Saturday, March 26, 2022

THE NINETIES # 111: SHARON CUNETA, CHRISTOPHER DE LEON, GINA ALAJAR, ROWELL SANTIAGO, WILLIAM LORENZO AND NANETTE MEDVED IN LINO BROCKA'S "BIKTIMA" (1990)


"Biktima" (1990)
Viva Films
Release Date November 28, 1990
Story and Screenplay Jose Dalisay, Jr. and Roy Iglesias
Cinematography Pedro Manding & Clodualdo Austria
Film Editor George Jarlego
Production Design Benjie de Guzman
Musical Director Jaime Fabregas
Produced by Boy C. de Guia
Supervising Producer Eric Cuatico
Executive Producer Vic del Rosario, Jr.
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Sharon Cuneta, Christopher de Leon, Gina Alajar, Rowell Santiago, William Lorenzo and Naette Medved/ Also Starring Johnny Wilson, Robert Talabis, Lucita Soriano, Nanding Fernandez, Jess Ramos, Lulu Arrieta, Lollie Mara/ Featuring Carmi Mantic

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Synopsis: Recently divorced from her husband, Atty. Becca Dizon (Sharon Cuneta) becomes a champion of women’s rights and works in a crisis center for rape victims. She lives alone with her daughter. Dave Pascual (Rowell Santiago), an attorney handling activist cases, is her steady companion but she treats him only as a friend.

She becomes interested in the case of Laura Malicsi (Gina Alajar), a bank teller who was found raped and battered in the grasslands of Antipolo. However, Laura refuses to identify her rapist for fear of retribution. After several visits, she finally convinces her to pinpoint her rapist. It is none other than Jing Aureus, a psychopath and the son of an influential congressman.

There is a court case. Several details are brought out which embarrasses Laura. Sonny (William Lorenzo), her fiancé, grins unbearably and leaves her. He returns to her after a while. Laura is offered a settlement of P100,000 but she turns it down. The bank is pressured into putting Laura on indefinite leave without pay. Sonny is beaten up by the goons.

Finally, Laura surrenders and accepts the settlement. She and Sonny will use the money to start life anew in Cotabato.

Becca is miffed with Laura’s abdication. Jing now makes his moves and sets up “accidental” meetings to woo Becca. She begins to be charmed by his outgoing personality. She starts to have doubts about Laura’s story. She now trusts Jing.

Dave protests and is mysteriously sideswept by a car inside a parking lot. Jing’s girlfriend, Faye (Nanette Medved), becomes jealous of the attention paid to Becca. She confronts Becca but is slapped by her. Jing founds out about her confrontation with Becca and hits her. His personality starts changing and he moves into a regressive state.

The dangerous side of Jing has appeared and he must satisfy his pathological desires. It is time again to strike. He gets Becca out of a conference saying that her daughter is sick. But Jing brings her to his Antipolo hideaway to rape and kill her. Becca is able to run away. She returns home to find the nursemaid dead. Her daughter has also been kidnapped. Becca jumps into her car, not knowing that the chauffeur is Jing. Becca is brought again to Antipolo where she sees her daughter. There is yet another struggle but, as Jing corners the mother and daughter, Faye appears from behind and shoots him.
(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times)




Original theatrical poster of "Biktima" (1990)
(Private Collection)

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