In My Life (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
In My Life is a 2009 Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 gay-themed
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....

 drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...

 film produced by Star Cinema
Star Cinema
ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. , is the wholly owned film production subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is the Philippines' largest film production, producing most of the highest grossing films in the Philippines.-1994:...

, starring Vilma Santos-Recto
Vilma Santos
Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician...

, John Lloyd Cruz
John Lloyd Cruz
John Lloyd Espidol Cruz is an award-winning Filipino actor, Box-Office King, model, and occasional TV host.His father is Luisito Llora Cruz. His career started with appearances in numerous teen-oriented movies and TV shows. He is a member of ABS-CBN's Star Magic, where he is an alumni member of...

 and Luis Manzano
Luis Manzano
Luis Philippe S. Manzano , also known by his nickname Lucky, is a Filipino actor, TV host, VJ and model. He is the son of award-winning actors Edu Manzano and Vilma Santos, from whom he inherited his Chinese features.Manzano started his career as a commercial model for clothing brand, HUMAN...

. The film is directed by Olivia Lamasan, and filmed mainly in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. The movie describes the change a mother goes through by the acts of two men who happen to be lovers. They teach a woman how to love.

Synopsis

Shirley Templo (Santos-Recto) is a ruthless woman. Many people deal with her strong attitude only for fear of her cold stare, or her outlash. She works as a librarian in a school, and lives in a compound that is owned by her ex-husband, Benito Salvacion. Many of the Salvacion family members that live near the compound, even including her eldest daughter, Dang, plead with her to sell it so they can make a profit, and she can move to a more suitable living area. Hard-headed as she is, Shirley refuses and feels betrayed by her two daughters, Dang and Cherry, for even siding with their father who left them nearly fifteen years ago. Even more upset, she finds out that Dang will want to move out of the Philippines to Australia. Leaving her alone in the Philippines since all her children moved out, Shirley decides to move to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 with her youngest and only son, Mark Salvacion (Manzano). Mark is unaware, however, that this supposed vacation of his mother is actually a permanent visit.

Upon her arrival to the States, Shirley is picked up at the airport by Noel Villanueva (Cruz). Thinking he was only hired help, she rudely offers him payment for his services, but he declines. As she walks around the apartment, she notices pictures of Mark and Noel being affectionate toward each other. She then realizes that Noel is, in fact, Mark's new boyfriend. Although she was aware of Mark's homosexuality since his high school years, she gives Noel plenty of trouble and hard times. The story reflects how Shirley changes her attitudes and views from two men that become a big part of her life, and how she accepts the reality that has been presented to her. Unfortunately, unforeseen tragedies occur, and a rift between Shirley and Noel arise. But as she understands Mark's reasons for having her be around Noel all this time, she resolves her issues with him and soon embraces him as a member of her family.

Main cast

  • Vilma Santos-Recto
    Vilma Santos
    Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician...

     as Shirley Templo
  • John Lloyd Cruz
    John Lloyd Cruz
    John Lloyd Espidol Cruz is an award-winning Filipino actor, Box-Office King, model, and occasional TV host.His father is Luisito Llora Cruz. His career started with appearances in numerous teen-oriented movies and TV shows. He is a member of ABS-CBN's Star Magic, where he is an alumni member of...

     as Noel Villanueva, Mark's lover.
  • Luis Manzano
    Luis Manzano
    Luis Philippe S. Manzano , also known by his nickname Lucky, is a Filipino actor, TV host, VJ and model. He is the son of award-winning actors Edu Manzano and Vilma Santos, from whom he inherited his Chinese features.Manzano started his career as a commercial model for clothing brand, HUMAN...

     as Mark Salvacion, Shirley's son.

