta and Hasmin dispose of the body by throwing it into a well. Violeta then reveals to Hasmin the real cause of Violeta's mother's death - Leon killed her. Now that Leon is finally dead and Violeta is freed from her conscience, she urges Hasmin to go away with Adan. Hasmin is preparing to leave when a bloodied Leon appears! He is not dead after all! Leon starts terrorizing the two women until the timely arrival of Adan. Adan manages to finally kills Leon.
Violeta goes out of her mind but Hasmin and Adan live happily ever after.
EPILOGUE:
While watching the film, the rape victims (Perla, the mother and Floring, her daughter) are shocked by the changes and revelations made in the story. They do not finish the film and leave the theater feeling violated all overagain.
- Wendell Capili
PRINCIPAL CAST
Irma Adlawan.............Perla
Ina Raymundo................Floring
Nante Montreal..............Gabino
Raymond Nieva...............Oca
Klaudia Koronel.............Hasmin
Jaclyn Jose.................Violeta
Dante Rivero................Leon
Eric Parilla................Adan
Crispin Pineda..............Film Director
Frank Rivera................Scriptwriter
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