Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya
Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya
	VCD cover of the film
Directed by	Carlos Siguion-Reyna
Written by	Bibeth Orteza
Produced by	Armida Siguion-Reyna; Charo Santos-Concio; Malou N. Santos;
Starring	Rosanna Roces; Ricky Davao; Gardo Versoza;
Cinematography	Yam Laranas
Edited by	Manet A. Dayrit
Music by	Ryan Cayabyab
Production; companies	Reyna Films; Star Pacific Cinema;
Distributed by	Star Pacific Cinema
Release date	February 11, 1998;
Running time	96 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino; English;

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (English: The Man in Selya's Life) is a controversial 1998 Filipino drama film written by Bibeth Orteza and directed by her husband, Carlos Siguion-Reyna. The film stars Rosanna Roces, Ricky Davao, and Gardo Versoza. In the film, a woman confronts her own prejudice among the community of intolerant, bigoted, and homophobic gossipers when she chooses between two men: a high school principal who is a closeted gay man and a man who wants more commitment with her. This film is the second and last film of Rosanna Roces with Reyna Films and one of the films directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna that features taboo topics in Philippine cinema.^[1]

A co-production of Reyna Films, headed by the director's mother, Armida Siguion-Reyna, and ABS-CBN's film production arm, Star Cinema, via its Star Pacific Cinema label, it is the first film produced by Star Cinema where its story and themes are aimed at adult audiences. The film was released on February 11, 1998, and it became a blockbuster and received accolades from international film festivals and controversy from censors.^[2]

Synopsis

The story revolves around Selya (Rosanna Roces), a schoolteacher. She wants more commitment from Bobby (Gardo Versoza), with whom she has a sexual relationship, but Bobby refuses to give her what she wants and he leaves her. Selya runs away and ends up in a little town where she meets Piling (Eva Darren), who is also a schoolteacher, and Ramon (Ricky Davao), a closeted gay man. The townspeople are homophobic, and she begins to hear vicious criticisms and unbridled gossip as she embarks on a relationship with Ramon. Selya realizes that things won't end well as Ramon does not want a sexual relationship with her, and she walks out on Ramon even as he proposes to her. Selya returns to Bobby, only to regret her decision when he gets her pregnant and still doesn't change. Selya then decides to return to Ramon and raise her child with him. Eventually, she becomes happy with her decision to live in a civil union with Ramon, though their relationship remains platonic, and Selya realizes her worth as a woman. In the end, as Bobby tries to take her and their child away from Ramon, Selya confronts her own irony, daringly exhibiting her strength of character as she conquers her physical desires and chooses the more emotionally rewarding bond.

Cast

Rosanna Roces as Selya
Ricky Davao as Ramon
Gardo Versoza as Bobby
Allan Paule as Carding
Eva Darren as Piling
Crispin Pineda as Imo
Gigi Locsin as Belen
Cednic Millado as Abet
Macky Villalon as Diday
John Nielsen Apilado as Ramoncito
Renato del Prado as Ambo
Virgie Lopez as Diding

Reception

Accolades

Year	Film Festival/Award	Award	Category/Recipient
1998	Berlin International Film Festival	Teddy	Jury Award
1998	Newport Beach Int'l Film Festival	Best Asian Film Award
1998	Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival	Special Jury Award	Feature Competition

References

^ Tejero, Constantino (May 22, 2000). "Carlitos' way with "meaningful" cinema". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Group of Companies. p. E6.
^ Tiongson, Nicanor G. "Armida Siguion-Reyna: Film Actor, Producer, Industry Leader". Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2023.

External links

Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya at IMDb
Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya at the British Film Institute^{[better source needed]}

This article about a film made in the Philippines is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This article about a film with a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer theme is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[PDI-1] Tejero, Constantino (May 22, 2000). "Carlitos' way with "meaningful" cinema". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Group of Companies. p. E6.

[Armida-2] Tiongson, Nicanor G. "Armida Siguion-Reyna: Film Actor, Producer, Industry Leader". Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2023.

[1]

[2]