Who needs romance when cinematic ‘sisterhood’ would do just fine?

Angelica Panganiban

Angelica Panganiban’s latest film, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes,” in which she costars with Judy Ann Santos, is currently drawing viewers to theaters.

More to the point, it has reminded producers that movies need not be an exclusive diet of romantic dramas or comedies topbilling male and female leads.

Two female stars can effectively share protagonist status in a film that’s about the departure of love from once-happy relationships, with the women left holding the bag.

Extrapolating further from its current success, we hope that it prompts producers to come up with other nonromantic costarrers, because we have many female stars whose “acting in tandem” vehicles would have a potent screen “chemistry” of their own, albeit not in a love-linked or lovelorn way. Who needs romance when cinematic “sisterhood” would do just fine?

Aside from this feisty Juday-Angelica screen partnership, we would line up to watch a film topbilling Zsa Zsa Padilla and Sharon Cuneta—wouldn’t you?

In the field of drama, an all-out, emotional square-off between Pilar Pilapil and Coney Reyes would ring vibrant filmic bells.

And, in comedy, a battle royale between Mitch Valdes and Tessie Tomas would be a blast!

Come to think of it, some male stars would also make memorable movies together as coleads “riffing” off each other’s pithy cinematic portrayals—like Ronaldo Valdez and Edu Manzano, Aga Muhlach and Robin Padilla(!), Epy Quizon and Vandolph, and Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. in their long-awaited comedy reunion!

Judy Ann Santos

‘Czech Movie Gems’

Many embassy-sponsored film festivals run for a brief duration, but “Czech Movie Gems” is a yearlong celebration of the best movies that Czech filmmakers have to offer.

Every second Wednesday of every month, Czech films of different genres will be screened at the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Cinematheque Centre Manila.

The yearlong festival started on Jan. 10 with “Kolya,” an Academy Award-winning film by Jan Sverak.

Other cinematic gems to be showcased include “Dark Blue World,” which dramatizes the intertwined fates of a group of Czech pilots fighting the Nazis.

It also dramatizes the struggle between two men who have fallen in love with the same woman.

Other viewing treats: “Rebels,” “Beauty in Trouble” and 11 other gems.

Film screenings are at 6:30 p.m., and are free of charge; first come, first served. Enjoy!

Aicelle as Elsa

Sometime back, our 2018 wish list for gifted stars included the hope that musical-theater sensation Aicelle Santos would get to topbill a new Filipino musical this year.

Thank heavens for great bounties, because we’re getting our wish: Aicelle has been tapped to play the plum protagonist role of Elsa, the visionary and miracle worker, in the musical version of Nora Aunor’s iconic starrer, “Himala.”

The new musical will run at the Power Mac Center, Spotlight, Circuit Makati, starting Feb. 10.

Aicelle’s role is deemed to be especially challenging and grueling, so it should further stretch her abilities—which is what she craves.

Aicelle has been getting the best multimedia breaks of late—and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving talent!