Ku’te, produced by PRO.PRO with story and direction by Ronaldo “Roni” M. Bertubin and screenplay by Romualdo Avellanosa, celebrates a different kind of love as it participates in the World Premieres Film Festival Philipines.
Ku’te, for Direk Roni, tells about the relationship of Emong, a hardworking young man who works as a production assistant and his sister, LenLen, a girl with Down syndrome (DS). Johan Santos plays the role of Emong and Marielle Therese, who is really afflicted with DS, plays LenLen :
He says, “My inspiration for this movie is a friend who I worked with for a production outfit. He told me about his sister who has Down Syndrome. This co-worker of mine, handang gawin ang lahat para itaguyod ang kapatid. Then I added some other elements for people to understand and realize what it is like to have a family member with DS. These are collective stories that I learned from friends, acquaintances, even strangers na may kapatid, kakilala, kamag-anak na may DS, pero iba-iba ang level ng pang-unawa at pagmamahal nila.”
He emphasizes, “Through this movie, gusto kong patunayan sa lahat na bigyan lang ng pagkakataon, they can be assets and not liabilities, na ang mga taong may DS ay may kakayahan. di man kasing galing ng tunay na artista, pero totoo sa kanilang bawat kilos at galaw.”
“As a director, it was a great challenge for me and the rest of the cast to work with Marielle. This young lady is very talented, she easily understands and picks up instructions very well. I’m sure people will be affected by her.”
Johan Santos, who portrays the role of Emong reveals, “The role is very challenging for me on two major levels, first is being the brother of Lenlen. During the whole course of the shooting, Marielle as LenLen was cooperative, kind, sweet, no tantrums whatsoever. I give credit to her mom who takes good care of her. Second was my character. Emong is gay and he’s hopelessly devoted and in love with Roldan, played by Nico Gomez. “
Nico Gomez quips, “More than the subplot of our love story, the most important love celebrated and embraced in this movie is the love that Emong and Lenlen share. It was both an eye-opener and heart- warming. No other love can comes close to the love that this brother and sister share. “
Also in the movie are Maya Samson as Meding and Adrian Ramirez as Jeff.
Direk Roni wishes that people will support Ku’Te. “This is my dream. Pangarap kong sana mabigyan ng pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat, sana makita ang kakayahan ni Marielle, maramdaman ang kanyang pangarap, mata at puso ang gumagalaw sa kanyang inosenteng pananaw sa lahat.”
He ends, “I pray that this movie opens a lot of eyes and stirs a lot of hearts. Lahat ay may pantay na karapatan at tayo, who are supposedly normal and able, we must not only embrace and love people with Down syndrome, it is imperative that we defend and protect them from people who are abusive and capable of doing evil deeds to the differently-abled.”
Supporting director Bertubin, to realize his advocacy movie Ku’te are Bounty Fresh ( Chooks to Go ), Wang Chu King Foundation (Mighty Corporation) Don Benito’s and Rebisco.
The World Premieres Film Festival – Philippines, mounted and organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), will be held from June 29 to July 10, 2016.
This distinct film festival highlights cinematic achievements from countries all over the world through film cultural exchange partnerships with the FDCP. It is the next step in the FDCP’s Film Cultural Exchange Program whereby FDCP partners with Embassies and their cultural arms in the country for events showcasing the cinemas of various nations.
KU’TE official screening schedules are on July 1 (6pm) Gala Premiere, SM North EDSA Cinema; July 3 (7pm), SM North EDSA Cinema ; July 4 (7pm) SM North EDSA Cinema; July 7 (5pm) SM Megamall Cinema ; July 8 (5pm) SM Megamall Cinema and July 10 (7pm)SM Megamall Cinema.