The newly scanned version of the Filipino film classic “Badjao (The Sea Gypsies),” first screened in 1957, makes its premiere on Cinema One’s Restored Cinema block this Sunday (September 6) at 9 pm.
The movie, starring Rosa Rosal and the late Tony Santos Sr., tells a unique tale of love unfolding amid conflict between two rival Pinoy tribes.
Hassan (Tony) is the son of a chief of the sea-dwelling tribe Badjaos, who meets and falls in love with Bala-amai (Rosa), the niece of the chief of the Moros, an Islamic, land-dwelling tribe. While Hassan is willing to give everything up for his love for Bala-amai, the Moros seek ways to break up their loving union.
“Badjao” won Best Direction for Lamberto Avellana, National Artist for Theater and Film, along with the Best Story, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography awards in the 1957 Southeast Asia Film Festival held in Japan. It also received the International Prestige Award of Merit from the 1957 FAMAS Awards.
The film is one of the recent Sagip Pelikula projects under ABS-CBN Film Restoration, which has won awards for restoring and digitizing the best of Philippine cinema but is now one of the affected services after the House of Representatives denied ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Relive a classic narrative of love against all odds in “Badjao,” airing this Sunday (September 6), 9 pm on Cinema One. Cinema One is available on SKYcable Channel 56, Destiny Cable Analog 37 and Digital 56. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.
