Brillante Mendoza hopes critical acclaim translates to PHL box office success

Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza voiced hope that as his film gains international prominence and accolades, Filipino viewers would also begin to support indie movies at the box office.

"Sana ma-translate sa box office yung karangalan, yung paghanga ng kababayan natin," he told GMA's Jessica Soho during a live interview for GMA News TV's State of the Nation.

He said more Filipinos should be able appreciate the stories he relays through film as he makes it a point that his work is a reflection of life in local communities.

"Kwento natin ito, kwento ng mga Pilipino ito, kwento ng kababayan natin," Mendoza added.

"Maganda rin paminsan-minsan na re-remind tayo," he said.

He said that many of the scenes are lifted from real-life situations.

Mendoza was talking about his film, "Ma' Rosa," that was screened at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival. The movie is about a store owner who sells illegal drugs with her husband as a source of additional income to augment family expenses.

Jaclyn Jose, who portrays the store owner, won the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress plum.

Mendoza won the best director award at the  2009 Cannes Film Festival for the movie "Kinatay," which is a about kidnap-rape victim who was killed then hacked to pieces.

Mendoza took note of the timing of the film's screening and the victory of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte, who is known for his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

"Itong kwento na ito four years ko na binubuo," he explained, adding that the screenplay was based on actual people with whom he had indirect communication.

"Bakit natin kailangan i-remind ang mga kababayan natin sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon? Ganitong klaseng kwento? Kasi hindi dapat siya nangyayari pero nangyayari siya," he said.

"So ano'ng dapat natin gawin dun? Ang pagbabago sa sarili natin, sa mismong sarili natin. Hindi kailangan ng sinuman, kung sinuman ang naka-upo. Hindi naman kasi niya kayang baguhin ang ating pamumuhay o ang buhay natin kundi tayo mismo (ang magbago). Dahil mirror ito ng totoong buhay, kahit papaano makapag-isip tayo," he added. — BAP, GMA News