Soliman Cruz chosen for lead role in Romanian flick

Soliman Cruz

Actor Soliman Cruz is set to leave the country today to work on a film in Romania and Greece for three months, Inquirer Entertainment learned.

According to Cruz’s manager, Ferdy Lapuz, his ward has been picked to play one of two lead actors in the Romanian film “To the North,” written and directed by Mihai Mincan.

The story centers on Joel (Cruz), a religious Filipino sailor who is working on a transatlantic ship. He meets Dumitru, a young Romanian stowaway portrayed by German-Romanian actor Niko Becker. Moved by the fact that the frightened Dumitru is clutching a Bible, the sailor starts playing a dangerous game in order to save the boy’s life.

Filipino actors Bart Guingona and Noel Sto. Domingo “play other significant parts in the film,” Lapuz reported in a post on his Facebook account.

“It has been four years since I started managing the career of Soliman,” recalled Lapuz, who first worked with the award-winning actor in “Bwakaw” (2012) and “Barber’s Tales” (2013).

“He disappeared for several years… During the 2017 Cinemalaya, I saw him at the lobby of the CCP and asked him if he already has a manager. That’s when I offered my services to him and he readily said ‘yes.’ Some people advised me that it might not be a good idea to manage Sol that time because of his history. I told them I am willing to take a chance because I believe in Sol’s talent. After many movies and TV dramas, Sol’s biggest break has come.”

Lapuz said Mincan first saw Cruz in a movie by Lav Diaz and has read a feature article on the actor.

“We have been working on this project since January 2019, and after more than two years, Soliman will leave for Bucharest (today), will rehearse for the movie, and start filming in April. Congratulations, Sol, and good luck!” he said. INQ