Aga Muhlach (left) and Claudine Barretto in “Kailangan Kita”
To restore films is one of the most important legacies that we will leave to future generations,” said director Rory B. Quintos, whose dramatic masterpiece, 2002’s “Kailangan Kita”—or the digitally restored version of it—became the opening film of the “Weekend Cinema Classics” event at the Ayala Malls in Makati City last Tuesday.
“The Filipino film traces the Filipino soul. It tells us how our ancestors were like, what their values were, what the things that were important to them were. It also tells us what has changed [in our culture and traditions] and what remains,” Quintos said in a recorded video message that was shown prior to the screening of the Aga Muhlach-Claudine Barretto starrer at Greenbelt 1’s Cinema 1.
“Who would think of restoring Filipino films? Not even the government would do it. I congratulate ABS-CBN (through its Sagip Pelilkula campaign) for initiating it,” the award-winning director pointed out. “It’s a big thing—30 or 50 years down the road, these films that are already in the archives, can still be made available to people for them to learn from and enjoy. I consider the next generation to be lucky because they will learn a lot from these classics.”
The film’s cinematographer, Shayne Sarte, who won a Gawad Urian for the movie, and its senior creative assistant, Temi Abad, consider the film as one of the best projects they have done.
“This movie was shot in film, with a 35mm Kodak camera,” Sarte recalled. “With the house in Pampanga that we stayed in for eight whole months, as well as our other locations in Sorsogon, this film has the most cinematic set that I’ve ever worked on. The experience was so life changing that we all became very close.”
“My fondest memory of the film was the food,” Abad said during the film’s red carpet premiere. “Every time a shoot ends, there’s a feast … I’m just proud of this film. I think it is the best I’ve done as part of the creatives of Star Cinema.”
“Kailangan Kita” revolves around the love story of Carl (Aga) and Lena (Claudine), two people whose lives are different but bounded by their love for cooking. They slowly fall for each other, but problems arise as Chrissy, Carl’s fiancé, gets in their way.
“I appreciate the presence of everybody here. This is one of the few events that didn’t get canceled because of the recent health scare,” said Leo Katigbak, head of the film restoration group. “The restoration of ‘Kailangan Kita’ was completed early last year, but I have held off premiering the movie. To me, it’s one of the best movies of Aga, Claudine and Direk Rory. It’s one of those that needed a very special reason for premiering it. Today, the opportunity presented itself. It served as the opening film of a monthlong screening of the classics in Greenbelt. We’re very happy that it became the kickoff for this event.”
Ayala Malls Cinemas and ABS-CBN Film Restoration executives
Katigbak added that starting April, “Kailangan Kita” will be carried by the streaming app iTunes. “After the run in Ayala, it will be activated globally for iTunes before the Holy Week in April. This time, it will be seen not just by Filipinos but also by audiences abroad. For me, it’s really Aga and Claudine at their prime, at their best.”
Also present during the special screening were Sarah Salvador-Velasquez, daughter of Shaira Salvador, who cowrote the story of “Kailangan Kita” with Emman dela Cruz and Moira Lang. Actor Igy Boy Flores, who played one of Claudine’s nephews, was also there.
In partnership with Ayala Malls Cinemas, “Weekend Cinema Classics” will feature restored classics every Friday and Saturday until April 4 at Greenbelt 1 Cinema 1. Included in weekend screenings are “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” “Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang?,” “Eskapo,” “Misteryo sa Tuwa;”
“Karnal,” “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo,” “High School Scandal,” “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Mga Bilanggong Birhen,” “Omeng Satanasia,” “Tisoy!,” “Bulaklak Sa City Jail,” and “Moral.”
Prices are at P180 for regular patrons, while tickets for students are priced at P150.