Coming soon: a Tagalog-language film at the Roxy

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This article was published 15/02/2024 (779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fans of international cinema and people who have come to Neepawa from the Philippines have the chance to take in a Tagalog-language movie at the Roxy community-run theatre on Feb. 16 and 17.

“Rewind,” a relationship drama, is the first Filipino movie to earn $16 million at the global box office, according to IMDb.com. It tells the story of Mary and John, who are played by real life actor couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who are going through relationship strain. After many years together, John’s priorities have changed, and a tragic accident claims Mary’s life. What follows is the story about John getting the chance to rewind time and save the woman that he loves.

Davelyn Salta, who emigrated to Canada from the Philippines, has volunteered at the Roxy for two-and-a-half years. She’s part of a regular group of volunteers that each offer their services to the Roxy once a month. She says “Rewind” has received a lot of success in the Philippines and globally.

“It’s a really popular movie,” Salta said. “Both actors are prominent in the Philippines.”

The idea of rewinding life to recapture a moment or, in the case of John, prevent something bad from happening is one that will appeal to all audience members, Salta believes.

“It’s really telling us that in real life there is no rewind, so you have to live the best you can every day and prioritize your family and your loved ones,” she said. “Make your loved ones your priority, your close friends and family.”

Because the community of Neepawa, located 74 kilometres northeast of Brandon, is so diverse, being home to not just new Canadians from the Philippines but from many other countries, it’s important that a wide variety of entertainment is available, Salta said.

“There are a lot of nationalities here, and I think it’s really important that each and every person really immerse themselves in watching different types of movies,” she said. “Canadian movies, Manitoba movies, independent movies, not just big Hollywood movies.”

It’s not the first time a Tagalog-language movie (which will be played with English subtitles) has been screened at the Roxy. Last March, Partners in Crime, starring Vice Ganda and Ivana Alawi was shown at the theatre. The movie was one of the official entries for the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival and went on to become one of the event’s top-grossing movies.

At the time, Kate Jackman-Atkinson, chairperson of the Neepawa Theatre Centre Inc., the not-for-profit organization that runs the Roxy, said the board had been trying to bring in more diverse movies for quite some time. When one of the volunteers suggested bringing in “Rewind,” Jackman-Atkinson said she was excited by the idea of bringing another Filipino film to the community.

“The Filipino community is a big part of our town and has been hugely supportive of the theatre as patrons, volunteers and donors,” she said, adding that The Filipino Association of Neepawa and Area, Inc. even donated the proceeds from their most recent pageant to the theatre. “This seems like a great way to recognize that support.”

Beyond that, Jackman-Atkinson said it’s important to bring in movies that people want to see and that there is a lot of community interest in.

A buzz has already been generated around town and online about the upcoming screenings of “Rewind,” Salta said.

“I manage a Filipino [social media] page here, and I’ve seen a lot of Filipinos sharing the Roxy’s post. I think many Filipinos especially are so excited for this movie.”

“Rewind” will be shown at the Roxy on Feb. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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