Saturday, September 4, 2021

THE EIGHTIES # 717: SARSI EMMANUELLE, EMILY LOREN, JACLYN JOSE, PATRICK DE LA ROSA, RICKY DAVAO IN LINO BROCKA'S "WHITE SLAVERY" (1985)

(Synopsis): Pinang (Emily Loren) is made a waitress in Mang Estong’s restaurant which has rooms for short-time trysts upstairs . Her boyfriend, Rodel (Patrick de la Rosa), a working student, visits her. He is saving enough money for their wedding. Although they engage in passionate kissing, Pinang refuses to have sex with him, wanting to remain pure for their wedding. Pinang is chided for meeting with her boyfriend. Mrs. Antiporda is anxious she might become pregnant. In order to teach her a lesson, she tells Mang Estong (Renato del Prado) to rape her. The experience is bitter to Pinang who prizes her virginity.

Joy (Sarsi Emmanuelle) is preened in a beauty parlor and is brought to a disco where she is swept by the charms of Allan (Ricky Davao). She gives in to his advances and after a few torrid bedroom bouts, she wakes up to find another man making love to her. It turns out that Allan is a pimp. Joy threatens to call the police but Mrs. Antiporda says that her operations are protected by the authorities. Allan tells her to be practical as she will be making lots of money. Who knows, she might find a foreigner who will marry her.

With the ugly side of their employment revealed, Joy tells Lynette (Jacklyn Jose), the youngest of the three, who is still waiting for her assignment, to run away. She gives her some money. But Lynette is caught by Bigote (Jimmy Santos) who rapes her. For being the instigator, Joy is also raped by the men. The two girls cry their hearts out after the brutalizing experience.

Pinang is brought back from the restaurant. She also threatens to call the police, but
Mrs. Antiporda laughs at it. No one would listen to her. Also, if she does return home, her town will not accept her as a defiled woman.

The three are now fulltime prostitutes in the brothel. They are closely guarded with the other women. One night, Pinang and Joy try to escape. Pinang manages to steal a knife and stabs one of the men. However, they are caught and locked inside a room.

Lynette is made to service customers, much against her will. She proves to be uncooperative. Bigote forces her to take drugs.

Allan still gets Joy for his hotel service. She is now less recalcitrant and listens to him. One night, he suggests that she and her two companions appear in a porn video. Joy convinces them to appear in an orgy scene directed by a foreigner.
Pinang begs Joy to ask Allan to allow her to see Rodel. She promises not to put them in any precarious situation. Allan reluctantly agrees and she meets Rodel in front of Jade Valley. She is brought to his boarding house where they have sex. She is happy to know that Rodel still loves her.

Lynette comes up with the news that she is pregnant. Joy is adamant that she gets an abortion because she won‘t be able to work with a fat stomach. Lynette protests that it would be against God’s will but counters it is also against His will if she couldn’t work. Mrs. Antiporda gets a midwife to perform the abortion. She starts to bleed. Joy begs her to get a real doctor, but the request is turned down. Lynette dies and her body is quietly removed in the dark of night.

Joy and Pinang are now desperate to leave. Joy manages to get into Mrs. Antiporda’s quarters and uses the phone. He calls Rodel who poses as a customer. He sheds a tear when he sees his loved one huddled with other girls in a waiting area visible through a glass door. He points to the two girls who are brought to a room. He has alerted the police and plans their escape. However, Joy is caught and tries to stab Bigote with a kitchen knife. But Bigote’s strength deflects her thrust and Joy is stabbed by her own hand. The police finally arrive and Joy is led out bleeding. She appears in the front pages of the newspapers bannering the raid.

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



"White Slavery" (1985)
Special People Productions
Release Date July 25, 1985
Story and Screenplay Ricardo Lee
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Sarsi Emmanuelle, Emily Loren Jaclyn Jose, Patrick de la Rosa, Ricky Davao
                                                                                                                                             


Digitally restored and remastered by Philippine Film Archive
Image via Internet Source

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