“Entertaining” is how director Ato Bautista described his Sinag Maynila entry “Expressway.”
“As you follow the two characters, you wouldn’t know where they will go or what will happen,” Baustista spoke of his main actors Aljur Abrenica and Alvin Anson.
The action-thriller will take the indie viewers to the last assignment of a veteran gunman Ben, who is ready to be granted his retirement. Tagging along with him is a neophyte killer Morris (Abrenica), who is more than eager to impress his syndicate boss.
The two criminals may be in the same boat, but their clashing demeanor is what makes their alliance colorful.
“Alvin is serious, while Aljur is a joker…but he suddenly gets mad,” the director told INQUIRER.net. “But you get to empathize with them. You [will] love them and hate them.”
He said the film explores the relationship of the master and his protégé in a journey of self-healing and redemption.
The idea for “Expressway” was born ages ago and Bautista first had Rudy Fernandez in mind to play Anson’s part. “[But] my writer and I created it and wrote it for whoever after that may land on it.”
The director nevertheless is very much satisfied with the performance of his chosen actors. “There are so many actors in the industry that we have yet to see their range and capabilities because they haven’t been given the opportunity to show it.”
“Whenever I make independent films likes this and I get the liberty to choose the actors that I want to work with. I get the actors that I believe will offer their talents to the audience,” he said.
“Expressway” also stars RK Bagatsing, Jim Libiran, Kiko Matos, Inez Bernardo, Japo Parcero and Arpee Bautista.
For years now, Bautista has made striking genre films with a distinctive film making style. Some of his masterpieces are “Blackout (2007)”, “Carnivore (2008)”, “Di Nagtatapos ang Gabi (2010), “Palitan (2012)” and “Gemini (2014).”
The Sinag Maynila Film Festival will run from April 21-26 at SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM North Edsa, SM Mall Of Asia and SM Manila.
READ: ‘Diverse’ 2nd Sinag Maynila dawns this April
The other full-length features in competition are “T.P.O.” by Joselito Altarejos, “Dyamper” by Mes de Guzman, Adolf Alix Jr.’s “Mrs.” and “Lila” by Gino Santos. TVJ
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