Andrea Torres (left) and Marcelo Melingo
For Andrea Torres, her upcoming Argentine-Filipino film, “Pasional,” is a project of many firsts.
Produced by Malevo Films, in cooperation with GMA Network, the romantic drama film has the 32-year-old actress playing a tango dancer named Mahalia, who falls in love with the biologist Norberto (seasoned actor Marcelo Melingo), after crossing paths on a plane ride.
For starters, Andrea had to learn the tango and milonga, another kind of dance that originated in South America and incorporates fundamental elements of the Argentine tango.
“I experienced lots of things. I trained to do the tango here in the Philippines, before flying to Argentina last year. I was surprised once I got there, because the tango we usually see is different from the milonga, which I had to learn there. It’s an intimate dance because you have to follow the lead of your partner and sense each other’s movements,” she told the Inquirer in a recent Zoom conference.
Andrea also had to deliver some of her lines in Spanish. “My leading man, Marcelo, was one of my mentors,” she said. “They have a different tone when they speak the language. I feel like I’m singing. I would love to continue learning Spanish because it’s such a widely used language, and may be helpful for future projects.”
Some differences
It was Andrea’s first time working with an Argentine crew, and she couldn’t help but observe some differences about how they do things compared to the Filipino production teams she has worked with in the past.
“In the projects I have done, they were heavier on drama, with bigger scenes and movements. Here, it’s all very minimal. The kind of expressions or reactions they wanted were more restrained. They wanted snappier movements,” Andrea related, adding that the shooting was an instructive experience for her.
“I discovered a lot of new things about myself that I can apply in the future,” she said of working on “Pasional,” which was directed by filmmaker Francisco D’Intino. “I hope to use the things I have learned through the years and combine them with what I have learned. There’s beauty in showing emotions without necessarily using actions.”
Asked what her first impression of her leading man was, Andrea admitted that she was initially intimidated when she first met him in Argentina last year. “I was scared and intimidated, because I knew he was a respected actor there. And I had no idea what he would be like in person. But during our first meal together, he gave me a gift and initiated conversations,” she related.
Andrea Torres
“Since then, we built a connection, making our scenes easier. And we worked better as we went along. We talked about our lives … he taught me some Spanish,” she said.
Marcelo, on the other hand, found Andrea “beautiful and warm.” “She’s a beautiful, attractive woman and a great professional. I got to know her better while working and we had a warm relationship,” he said in Spanish.
Andrea was also described by the Argentine team as a “very good actress, who’s technical, adaptable and works well with directions. “I thought she’s very talented. We’re happy and blessed to have her on the set,” the assistant director said.
Shot in Argentina and PH
The first half of the film was shot last year in Cordoba, Argentina, and its many cultural sites and landmarks, including the concert hall Teatro del Libertador General San Martín. The second half, meanwhile, was shot in various scenic places in the Philippines.
“They were able to go to Coron, Caramoan and Ifugao, and I’m happy they enjoyed our country. They got an idea what Filipinos are like, how we work here,” Andrea said. “My time in Argentina last year was memorable. They made sure my stay was enjoyable and comfortable. I loved the food. I felt like being in Intramuros, but on a much larger scale. I had beautiful memories.”
The film will be shown in the Philippines and Argentina—tentatively in November. “For years, my mom would tell me that I would land an international project like this. But I didn’t really think much of it. This is a big blessing. I found the script so interesting. I found it amazing how people from the different sides of the world were able to connect,” Andrea said. INQ