MANILA -- "A heavy drama from beginning to end."
This is how director Michael Tuviera described the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry "The Kingdom" which stars Prince of Comedy Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual.
In an interview with "Gising Pilipinas" of Radyo 630 TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Monday, Tuviera said "The Kingdom" is a different project for Sotto, who is known for his funny antics.
Here he plays the role of Lakan Makisig, who leads the kingdom of Kalayaan. Lakan needs to choose his successor from his three children, but his youngest was kidnapped by rebels on the day of her wedding.
"Ibang character itong si Lakan. So lahat pati mannerisms, pagtayo niya, paglakad niya, 'yung speech, matagal naming pinagtrabahuan. Kaya ibang-iba talaga itong role ni Lakan Makisig than any role that he has ever done sa buong career niya," Tuvera said.
Michelle Ngu-Nario, writer of "The Kingdom," for her part noted that the movie is more than a family drama, calling it a "political non-political film."
"Nag-umpisa po 'yung idea many years ago. Ginusto naming gumawa ng palabas that will inform the electorate tungkol sa kanilang pagiging Filipino, sa critical thinking when it comes to democracy and participating sa process," she said. "Many years ago pa po 'yon... until naisip namin, bakit pa tayo mag-uumpisa ng maliit, let's open big with a film. And pinalad naman pong matanggap sa MMFF."
"It's political in a non-political [way], meaning it's not threatening. Dahil hindi naman po pwedeng pag-usapan ang isytorya ng isang Lakan or the royal family na hindi rin sinasalamin kung ano ang nangyayari sa mundo na kinabibilanagan lalo na ni Sulo, 'yung character ni Piolo," she continued. "Isa siyang character outside the royal family na nae-experience niya 'yung reality... on the ground kumbaga."
Rated PG by Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, "The Kingdom" premiered in cinemas on Christmas Day, December 25.
FIRST LOOK: Piolo Pascual and Vic Sotto's MMFF entry 'The Kingdom'
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