Sunday, June 13, 2021

THE EIGHTIES # 579: CHRISTOPHER DE LEON, DENNIS ROLDAN AND CARMI MARTIN IN LINO BROCKA'S "AKIN ANG IYONG... KATAWAN" (1984)


"Akin ang Iyong... Katawan" (1984)
Golden Dragon Films
Release Date June 22, 1984
Story and Screenplay Jose Javier Reyes
Film Editor George Jarlego
Cinematography Pedro Manding
Music Willie Yusi
Line Producer AC de Guia
Executive Producer Peter Gan
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Christopher de Leon, Dennis Roldan and Carmi Martin/ Featuring Rosemarie Gil, Tessie Tomas, Steve Paolo, Joseph Alta and Malou Apostol/ with the special participation of Maria Isabel Lopez


Synopsis: Anton Cuaresma (Christopher de Leon) is a possessive husband with a streak of insanity. He suspects Susan (Carmi Martin), his newly married wife and a former actress, of having an affair. He subjects her to a series of humiliations--- from making caustic statements about her behavior, to pointing a gun at her. He forbids her from making a movie comeback. He hires a detective to snoop on her activities but the results are negative. He designs a strategy to ferret out the imaginary lover.

Anton adheres to the double standard of machismo. He has an affair with Shirley (Mara Isabel Lopez), a prostitute, whom he incessantly teases before indulging in rough sex. His ex-girlfriend, Cathy (Malou Apostol), has returned from the States. He tries to win her back saying he only married Susan because he felt hurt by her sudden departure. She turns him down.

Anton and Susan have a new neighbor, Danny Mendoza (Dennis Roldan), an attractive young man with a divine physique. He keeps going to their house to use the phone. He keeps bumping into her in the city. But she remains a faithful wife.

However, as she becomes more estranged from her husband, she seeks his companionship. One day, Anton confronts Susan with photos of her meeting with her ex-lover, Jaime. He points a gun at her and shoots real bullets. She suffers a nervous breakdown and has to be brought to the hospital. Susan seeks revenge. She tries to seduce Danny. She talks of ambition and money. In between lovemaking, she makes him agree to kill Anton.

One night, she sets up Anton. Danny rushes in and, upon her prodding, shoots him. She then turns the gun on him, saying she knew all along that he was a detective hired by her husband. She shoots him dead.

Susan now calls the police. She has a ready alibi. However, when they get to the bedroom, they find no cadavers. She becomes hysterical. A cassette tape is played and her scheme is revealed.

Both Anton and Danny appear alive from behind. Susan is escorted out by the police. After the incident, Anton and Danny analyze the events. Danny says that he became suspicious of her motives when she talked of her plans. He admitted to loving her. Anton offers him money but Danny refuses. It would be on his conscience.

(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)

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