Classic film na Jaguar, bubuksan ang Sinag Maynila

 Pagkatapos ng international premiere sa 16th Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France noong isang taon, muling mapapanood sa bansa ang isa sa mga obra ng National Artist for Film Lino Brocka, ang neo-noir crime classic, Jaguar (restored) na magbubukas sa gaganaping 7th Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival.

Ang opening ceremonies ay gaganapin sa Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Gateway Cinema 5, at ito ang magsisilbing Asian premiere ng 4K restored version ng Jaguar na collaborative efforts of Film Development Council of the Philippines’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA) division and Cité de Mémoire.

Inaasahan namang darating sa nasabing event ang cast and crew ng pelikula na pinangungunahan ni Phillip Salvador at Amy Austria.

Napanood ito noong 1979, ang Jaguar ay gumawa ng kasaysayan bilang first Filipino film na nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or ng 1980 Cannes Film Festival.

Isinalaysay nito ang kuwento ni Poldo, isang security guard na nasangkot sa krimen habang pinoprotektahan ang isang mayamang playboy, hinarap ang mga problema sa moral at kalunus-lunos na mga kahihinatnan sa gitna ng pagkakaiba-iba ng uri at ang mapanirang paghahangad ng kasikatan.

Inspired by a news story from the book Reportage on Crime by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, ang Jaguar ay sinulat ni Jose F. Lacaba and National Artist for Film Ricky Lee.

Sinag Maynila celebrates the Philippine Film Industry Month by featuring the restored works ng ating mga National Artist bilang bahagi ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining section ng Sinag, to be screened in select Metro Manila cinemas together with the competing films.

Kabilang din sa mga mapapanood ang digitally restored 1978 film Atsay, directed by Eddie Garcia, starring National Artist for Film Nora Aunor. Atsay was restored in 2022.

The 61 films in competition will be screened for one week from Sept. 24 to 30, at the official screening venue partners: SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, Trinoma, Market! Market!, and Gateway Cineplex. Ticket prices are at P250 per admission.