Ang Larawan, internationally released as , is a 2017 Philippine musical film directed by Loy Arcenas.
Based on the 1997 stage play, Larawan which in turn was based on the 1950 literary play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by National Artist Nick Joaquin, the film takes place in 1941 just before World War II in a mansion in Manila.
Ang Larawan had its premiere in Japan on October 30, 2017, as part of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival. It was commercially released in the Philippines on December 25, 2017, as an entry to the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won five of its twelve categories, including Best Picture, Best Musical Score, Best Production Design, and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award and Best Actress given to Joana Ampil. Critical response for the film was mostly positive.
Cast
The cast of Ang Larawan includes:
Joanna Ampil as Candida Marasigan
Rachel Alejandro as Paula Marasigan
Paulo Avelino as Tony Javier
Sandino Martin as Bitoy Camacho
Cris Villonco as Susan
Aicelle Santos as Violet
Nonie Buencamino as Manolo
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Pepang
Robert Arevalo as Don Perico
Celeste Legaspi as Doña Loleng
Zsa Zsa Padilla as Elsa Montes
Cara Manglapus as Patsy
Rayver Cruz as Charlie Dacanay
Ogie Alcasid as Pulis Tinio
Jojit Lorenzo as Pulis Bernal
Dulce as Doña Upeng
Nanette Inventor as Doña Irene
Jaime Fabregas as Don Aristeo
Bernardo Bernardo as Don Alvaro
Noel Trinidad as Don Miguel
Leo Rialp as Don Lorenzo Marasigan
Ricky Davao, Mikee Cojuangco, Martin del Rosario, as well as Ryan Cayabyab and his wife and son all made cameo appearances in the film.
Production
Development
Background
The film is based on the 1997 stage play Larawan, which had its 1998 restaging written by Nick Joaquin, a recognized National Artist for Literature<ref name="adapted1997">{ { cite news|last1=Banal-Formoso|first1=Chelo|title='Larawan' inspires us to remember, to sing|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/776646/larawan-inspires-us-to-remember-to-sing|access-date=November 20, 2017|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|quote=National Artist Nick Joaquin’s “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” is resurrected yet again, this time as a film adaptation of the 1997 stage musical [1997 stage musical: Larawan Film adaptation: 2017 film Ang Larawan].|date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> which in turn was also an adaption of an earlier play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, which was also by Joaquin. The film is the third full-length feature film to be directed by Loy Arcenas, a former Broadway production designer.
The film is produced by Culturtain Musicat Productions which is owned by talent manager Girlie Rodis and singer-actress Celeste Legaspi who were also producers of the film.
Rodis aims to present the film as an "alternative" to romance comedy and horror films prevailing in Philippine mainstream cinema but clarified she does not want to "compete" with other local film production companies. She recalled a man in SM Cinema telling her there was a lack of local films suitable for school educational viewings which led her to come up with an "alternative" film.
Financing
The production budget has been described as expensive, with producer Rodis partly responsible for the financing. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Quezon City Film Fund, Resorts World Manila, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, as well as individual sponsors were among the financiers of the film. The budget of the film was which took a year to raise. Ang Larawan also received endorsements from the Commission on Higher Education and the NCCA.
Filming
Principal photography on Ang Larawan began in June 2015, with Boy Yñiguez as cinematographer. It officially began in Intramuros, Manila for the La Naval procession scene, where 600 costumed extras were involved. Filming with the cast occurred in Taal, Batangas and lasted 11 days, particularly in the Villavicencio ancestral home, which served as the ancestral home of the protagonists' family in Intramuros. Gino Gonzales supervised the production design. While the music and song performances were mostly prerecorded, the dialogues were recorded live.