themovie.com

 

Coke, a magnificent actor/ Duo-piano concert tonite

SUNDRY STROKES By Rosalinda L. Orosa

Saturday, July 19, 2008

​

​

Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata, violin virtuoso, pedagogue and indefatigable administrator of the San Miguel Music Center, has added acting to his multi-faceted career. He plays the lead in “Boses”, an experimental film adroitly directed by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil.

 

There is logic in making the San Miguel Music Center in Zambales the main location of the film which focuses on Coke as Ariel, the eccentric violin teacher, and his student Onyok, in real life Julian Duque, the violin prodigy whom Coke actually teaches at the Music Center.

 

The heart-warming story is based on F. Medina’s Tinig sa Dilim, runner-up in the Cinemanila 2007 scriptwriting competition.

 

In “Boses”, Onyok is the son of a child-beating father who has been sent to prison for his brutality. Meanwhile, Onyok, mute owing to an early malady, is sent to a rehabilitation shelter for children

 

Ariel, whom the inmates regard as crazy, meets Onyok who, in his effort to escape the bullying of his fellow boarders, hides in Ariel’s studio. After discovering Onyok, Ariel takes a fancy to him and discovers, further, the youngster’s extraordinary musical talent.

 

The script seems to have been expressly written for Coke and Julian. A strong bond grows between mentor and pupil, and that bond is music. Inevitably, there are remarkable demonstrations of Coke’s tremendous musical gifts as he plays solo or together with his real-life student Julian. These precious moments alone make the film worth seeing by music lovers and aficionados.

 

Family relations are sensitively delineated, and the many highly-charged emotional scenes tugging at the heart are made even more compelling by the acting skills of the cast, primarily of Coke who gives a magnificent portrayal, and of Julian who is an engaging natural actor. Cherry Pie Picache as Ariel’s sister, and Ricky Davao as Onyok’s father contribute their substantial emotive share to the film.

 

As an interesting aside, Julian, who has appeared in concert with Coke, is the son of a fisherman, and is the youngest member of the community orchestra organized by Coke, which ensemble consists of Zambales’ families from all walks of life.

 

Hopefully, “Boses” will be an entry in an international film competition, despite certain technical limitations.

 

The story seems inconclusive. There is a hint of Onyok returning to his father who has been released from prison, but as we are all aware, cruel fathers seldom reform. The viewer finds consolation in Ariel assuring Onyok earlier that he will always take care of him. The love affair between Ariel and his pregnant girlfriend is likewise inconclusive, and leaves the audience wondering about the affair.

 

However, the film has powerful emotional appeal, electrifying musical scenes and intrinsic moral values which raise it several cuts above the average movie. An Erasto Films Production, “Boses“ was premiered at the CCP main theater with English sub-titles for foreign viewers. See it at its regular showing!

 

Tonight at “A Classic Evening” in St. Cecilia’s Hall, widely diverse works for duo-piano will be rendered by Marguerite M. Echaus and Martha Brickman, both distinguished faculty members of the Vancouver Academy of Music and highly seasoned concertists, guest pianist Priscilla de la Fuente-Sison and J. Greg Zuniega, both teachers at the St. Scholastica College music department. Greg, who took further studies in Moscow and London, received the Queen Elizabeth award from the Queen Mother. He has concertized extensively abroad.

 

Tonight’s benefit concert was organized by Marguerite Echaus.

 

Medel recital

 

Thirteen-year old Lorenzo Bueno Medel, pianist, will play a formidable program — Bach’s Prelude and Fugue Book 1, Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, Liszt’s Giromenreigen and Mendelssohn’s Concerto No. 1 in G Minor — on Aug. 2 at F. Santiago Hall. Lorenzo won first prize in a 2007 Bach tilt.

 

Admission is free.