Supporting cast

  • Vice Ganda
    Vice Ganda
    Vice Ganda is a Filipino comedian, host, actor and recording artist. He is a regular host/judge on ABS-CBN’s talent show Showtime and starred on his two films, one of which considered as the highest-grossing film in Philippine cinema....

     as Hillary
  • Nikki Valdez
    Nikki Valdez
    -Early life:Tagged as Best Friend na kikay nang Bidang-babae Nikki Valdez is currently known for and she is a certified homegrown talent of ABS-CBN since she started and has resumed her career after just getting married to her Canadian hubby and having a baby she is back to give fun to viewers and...

     as Mia
  • Dimples Romana
    Dimples Romana
    Dimples Romana is a Filipina actress and commercial model.-Education:Romana finished an International Hospitality Management Major in Culinary Arts at Enderun College.-Career:...

     as Dang Salvacion
  • Rafael Rosell
    Rafael Rosell
    Rafael Quimpo Rosell IV, born 10 November 1982 in Norway, is a Filipino actor in the Philippines.-Background:The actor was born to Filipino parents based in Norway. His dad is Cebuano and his mom is Bicolano. Both migrated to Norway where he was born in 1982. A full-blooded Filipino, though raised...

     as Vince
  • Tirso Cruz III
    Tirso Cruz III
    Tirso Cruz III is a Filipino actor and singer. He is one of the famous actors in Philippine show business.-Biography and career:...

     as Benito Salvacion
  • Paw Diaz
    Paw Diaz
    Paw Diaz is an actress, model and TV host in the Philippines. Born on March 1987 in San Pedro, Laguna came to mainstream attention when she joined ABS-CBN’s reality artist search, Star Circle Quest, where she emerged as a finalist....

     as Cherry Salvacion

Casting

Initially, Manzano turned down the role of Mark Salvacion and admitted he was not comfortable with the required intimate scenes between the two male characters. However, after reading the script and understanding the character, he accepted the role. His mother, Vilma Santos, wants to make it clear she in no way influenced Luis to make that decision because she would not do that.

John Lloyd Cruz states that he had no problem with the required intimate scenes with the other male character. He said he would do it as an actor, and for the purpose of the film.

Reception

In My Life received a generally favorable outcome both financially and through reviews. Many people praised the storyline, meaning, and acting of Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz, and Luis Manzano. This film was a daring act by John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano both portraying gay characters, and yet they did not disappoint the audience.

The film garnered nearly ₱20,000,000 on its first day of release, and nearly ₱80,000,000 on its opening weekend. This was a remarkable start of the movie for the outcome was never expected to be that high.

By the end of 2009, In My Life placed second on the Top 13 local 2009 Philippine movies list just behind You Changed My Life
You Changed My Life
You Changed My Life is a 2009 Filipino film starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo. It is the sequel to the 2008 movie A Very Special Love, starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo. Filming started in November 2008, and it was released February 25, 2009 by Star Cinema and VIVA Films. It...

 which also stated Santos and John Lloyd Cruz; both highly acclaimed Filipino actors and box office champions.The film is in 13th place for the list of top grossing Filipino films of all time. Vilma's 2000 top grosser film Anak was no. 7 on that list with almost 160 million gross. In My Life would have perhaps broken Philippine movie records if not for typhoon Ondoy that hit the Philippines while it was being shown. Despite the typhoon, the movie was still a big hit.

It became a Box-Office favorite and also has its premiere on National Television December 25, 2010 on ABS-CBN on Christmas Day.

Awards

  • 8th Gawad Tanglaw awards (March 3, 2010)


Best Film
Best Actress - Vilma Santos
Best Actor - John LLoyd Cruz
Best Supporting Actor - Luis Manzano
Best Director - Olivia Lamasan
  • Gawad Suri Awards (March 2010)

Best Film
Best Director - Olivia Lamasan
Best Actress - Vilma Santos
Best Actor - John Lloyd Cruz
Best Supporting Actor - Luis Manzano
  • 26th PMPC Star Awards for Movies(April 24, 2010)

Best Picture
Best Director - Olivia Lamasan
Best Actress - Vilma Santos
Best Actor - John Lloyd Cruz
Best Supporting Actor - Luis Manzano
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
  • 41st GMMSF Box-office Entertainment Awards(June 22, 2010)

Best Actress - Vilma Santos
Best Actors - John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano
Best Screenplay
  • 1st MTRCB Film Awards (June 25, 2010)

Best Actress -Vilma Santos
Best supporting actor - John Lloyd Cruz
  • 4th Genio Awards ( January 2, 2011 )

Best Actress - Vilma Santos
Best Actor - John Lloyd Cruz
Best Supporting Actor - Luis Manzano
Best Sreenplay

External links

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